Fifty-three years, 53 YEARS(!), this band has been entertaining gardeners and anti-gardeners alike. Two original members of the band, Jeff Hanna (guitar and lead vocal) and Jimmie Fadden (drums, harmonica, etc), still lead it, along with Jeff's son, Jaime Hanna (guitar), and current members Bob Carpenter (keyboards), Jim Photoglo (guitar), and Ross Holmes (fiddle, mandolin). That's Jaime at the far left and Jeff next to him, with Ross in the brown jacket, Bob at the keyboard, and Jim in the background. Jimmie Fadden was a little hard to see (he's behind Jeff) from our vantage, but he's an amazing musician. I was astonished at the sheer talent displayed by all the members, all of whom are also lead and background vocalists on various songs as well as musicians. Unfortunately, they are so good in person, they made ProfessorRoush's dreams of becoming a rock star fade into the distance.If there's ever a musical band that a gardener can get down with, it's got to be the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, doesn't it? I mean, even the band's name draws gardeners down the path towards them, you dig? Let alone the songs they've done. Do you think any gardener can really resist Buy for Me the Rain? Listen to the lyrics: (You-tube link if you click here)
♫Buy for me the rain, my darling, buy for me the rain; Buy for me the crystal pools that fall upon the plain. And I'll buy for you a rainbow and a million pots of gold. Buy it for me now, babe, before I am too old.Buy for me the sun, my darling, buy for me the sun; Buy for me the light that falls when day has just begun. And I'll buy for you a shadow to protect you from the day. Buy it for me now, babe, before I go away.
Buy for me the robin, darling, buy for me the wing; Buy for me a sparrow, almost any flying thing. And I'll buy for you a tree, my love, where a robin's nest may grow. Buy it for me now, babe, the years all hurry so.♫
Need I go on? Of course, I must. A Kansas gardener can always Stand a Little Rain. I can practically hear the brook in Ripplin' Waters and I like to Make a Little Magic in the garden as often as I can. And when the day is done, it's ProfessorRoush singing to the Mrs.; ♫Lazy yellow moon comin' up tonight, shinin' through the trees. Crickets are singing and lightning bugs are floatin' on the breeze. Baby get ready. You and me going Fishin' in the Dark. Lying on our backs and counting the stars where the cool grass grows.♫
Fifty-three years and counting! Rock on, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, rock on!
