The Lights of Marfa

The evening of March 24, 2011, will always stand out as one of the more special evenings of my life. Bobbi, Nathan and I left out early the day before to drive up from Summerville, SC, to our destination in Nashville, TN. I packed up my clothes, grabbed my iPod, and looked down at the invitation in my hand as I walked out to the car. The cover of the card read, "Light up the night with one of the world's premier fingerstyle guitarists!" The inside of the card detailed the book launch party for Doyle Dykes's book, The Lights of Marfa, that we were setting out to attend. It was to be held at the Ford Theatre and Rotunda at the Country Music Hall of Fame. I was, and still am, overwhelmed with gratitude for the invitation. It was going to be a special getaway for the three of us, and I was going to get to spend some time with the greatest guitarist known to me, and his family. . -

I've known Doyle for over 13 years now. I first saw him perform at a convention center in San Angelo, Texas, around March of 1998. I'd already been playing guitar for 25 years at that time, but I wasn't prepared for what I was about to see and hear that night. All I can say is that when Doyle played, I felt the presence of the Lord. I'd never seen anything like it, and had never imagined God could use a musician in such a way. The music reverberated in my mind as I lay down that night. I was in a bit of a dazed state for a couple of days afterward. The whole process of getting to know Doyle and his daughters, Haley and Holli, could comprise an interesting blog all its own. All I can say is that God has ordained a friendship that includes plenty of memorable evenings, like the night the lights went out in Griffin, Georgia. Doyle was playing and there was a powerful storm like God's on percussion section playing in the sky. The power went out during Twin Six Shooters, and Doyle and Holli kept on playing even though we weren't convinced that a tornado wasn't about to uncover the building! Another evening, Doyle called me up on stage in front of a couple hundred seasoned guitar pickers and handed me his guitar. I played one of his tunes while he watched. My hands were trembling, but I was so moved by his kindness and confidence in me. Then there was the night I first met his mother, Martha and his father, Bubba Dykes. I was blessed to be able to thank them for encouraging their son in music and in the Lord, and express my gratitude for the impact he had made on me. Another night, we talked past closing at a Cracker Barrel about God, Guitars, daughters and Grandpa Jones. We looked around and the place had been closed for a half hour, and one of the bus boys was sitting patiently, looking our way as we sipped coffee oblivious to the time. I was at a Waffle House with him and Haley a little while back, and I imagined this must've been how he'd felt sitting across from Chet or Merle Travis. What an honor these times have been. In all, Doyle and his family have become very dear to me over the years, but man, can I digress?!!

All this said, I still never dreamed I'd be able to share in such a special occasion with my friend, guitar hero and brother in the Lord. When we arrived at the Hall of Fame, we milled around and I chatted with a friend, Jeff Fields, and his family who had drove up from Atlanta for the occasion. We had a chance to give Haley a quick greeting and then move into the Ford Theatre for the concert. While sitting down, I looked around the small, but impressive venue, and that's when I saw Ricky Skaggs walk in with his wife and sit down in the audience...the same audience I was in! "Okay, be cool, Keith," I thought. After all, it looked like no big deal to everyone else that Ricky Skaggs just casually walked in. No one accosted him with cameras or sharpies. I looked over to my left, and whispered, "hey BB, that looks like Kurt Listug from Taylor Guitars!" I recognized him from is column, Kurt's Corner, in Wood & Steel. "...and that's, Oh my goodness, Bobbi, that's Bob Taylor!" My voice was rising just a bit, and she patted me as if to remind me that I was to be a grown up in these situations. That's when I looked behind me and, great big ol' tall, cool, legendary Rock 'n Roll Hall of Famer, Rebel Rouser, himself, Duane Eddy walked in, and sat down behind us. That's when I called Kristin, and whispered that I thought I might be in need of medical attention. .

The concert was incredible! Retired Grand Ole Opry President, Bob Whittaker, offered a few words and introduced Doyle. Doyle's son, Caleb, joined him on Bridging the Gap with Dave Pomeroy, Andy Leftwich and Jimmy Capps backing them up. Doyle's daughter, Heidi, came up and told the White Rose For Heidi miracle from her perspective. Doyle presented her with a white rose, and though I could hardly see through my own misty eyes, I imagine everyone else was equally touched. Donnie Sumner of The Stamps and Elvis fame, came out and glorified God with a testimony and a song, I'd Rather Have Jesus. The song was a true story for Donnie as he had chosen to leave Elvis for the Lord. Doyle actually had made the same choice in 1972, when he felt the Lord's conviction in the form of the question, "which King are you going to play for?" Doyle faced the prospect of meeting with and possibly playing for Elvis on that same evening of conviction, and Doyle left the building...without Elvis. David Pack of Ambrosia, and Larry Carlton joined Doyle in Ambrosia's biggest hit, You're the Biggest Part of Me. Haley performed with her fiance, Jake Johnson, and their band, and were just wonderful. The music was world class, the venue was world class, and the audience was world class...what a blessing to be there. -

Afterward, we attended a reception where I got to wander around and eat cookies with Bob Taylor. Okay, now I'm just bragging! Seriously, it was cool getting to shake Duane Eddy's hand, and tell Bob Taylor how much I enjoy his guitars and his new book, Guitar Lessons, which I had just finished reading. The best part was to look over and see Doyle surrounded by his family and a room full of greats...all there to honor him. Doyle always honors the Lord, he always honors the military, guitar players, music lovers and even little ol' me, but this night was something extra special. Everyone there got to return a little bit of that honor to a man who had given so selflessly to so many. It was an honor all its own to be among the warm, friendly faces in the room there to congratulate their friend...my friend.

Finally, I now get to Doyle's book, The Lights of Marfa, and it is a wonderful read. It is one amazing story after another of a man who has the gift to see God's hand at work in his life and in the lives of others. He calls these God moments "lights" and likens them to the strange and beautiful phenomenon he witnessed in the desert one night in Marfa, Texas. The book has made me reflect on my own Lights of Marfa moments. And as I reflect, I see those lights even more numerous and more clearly, and I know they are from God. Doyle is one of those lights in my life, or maybe he's just a reflection of an even greater light. I've seen God at work in him, and I can say I've longed to be closer to the Lord for what I've seen. May that be said of us all.