Family Reflects



				*Family Reflects* Billy Stewart (Redd's youngest son) Growing up the child of a famous musician is far from the normal family life one would expect. What others take for granite, I cherish! As I look back over the years, I see a life of sharing my father with the rest of the world. Things that other kids do every day with their fathers, were luxuries for me. Traveling for 8 to 9 months out of the year doesn't leave a person much time for his family. But the joy and the pride I feel whenever I think of my dad makes all I've missed somehow worth while. Though my father was unable to be at my side every step of my life, he made sure to teach me some of the most important lessons in this world by living a life that could mold me by example. I always watched my father from a distance and learned from the things he would do and say. Like an artist painting a scenery I would study him in detail and try to recreate his personality in me because I admired him so much. If you look at the picture in the upper left hand corner of this page and look deep into his eyes you will see who my father was. He was probably one of the kindest people I have ever met. Full of life, always had a joke, always giving, and never had an unkind word for anyone. I don't think I have ever seen my father angry, it just wasn't in him! He had an incredible faith in God, and a love and passion for music that manifest itself in the wonderful music he has left us. As a young boy I would watch in amazement while my father played his guitar. His fingers would dance across the strings creating beautiful music that would grab the attention of all who were around him. He was truly an entertainer, and would leave you feeling better about life and yourself no matter what your circumstances! I am a better man for having known him, and thank him for being my father. As I have always shared him with you through my life, I will continue to share him now and forever! May he touch your life as he has mine. I love you dad, save me a seat in the band! A Story From My Childhood I think it is safe to say that all of us as kids have done something in public to embarrass our parents, but when one of your parents just happens to be a Country Music star, the word embarrassing takes on a whole new meaning. The scene begins in 1962 in Louisville, Kentucky and my father was home from touring on the road. My dad was Redd Stewart, the lead singer, fiddle player, and guitar player with Pee Wee King and The Golden West Cowboys. After 10 years on the Grand Ole Opry, a bunch of hits like ‘Tennessee Waltz,’ ‘You Belong To Me,’ and almost 30 years of performing, they had become very well known, especially in Louisville where they both lived. It was common place at that time for people to come up and ask for my dad’s autograph when we were out in public. When my dad was in town the first thing he wanted to do was take his family out to dinner. His favorite place to go was the Howard Johnson Restaurant, which in those days was a classy place to go. Since we went there a lot everyone knew who he was. Now picture my dad sitting there with his family, with a restaurant full of people trying to enjoy a well deserved dinner with his wife and three kids when suddenly my brother comes up with a brainstorm idea. So he asks for permission to go to the bathroom, grabs his partner in crime (that would be me), and off we go to destroy my dad’s evening. When we get to the bathroom my brother unveils to me his diabolical plan. I, being young and dumb, decide that this would be a very cool thing to do. Here is the plan: take all of the toilet paper rolls we could find and clog up the toilets and sinks and then flush the toilets and turn on all of the sinks so they would run over. Great plan right! After completing our task at hand we headed back to the table to join the family as if nothing was wrong. As you can image we were snickering, which tipped off our mother that something was up. Mom says, “what did you two boys do in that bathroom?” Our faces got straight as a ruler and she knew something bad was about to happen. It was at this point that we all noticed quite a bit of commotion going on over by the bathroom door as the restaurant employees were frantically trying to stop the river of water flowing out of the men's bathroom into the restaurant. Dad looks at mom, mom looks at dad, and they both look at us with a look that could kill you right there on the spot. With so much commotion going, on my parents used the opportunity to head for the door and whisk us off to the house. At this point in the story I must tell you that my father was one of the most gentle people I have ever met. Getting angry was just not in his DNA. But this night was an exception! My brother and I were removed from under our beds, which we hid under as soon as we got in the house, and our butts got up-close and personal with his rhinestone covered cowboy belt. I don’t remember if my father ever confessed to the management that his sons were the ones who flooded their restaurant, but I don’t remember eating there anymore either. Next Ambridge Music ©2004-2011 All Rights Reserved
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