SLIDESHOW

And the (Polk County) band played on

By JAMIE BECKETT
Special to the News Chief

Polk County's most precious Christmas gift came late this year.

Nearly 40 years in the making it has been here, right in our laps all along. But, as with so many things of great value, the majority of us were oblivious to its presence for far too long.

It was finally unveiled Jan. 19 in all its splendor for a small crowd of invited guests. It was disguised as a reunion for a bunch of local folks who had a bond of friendship that goes back decades.

It was in fact a celebration, and a reminder to all who were within earshot that Polk County has as deep a mine of musical talent running through her. And should it continue to escape the attention of anyone who hears about this marvelous night of remembrance, music in specific and entertainment as a whole, are economic engines that can build an economy all on their own. As a ready and willing adjunct to our already existing economy this potentially high-revving engine has been an unfortunately overlooked and undeveloped powerhouse sleeping in our midst since the Kennedy administration was in office.

It's time for us to wake up, get in the groove and start dancing to the beat we have been missing all these years. We've been asleep at this particular switch for far too long.

The big names on hand that night were Jim Stafford and Kent LaVoie. Stafford has had a long and prosperous run of an entertainment career that includes television, movies, records and a live show that you have to see and hear to fully appreciate. He is a world-class entertainer and he hails from Polk County.

LaVoie isn't quite a household name. Unless you happen to be from Polk County, where Kent's household was as a growing lad. Under his working name of Lobo, he has put out a fistful of top-notch recordings whose melodies and lyrical hooks are firmly embedded in your psyche, even if you don't remember them right off the bat. They're there.

The memory of Gram Parsons permeated the room as well. Stafford, who played in a band with Gram as a teen-ager went out of his way to bring Gram's contribution, and his unfortunate loss to the attention of the audience saying, "We miss you buddy, God bless you." in a heartfelt tone, evoking a brief change in mood uncharacteristic of the rest of the night's festivities.

Not to be outdone by the big names, who in all honesty used to be nothing more than the kid down the road, a crowd of seriously talented, lesser-known musicians and writers had the opportunity to play together that night too. Bobby Braddock is a former resident of Auburndale who now resides in Nashville. As a writer he has put words and music on the charts 75 times or more. As a performer he got plenty of laughs, and had toes tapping throughout his appearance.

Jon Corneal, still a local boy, has played in bands with big names and small ones. The band he put on the stage for the reunion was certainly deserving of wider attention than he has gotten locally. He is as good as they come.

As is Carl Chambers, who can rip it up on a Fender Telecaster and remind you why Elvis was king and what rock and roll was all about in the first place with a flick of his pick and a twang of the string.

Of course, there are other Chambers musicians scattered around the county that deserve attention as well. Not to mention Jillian Leigh, a local singer who we should all hear more from. And the Canova family who can apparently play, sing and stomp their way through anything musical with as much enthusiasm and vitality as I've ever seen on a stage.

With this wealth of native talent Polk County could certainly develop a music festival that would rival any in the world if we choose to. After all Aspen, Colo., holds not one, but three film festivals each year and they are a smaller city than Winter Haven is.

We have an opportunity to thank those that have contributed so much to ours lives in the way of music and entertainment by providing for them a forum for their art. At the same time we can fulfill our naturally capitalistic tendencies by developing a whole new economic dynamo for this area unseen since the great real estate boom of the 1920's. And should you have any doubt about whether they will come, consider Sun 'n Fun, the aviation fly-in held in Lakeland every year. A quarter century ago it began as a single event that attracted less than 2,000 people. Today it generates in excess of $30 million every year.

Can you spell opportunity? If ever there was a time to strike up the band this is it.

You can contact Becket at jamiebeckett@juno.com

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