Day 7--May 4, 2013

          Since this is the last day of the Little Roy and Lizzy Music Festival, I thought I’d take some time to tell you about Lizzy Long. 

(Little Roy, Me, Rebekah and Lizzy)

Lizzy was born and raised in Lincolnton, Georgia, just down the road from Little Roy Lewis.  Back in the early ‘50’s the Long Family and the Lewis Family played music together.  As Lizzy explains it, when it was decided that the families should go on the road, the Long family were farm workers and couldn’t leave their farms.  The Lewis Family were factory workers and could set out on their own.

At first, the group was called the Lewis Brothers.  Later, when the Lewis sisters joined their brothers, they became the Lewis Family.  Later they would be known as the First Family of Bluegrass Gospel and go on to win many awards, including the prestigious Dove Award.

Richard and I followed the Lewis Family from the time we started dating in 1974, but we didn’t become personal friends until at least ten years ago.

The first time I saw Lizzy Long perform on stage with the Lewis Family was at a New Year’s concert at Jekyll Island, somewhere around the year 1999 or 2000.  She came onto the stage and began to play her fiddle.  I’ll never forget how impressed I was with just the few songs she played.  I remember the whole audience going crazy with laughter when Lizzy slipped her shoe off and placed her foot onto Little Roy’s shoulder.  Neither performer missed a beat.  They continued to play as if it was the most normal thing ever.

A couple of years later, we got to know them, and Richard and I consider Little Roy, Bonnie and Lizzy good friends.

When Lizzy was fifteen there were problems at her house that caused the state to intervene.  Little Roy and Bonnie became Lizzy’s foster parents.  Lizzy performed with the Lewis Family for a short time.  She then went to college at Glenville State College in West Virginia.  There she was part of the College Bluegrass Music Scholarship program.  While there she started her own bluegrass band, Mountain Fury, and her identical twin sister, Rebekah played bass in the band.

After college, Lizzy moved to Nashville, Tennessee.  She was mentored by Earl Scruggs, Buddy Spicher, and Mac Wisemen.  Little Roy and Bonnie were very involved with their foster daughter’s life.  I’ve heard Lizzy play so many different instruments that I believe she could play a washtub and make it sing.

A few years ago, the Lewis Family retired.  Little Roy showed no signs of slowing down, and it seemed like the most natural next step in his life for him and Lizzy to team up.  They tour all around the country as the Little Roy and Lizzy Show with a great collection of musicians backing them.  Al Hoyle (Mayor of Elijay, Georgia) plays guitar, his sister Lisa plays bass, a great guy from North Carolina, Nathan Stewart plays mandolin.  All the members sing, also.

(Me, Al and Lizzy)

        Nathan, Lisa and Me

Lizzy Long is one of the most talented young ladies I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet or hear play.  And, yes, that talent impresses me, but what moves me most about Lizzy is when I see her following in Little Roy’s footsteps with helping young people in their quest to learn to play banjos, guitars, fiddles or whatever instrument they desire.  Little Roy and Lizzy take their time to share their musical skills.  I look at that as a twist on an old saying.  Lizzy and Little Roy Play It Forward.

Until next time,

Dolores