Last weekend I had the honor of being invited to crash a reunion of my favorite band in the world - The Elderly Brothers! That's not a typo. I'm not referring to the 60's rock duo of Phil and Don Everly. I am speaking, of course, of the 1990s/2000s quartet of Jack, Ben, Tom and Andy - four old friends from the University of Tennessee.
Those of you who know me know that Jack is my father. The other guys are fraternity brothers and/or friends of his from the University of Tennessee back in the late fifties/early sixties. They kind of randomly came together back in the late 90s and had a jam session that led to a over a decade of good times, good music and lots and lots of alcohol. And I am lucky enough that they have allowed me to be a part of it.
My sister, Mary, and I have always kind of worshipped my dad. He's just an all-around good man with a whip-smart sense of humor and a kind and selfless way about him. So growing up, we used to park ourselves in the stairwell and listen to him and my mom when they hosted their friends, the Greers. (Greer, incidentally is the aforementioned Ben's last name as well as the middle name of my youngest daughter.) We even took to setting up a tape recorder to record their raucous goings-on and still quote the ridiculous exchanges to this day.
My parents have always been close friends with the Greers. We also grew up hearing Tom's name as he and my dad had been buddies in college. Andy we did not know growing up, but from what I understand my father knew of him when they were in school. They had all played together in various groupings in one form or another when they were in school. I don't think they had ever played together as a foursome until that weekend in Atlanta back in 1998.
When they came together that evening, something extraordinary happened - their voices blended perfectly and they sounded as though they'd been playing together for years. Or, perhaps it was the wine...
Mary and I were there that night, just taking it all in. We both were struck by how neat it was that these folks had drifted in and out of each others' lives for the previous four decades yet came together as though no time had passed at all. They still knew the words and the chords to all of their old standards. They sang the songs she and I had been forced to listen to ad nauseum as kids and now could not get enough of. They sang distasteful (albeit, hilarious) limericks.
And they laughed. They laughed and laughed - each playing off of the next one's narrative. And let's not forget, they drank. We all did. I seem to recall waking up that next morning trying like hell to summon the will to live. (I've woken up many a morning at the Greer's house with that feeling.) At the time, the Greer's older son was engaged and they were in the middle of planning the rehearsal dinner. Someone had the idea that perhaps the four of them should perform there after dinner was served. Then someone else piped in, "You should call yourselves the Elderly Brothers". I wish I could tell you I gave them that name, but I can't. It was my sister and I have hated her ever since for giving them the perfect name.
From there, the band was born. They have played several "gigs" (using that term loosely...) since that time and Mary and I were even asked to serve as back-up singers along with Ben's wife, Lynda. We were the "Viagras", and we were very good, thank you. One of the gigs they played happened to be my rehearsal dinner back in 2002 and it was so fabulous having these men who I dearly love be part of such a special time in my life.
So when we got word that after a long hiatus, they would be reconvening back in Atlanta, Mary and I asked Lynda if they would be so kind as to allow us to once again share in the joy of their time together. Her answer was yes (would she really have said no?!) and down to Atlanta we went. To sing along to songs that no one our age has ever heard of. To laugh harder with these folks approaching 70 years of age than we do with people our own age. To drink copious amounts of wine. And to relish in the bond that these men share after being in each others' lives for so many years.
As much as I love music and as big a role as it plays in my life, my real joy of the Elderly Brothers lies with an important lesson they have taught me. And that is, to surround myself with people of quality and to do everything I can to stay in touch with them as our lives go in differing directions. The people whom I consider to be my close friends are people who interest me and make me laugh. They are worth the effort it takes to keep in good touch.
I said in my very first post that I have been writing a book for some time now. The book is about my experience with the Elderly Brothers and what it has meant in my life. One day, I just may finish it - even if no one ever wants to read it. It's an important thing for me to write, because the subject has given a lot of meaning to my life. What is the meaning of life? I don't know, certainly, but for me it has something to do with creating opportunities to spend time with interesting people who matter to you. That's what the Elderly Brothers do.
Well, that, and they drink lots and lots of wine.
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