Porter Wagoner Remembered By Fans and Friends

Posted by amyclark on 08/19/2008
Keywords:

11/1/2007 Stephen L. Betts   Famed Grand Ole Opry and country music legend Porter Wagoner was remembered Thursday morning (11/1) by a variety of country music’s brightest stars including Vince Gill and Dolly Parton. Nashville TV station WSMV reports that Pastor Jerry Sutton from Two Rivers Baptist Church led the ceremony at the Opry House, while musical performances were given by Vince, Ricky Skaggs, Buck White and the Carol Lee Singers. Fans were welcome to attend the funeral. Visitation was held Wednesday at Woodlawn Funeral Home in Nashville. Opry members joined Dolly on stage for the final song of the ceremony, “I Saw the Light.” The Missouri-born Porter Wagoner signed with RCA Records in 1955 and joined the Opry in 1957. “It's the greatest place in the world to have a career in country music,” he said in 1997. Porter died Sunday night (10/28) at a Nashville hospice, shortly after being diagnosed with lung cancer. On Wednesday night, Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, Jim Lauderdale, Rodney Crowell, Mike Farris and other artists paid tribute to Porter at the Tennessee State Museum. The Tennessean’s Peter Cooper reports that Marty Stuart's Sparkle & Twang exhibit served as the sparkling, twanging background, and that two important Jeans in Porter's life — daughter Debra Jean and duet partner Pretty Miss Norma Jean — were in attendance. Also on hand were a number of other notables, from former US Attorney General Janet Reno to author and self-described “Queen of the Groupies” Pamela Des Barres. “We've been so inspired by him for so long,” said Emmylou, who sang three Porter songs with Buddy before inviting Jim up for a resplendent version of “Satisfied Mind.”  The event was a kickoff to the Americana Music Conference and a chance for Porter's friends, family and fans to remember the Wagonmaster. Porter was originally slated to appear at the tribute, and to sing with Jim. “My daddy had every intention of being here tonight,” said Debra Jean, who accepted an “American Original Award” on behalf of her father. Editor’s Note: I was also in attendance at the tribute last night, and have to reiterate what Peter Cooper had to say about all of the wonderful musical performers, especially Mike Farris, whose soul-stirring “Green, Green Grass of Home” brought the house down. The entire program was a lovely tribute to a terrific entertainer the likes of which this town will never see again. And being surrounded by Marty Stuart’s treasured memories while all that great music was taking place on stage made it even more special. - SB