Regarding the identity of the RGNC guys playing music in the photograph below, I recall your attention back to the glory days of our west coast branch... At that time, America was a different place, and it was not uncommon to find one's free time being filled with high quality, actually humorous entertainment which poured forth like a stream of visual gold from the television sets of a grateful nation. Yes, my friends, those were the days when the airwaves were graced with a wonderful little slice of Americana known simply as 'The Andy Griffith Show'. And even though the program (at least the good episodes) was filmed in black and white ( a big set-up for the following gem), the characters and storylines lines remain as colorful as ever in the memories of those who were blessed to have watched them not only at their regularly scheduled time, but in syndication as well. And when said storylines contained even a mere hint of musical seasoning, it is a well known show-bidness fact that Mr. Andy Griffith his own self would make an in-depth perusal of whatever musical talent from the local area might be suited for helping to bring an authentic sound to the music to be played, and that music was Bluegrass music, dear friends. Which brings us to a resolve re: the identity of the non-Darling musicians shown with Anj, and they are none other than our own RGNC legends, The Kentucky Colonels. The Colonels, of course, were one of the all-time greatest BG bands, and the focal point for their continued relevance and popularity some 40 (more accurately, 30, ed.) years after their last official gig, is the fact that they produced the greatest guitar player of all time, bar-none; Mr. Clarence White. Yes, Clarence is truly the finest player of the guitar ever, regardless of style or era. And we are proud to be able to have called him one of our own here at the RGNC. May his memory be eternal.

So, there you have it. The story of a different time, a different America, a different RGNC. Perhaps someday, we will have an opportunity to tell the entire RGNC story in all of it's richness and glory. That would certainly be a worthy undertaking that would be warmly received by a nation so hungry for heros and inspiration. But for now, let us just remember some of the boys who helped put us on the map, and hope that someday we may have a place in RGNC lore alongside them when the stories are told.

be good.