Nick's European Tour and My Music Listenings

Nicholas, on the left, with classmates and friends touring the Parthenon

The music scene around the House-household has been all-together too quiet this past week. Nick left last week to go with some of his fellow students and others on a tour of Greece and Italy.  With his MP3 player full of the eclectic range of his musical interests, I am sure he has been listening to lots of music.  Hopefully, he has been able to experience some of the music of the Mediterranean world.

Meanwhile, back home, I have been listening closely to the 1980s song hit "Some Old Side Road" by the late Keith Whitley.  It is hard to believe that he and I would be the same age, if he were living.  His talent was incredible and potential unfulfilled.  Ralph Stanley discovered Whitley and another boy by the name of Ricky Skaggs.  These two kids were performing old Stanley Brothers songs so well that Dr. Ralph thought the music was coming from old recordings. Stanley hired the two boys who had to balance their playing with Stanley's Clinch Mountain Boys along with high school.  (If I had the talent, I would trade all my high school for a year of perforning alongside of Ralph Stanley.)  Just as Skaggs went on from the bluegrass beginnings to play traditional country music for a good many years, so did Whitley.  Even in the days when he performed with Stanley, alcohol was a demon for him.  Keith was incredibly talented, married to the lovely and talented Lori Morgan, and successful.  Alcohol sent him to an early grave.  My consolation for him is the great gospel song he wrote titled "Great High Mountain."

You don't have to move that mountain

Just help me Lord to climb it
You don't have to move that stumblin' block

Just show me the way around it

We must climb a great high mountain

To reach God's gracious kingdom

In His words you'll find the strength

If you will just believe them

Well, the way is filled with pitfalls

And sometimes we may falter

You can have His grace, my friend

On your knees down at the altar

You don't have to move that mountain

Just help me Lord to climb it

You don't have to move that stumblin' block

Just show me the way around it