Did you ever wonder how some older musicians can still get up on stage and
rock with the best of them? Folks like Tina Turner, Chuck Berry, Bruce Springsteen, and Mick Jagger have always amazed fans with their incredible energy and vitality on stage. Well, here’s a little story that may add some insight into that very phenomenon.

This is the story of an artist who has been pleasing audiences for nearly 50 years. Not only is he a talented guitarist and singer, but he is also the consummate entertainer. Johnny Smith, the super-talented drummer for the WTM Blues Band, Convertibull, and former Cameo and Oak Ridge Boys drummer, once said that many good musicians are just that – good musicians. He went on to add that some good musicians -not all - are also great entertainers. There is a difference.

At a practice of the All-Star band a few weeks ago, he came in the facility to play his songs with the 14 member band. He sat quietly in a chair while the other singers took their turn. Most of the band did not know him or had ever seen him play. When it came his turn to do his songs, he strapped on his guitar and went to the stage. You could see the look of disbelief on the faces of many of the band members. Some knew what was about to happen – older veterans like Dennis Massengale, Paul Stone, or Bob Williams – they knew. But, for the most part, the rest of the band probably thought maybe the band manager had lost his mind by bringing in the “old guy.”

As he prepared to do his first number, he played a CD of Johnny B. Goode so the band could hear the way he liked to do it, with the tempo and breaks. As the CD was playing, I poked Pat and told her to look at the “old guy”. It seems that he was coming alive while listening to the CD with the band. His head was starting to bob back and forth. His foot was tapping a bit.

Now, it’s time to play the song with the band. All of a sudden, the “old guy” came alive. It’s as though there was magic in the floor of the stage. Working its way up through his shoes, through his legs, and straight up to his head, the magic took over and breathed a fiery new life that came out in voice, guitar, and stage persona. I think when he flung the guitar over his back and played it behind his neck upside down – and nailed his parts – that the band became aware that this man was something special. He is an entertainer, not just a good musician. If you could sell smiles, I think there were millions of dollars to be made that magical night, as the entire band looked on in admiration and amazement. They had just met the master – the Yoda, Michael Jordan, and Hank Aaron of entertainers. They had just met Jimmy Tawater, the entertainer.

The scene was repeated at Sugar’s BBQ for the dress rehearsal and at Riverbend for the big show. He sat by quietly, with family and friends, until go-time. The only explanation I have to explain Jimmy Tawater and entertainers like him – the Mick Jaggers, Tina Turners, Springsteens, and others – is the stage floor. There has to be magic in it somewhere and the great entertainers in the world have figured out how to harness it. It’s magic, I tell you. Magic.

Country star Josh Turner will be appearing in Ringgold for a tornado relief concert on July 14 at the Davis Cattle Company Rodeo, with the Nathan Farrow Band and Brody Johnson’s Dirt Road Band opening the concert. Tickets are on sale here. It’s worth it to see Nathan’s band, and Josh Turner just adds to the level of talent, as does Brody Johnson.

Derek Trucks and wife Susan Tedeschi will bring their band to the Tivoli Theater on July 29. Tickets will be available here. This is a “don’t miss” show, my friends.

Nightfall

Bob’s pick-o-the-week is the Chattanooga Symphony, playing at Coolidge Park for Pops on the River on Sunday evening. Fireworks to follow!

Bob’s pick-o-the-weekend is at JJ’s Bohemia fundraiser for John Johnson, featuring 8 bands, auctions, and lots of fun. Come help out a musician in need. It starts at 7 p.m. and it’s right on MLK at one of Chattanooga’s most popular night spots.

Live in Chattanooga!

Thursday, June 30
Memorial Auditorium – Annual Organ Patriotic Music - Free
Snookers – Jerry Fordham
JJ’s Bohemia – Flyunion, Evervigilant
Acoustic Café Ringgold – Summer Hullender
Market Street Tavern – Blues Night, with Rick Rushing
The Palms At Hamilton – Jimmy Harris,
Rhythm & Brews – Dark Horse Ten
Spectaters – Blake Morrison

Friday, July 1
Nightfall – Hugo, Digital Butter
American Legion # 95 Ringgold Rd – Silver Creek
The Foundry – Jake Leg
T-Bones – TBA
SkyZoo – Blake Morrison
Southside Saloon - Stoneline
Bourbon Street Music Bar – Paul Smith & The Special Moments Band
Bud’s Sportsbar – Tijuana Donkey Show
The Social – Rick Rushing & The Blues Strangers
Spectater’s – Crossfire
Tremont Tavern - TBA
Sugar’s Downtown – The Pool
Rhythm & Brews – Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Nikki Lane
The Palms- Jimmy Harris, Dana Rogers
Market Street Tavern – Digital Butter
JJ’s Bohemia – The Velvet Hand, Powel’s Owls, Mean Daddy Jack and the Noise Complaints

Saturday, July 2
Charles and Myrtles Coffee House – Butch Claude Morgan, Kevin Fahtery
Chattanooga River Market – Megan Light
The Foundry – Jake Leg
Backstage Lounge at Holiday Bowl – Shutter, Affliction Asylum, Covered In Scars, Jaydn Lucid
Rock City – New Binkley Brothers
Market Street Tavern – TBA
Sugar’s BBQ – The Pool
Snookers – Crossfire
T-Bones – TBS
Rhapsody Café - Oh
Spectaters – Sandy Croft and Wrecking Crew
Bourbon Street Music Bar – Paul Smith & The Special Moments Band
Rhythm & Brews – Back Betty, Planet
McHale’s Brewhouse –Open Auditions
Tremont Tavern – Funktastic 5
Bud’s Sportsbar – Tijuana Donkey Show
The Palms – Jimmy Harris, Dana Rogers
Southside Saloon – Rick Byers Band
JJ’s Bohemia – The Jackies, The Unsatisfied, The Vivs, The Value, Bohannons, The Fingers, Mythical Motors, Courter, Clouse, and King

Sunday, July 3
Pops On The River at Coolidge Park – CSO & Fireworks!
Chattanooga Market – Michael Jacobs
Barking Legs Theater – Open Provisional Jam
Rock City – New Binkley Brothers

Mon, Jul 4
Signal Mountain Lions BBQ – The Orchard Band at noon
Market Street Tavern – Old Tyme Players
The Palms – Monday Night Big Band
The Camp House – Blues Night with Lon Eldridge

Tues, July 5
Tremont Tavern – Open Mike w/ Mike McDade

Wed, July 6
Las Margaritas Riverview – Priscilla and Little Rickee
Market Street Tavern – Ben Friberg Trio
Bud’s Sportsbar – Old No. 7
The Palms – Jimmy Harris
Honest Pint – McNary, TBA
The Warehouse – Call To Preserve, Dynasty, In This Hour, Bruteforce

Email Bob Payne at davrik2000@yahoo.com or click here for Facebook Page.