Pickin' tunes is their pastime

By Bobbie Rossiter
The Ledger

Ervin and Boots Eubanks probably are as well known as the "Dizzy Ramblers" as they are by their given names. The brothers have been playing and singing country music for many years, and are still "pickin' 'n' singin'" up a storm. Their music can be enjoyed every Thursday evening at Carl Allen's Historic Cafe in Auburndale.

Ervin & Boots Eubanks pick with Ed Mitchell at Allens

Ervin, 72, and Boots, 65, started playing and singing as young fellows in their hometown, Athens, Ala., playing on a local radio station there as well as on a Lakeland station when they moved to Polk County. Both say they had opportunities to go into "big-time" music, to make a name in the business, travel on concerts and even go to Nashville, but turned them down.

"I stayed at home with my family," says Boots. "They were more important to me, and that is why I have such a lovely family."

Ervin and wife Alma, married 43 years, have a son, Danny, a daughter, Betty, and two granddaughters. They were first to move to Auburndale, coming here in 1936. With work slack in Athens, Ervin was pleased to find a job at Adams Packing, where he stayed until getting called into the service during the war. After the war, he returned to operate Eubanks' Floor Covering for 10 or 12 years, later worked for Montgomery Ward a short time, then got on at Scotty's where he is still working.

"I'm proud of all of my life," says Ervin. "Everything I've done I'm proud of, especially my music." Not only does Ervin still play his mandolin, as well as almost any other instrument, but he works on and repairs most instruments for others. He also enjoys working in his garden and yard.

For a long and healthy life, he says, folks should eat regularly, get plenty of rest and not smoke or drink, but most important, work hard. "Work is good for you," he says, "layin' around isn't."

Young people should stay away from drugs and get all the education they can, advises Ervin. Being a good listener and working hard are also important, but whatever they do, "they should obey their parents, go to church and believe that we have a God."

Boots followed his older brother, coming to Auburndale in 1937 with his wife Frances Emily. Married 45 years, they have a son, James Marvin, and a daughter, Janet Martha Tolar, and five grandchildren.

Boots picked fruit for Exchange Packing House for a few years, then worked for Adams Packing House about four years until he went away to war. After the war, he started doing carpentry work for Charles Raymond until semi-retiring at age 62. Now he operates a produce stand on Derby Avenue, between Bartow Avenue and Lemon Street in Auburndale.

"My hobby is my guitar and playin'," says Boots, "and I play every chance I get, mostly for my own amusement." He plays and sings alongside the road when he is watching over his produce stand. "I have even sold several of my records to people who stopped.

"I am proud of my record of two songs I wrote, especially the one I wrote for my wife and named after her, The other song is called 'Alabama.' " Boots says he wrote the song for his wife, "because if it hadn't been for her I could have been a rough person. I tell her 'I love you, Hon' every day. It don't hurt to say and it does a lot of good. I don't just say it, it comes from the bottom of my heart."

Boots says being good to his wife, living a good clean life and leaving the bottle alone are part of his formula for a long and happy life. "We should eat, not drink, our get plenty of rest." he says.

"Young musicians should play every day, if just to keep their fingers limbered up," Boots says, "but most important, they should get a good instrument to begin with, then 'keep on picking''