June 6, 2008
Alison Krauss -- calling Gene Parker
This will probaby run next week in the paper as a corner shot, but I'm scooping myself -- as if 4,000 people didn't already know about it!
Here goes ...
Alison Krauss was the embodiment of cool and calm last week during her concert with Robert Plant at Roanoke Civic Center — until she started talking about Gene Parker.
She got a little giddy as she talked about Parker, the original banjo player in Ferrum bluegrass band The Lost and Found.
Krauss said that last time she was in Roanoke, she decided to get in touch with Parker. She found a couple of police officers and asked if they of him. Incredibly, did, and gave her his number. She called but missed Parker — was was out on his truck-driving job.
Krauss said that Parker’s album, “Struttin’ To Ferrum,” is up on her piano.
“If you see Gene Parker walking around, tell him I said hi!” she said, to audience laughter and applause.
Parker was home when we called, and said that Krauss had in fact called about a year ago and spoke with his wife, Barbara. Krauss encouraged the couple to come see her play, even come to dinner, but “Mrs. Gene” declined.
“If she calls again, I reckon I’ll take her up,” Gene Parker said.
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