Bakersfield is a great old cattle town two hours up the Grapevine.
We took a little time to soak up a little of the local color.
Bakersfield has a vibe (and a smell) all its own. Everyone drives a truck there.
Why would we take the day off to make this particular trip? Well, we went to visit the late Buck Owens' Crystal Palace supper club...
To see our longtime Country & Western hero, Ray Price.
Price, who is going to be 82 next week, was there with his Western Swing band, The Cherokee Cowboys.
He started the show with a medley of his country hits... Crazy Arms, Heartaches By The Numbers, City Lights...
...and covered all of his pop favorites too, like Make The World Go Away, For The Good Times and I Won't Mention It Again.
But even with his pop songs, the accent was on Country.
It was clear that everyone was having a good time.
Ray's band was great. I've never heard this kind of music live before. It was a revelation.
At the end of the evening, Ray sang a song by his old pal, Hank Williams... Mansion On The Hill. He left us with this comment, "I want you all to know that old-time country music isn't dead. Radio was the one that turned its back on you- not us. We good ol' boys are still here makin' music for you."
That got a standing ovation.
Ray Price is one of the legends of Country & Western music. In case you don't know who he is, this great video should give you a taste...
