One of those times was in the same old white van that I talked about in my Memories and Practical Jokes post. After a Friday night at the Opry, we ended up at Marty’s apartment.  We spent the entire night visiting and picking. Before long, we realized Saturday Morning had rolled around.  We decided to go downtown for an early lunch.  We were both working the Opry again that night.  Marty was working with Lester Flatt at that time and I was doing a Kellogg Cereal Commercial with the Willis Brothers.

We decided to go to Elliston Place in Nashville to have lunch, where many of the entertainers still hang out today.  After leaving Elliston Place and heading down Church Street, we got caught up in a long line of traffic.  To save time, I decided we needed to find a different route, so we turned off Church Street, into what ended up being an alley that was barely wide enough for the van.  I saw a man up ahead, dressed in a nice black suit, motioning for us to follow him.  Marty and I thought it was really nice of him to be directing traffic, and dressed so well at that!  We followed his directions, and turned right.  Very soon we noticed the car in front of us wasn’t just any car.  About that same time, we noticed the markers and flags on the side of the alley.

By the time we realized we were heading up a funeral possession, following the Hearse, it was far too late to get out of the mess we were in.  We could only hope they thought we were the flower delivery Van as we continued on through.  It was a sobering moment.

Mark Jones, early years at the Grand Ole Opry

Marty Stuart, early years in Entertainment

There was so much comradary and respect between our parents, that I think it rolled down to our generation.  Along with comradary and respect came a lot of practical jokes. One that I recall:

Mom and Dad’s friends, Ben and Margaret Smathers had a family group called the Stoney Mountain Cloggers. Their kids, which were a part of the group, were all about my same age, and they were square dancers at the Opry.  Micky Smathers, the oldest son, was getting married, and announced that the wedding would be on stage at the Ryman Auditorium, where the Grand Ole Opry was at that time.

Hal Smathers, Micky’s brother, asked if I would give him a ride to the wedding. Now don’t get me wrong, he was a good friend, but at that time, I would much rather have been spending time with Candy or Debbie Smathers!  They were much better looking and far more appealing to me at that time!!

However, I did pick Hal up and took him to the wedding.  I parked my old white Ford Van in the lot right by the Ryman and we went inside.  The wedding and the reception was over just in time for rush hour traffic.  Rush hour traffic in Nashville is something that I still hate today.  When we rounded the corner, walking toward the van, I realized that the only thing worse than rush hour traffic, would be rush hour traffic in a van with JUST MARRIED and  FUN TONIGHT  written on the windows, while dragging cans, high heels, and other decorative things.  It even had handcuffs hanging from the antenna. 

Now, to make it worse, Hal had a full beard, as did I. The facial expressions of people passing us in traffic, was definately comical.

Judging by how hard Ben Smathers was laughing, it was clear to us that he had something to do with this practical joke, and I always wondered if Dad (Grandpa Jones) might have helped out a little!

Dad and Ben

Stoney Mountain Cloggers (Smathers Family Group)

Hal and Debbie

Many times when you are a musician, you will hear the phrases, “You are so talented. You can just play anything. You have such a gift. All you need to be doing is playing, that’s what you really know how to do.”

I agree with all these things to a point. However all of that God given talent, and it is that!, was developed with many many hours of hard work, sacrifice, and consentration. What is not realized, many times, is that someone who can play a musical instrument, write or sing a song, compose a beautiful piece of music, very often feel displaced in the so called, “REAL WORLD.”

It is often that artistic talent that makes a person continually reach for some other outlets for their artistic ability to shine.

That is what Mark Jones has found in his beautiful, hand made jewelry. Each piece is unique, once it is sold, that’s it! It’s done! Check them out, and get your own. They are listed under our PRODUCTS PAGE.

Most necklaces can be worn by either male or female and they are adjustable in length to fit any size.

They are a combination of glass beads and wooden beads with a hand picked, natural rock pendant, wire wrapped for completion.

Check it out and order one for yourself.

The CD will have over 20 songs/tunes on it featuring:  Ramona Jones on Fiddle, Mandolin, Vocals

Alisa Jones Wall  on Hammered Duclimer and Vocals, Ron Wall on Autoharp and Vocals, Ruth McClain on Upright Bass and Vocals,  Greg Davis on Rythem Guitar, Banjo and Vocals,  Danny Dozier on Travis Style Guitar,   Larry Sledge on Mandolin and Vocals, Greg Moody on Mandolin, Lead and Rythem Guitar and Vocals, and myself, Mark Jones on Banjo and 5-String Dobro.   

I am always amazed when I play with these guys at the amount of talent that they have.  It is not only easy to work with these guys but also lots of fun since we have worked together for so many years. It is like coming home anytime we are together. We always have lots of catching up to do.  Every year these guys are good enough  to come to Mountain View, Arkansas  to the Grandpa Jones tribute that is held on Labor Day weekend at the Ozark Folk Center in honor of my dad. 

I believe that the new CD will be entitled “Falling Leaves”  after the song that dad wrote. Hopefully we will be able to get it released before too long. Look for it on this site. We will have it here for you as soon as it is available.

Good talking to you. Come back and see me soon!