MY WALK ACROSS THE USA

Many years ago, in 1963 to be exact, my brother Roger age 29, and me at age 23, turned a passing comment made by our mother into a reality.

At that time the Jack Paar Television Program was being seen nationally every Friday night on the NBC Television Network. For those of you who remember his show, you know he was very funny and also a very controversial individual.

Witnessing the difficulty keeping our band booked in the Los Angeles area, mother made her passing comment while watching the Jack Paar TV Show. She stated, "If you walked all the way to New York City, Jack Paar would probably put you on his show." Being young, daring and very determined, within 48 hours we decided to take her up on her wild proposal.

After writing twice to Mr. Paar trying to acquire a shot on his show and receiving two refusals, we decided to act on mother's idea figuring someone would put us on National TV if Paar didn't. After three months preparation and planning to entertain and meet as many people as possible working our way across the United States, (not knowing where the first job would be,) we commenced walking from Los Angeles, CA on July 18, 1963.

Pushing a 1000 pound home-built push cart loaded with supplies, 7 musical instruments, a tape recorder, and with only $100 in cash between us, we began the long trek heading for the Big Apple, New York City. Two years, eight months, and four days later, we pushed the cart into Nashville, TN on August 4, 1966. We opened at the Carousel Club opposite the great saxophonist Boots Randolph and his group.

When Mr. Paar retired and went off the air before we reached New York City, (accompanied by some additional unexpected setbacks), we decided to make our home in Nashville and we have been here ever since. For several years my brother and I performed together in and around the Nashville area and we both retired from the 129th TN Army National Guard Band in 1998/1999 respectively. Brother Roger, 6 years my senior, totally retired in 2001. It was the same year our mother, Mary Jane Richards, passed away at age 90.

The documented invaluable education we received walking across America meeting thousands of people from all walks of life, while appearing on TV and Radio shows, in newspaper articles and photos, performing in clubs, hotels, schools, churches, Dairy Queens and the like, including the multitude of unimaginable experiences we encountered along the way, made this an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With that being said, I decided to share some of our experiences with you, displaying a few photos illustrating a little bit of what it was like walking across our great country pushing a 1000 pound push cart, while entertaining and meeting as many people as possible.