Bring on the Rain: Kelly Red can handle it (with a little help from her friends)
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
No, I'm not gonna let it get me down.
I'm not gonna cry.
And I'm not gonna lose any sleep tonight ('cause)
Tomorrow's another day
And I'm not afraid.
And I'm thirsty, anyway,
So Bring on the Rain.
Bring on the rain.
Kelly Walker opened her Saturday, Aug. 20 performance at the Fling Barn with Bobbie Gentry's 1967 classic "Ode to Billie Joe," a song about the day "Billie Joe McAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge."
Kelly, a.k.a, Kelly Red, dedicated the song to her late husband, Whiteoak High School graduate Kevin Walker, who passed away two months ago at the too-soon age of 47, just 11 days before the couple's 20th wedding anniversary.
It was the first of many songs of love, love lost and personal sentiments related to both, presented in powerful emotion by Kelly Red and the Hammerheads last weekend. When Kelly dedicated a song or two to Kevin and glanced over at their daughter, Bailey, who was seated near the front of the stage, tears streamed down both faces.
They say the show must go on.
For the friends of Kelly and Kevin Walker, the show certainly did go on.
The unlikely combination of a Cincinnati Western Hills High School graduate and a Mowrystown Whiteoak High School graduate teaming up for a lifelong career in entertainment is almost as unlikely as perhaps the only other marital combination of West High and Whiteoak grads – which would be my wife and me. Pam graduated with Kelly in the Western Hills High School class of 1982. I graduated just a couple of years ahead of Kevin at Whiteoak High School.
Kelly and Kevin began their "musical journey" together in 1990. She was the lead vocalist. He was the Leader of the Band and keyboardist. Where Kelly is flamboyant and vivacious, Kevin was more of a behind-the-scenes professional. She's hot. He's cool. Fire and Ice. A perfect combination.
Kelly and Kevin performed in and around the Tri-State, and the Hammerheads have been the house band for Jeff Ruby for several years.
They've also played the opening ceremonies for KAMP Dovetail for years.
Earlier this year and shortly after Kevin's untimely death, SATH Executive Director and camp organizer Linda Allen told the Highland County Board of Commissioners that she told Kelly to skip this summer's camp.
According to my recollection of that Wednesday morning board meeting, Linda said she told Kelly, "Don't worry about playing at this year's camp."
To which Kelly replied, "I HAVE to play at KAMP Dovetail. I'll be there."
Similarly, Kelly Red and the Hammerheads HAD to play last Saturday's benefit concert at the Fling Barn. And play they did.
After the first few songs, observant audience members began noticing a trend. Most songs touched on loved ones and loved ones lost. Through it all, the "band kept playing on," as Buck Owens would say.
In between numbers, Kelly told the audience about a song that Kevin insisted she "must" learn. She laughed – and cried.
She thanked friends in her adoptive county. She thanked Dr. Bill Fling and the Fling Barn staff. She joked with anyone and everyone. She cussed. Oh, yes, she cussed. But we all understood. Losing a loved one will make you do that, sometimes.
She even played "Hound Dog." But not the Elvis Presley version. When Kelly Red plays "Hound Dog," you can bet your sweet molasses that it's going to be the Big Mama Thornton rendition. And it was. (If Big Mama Thornton has been reincarnated, I'm thinking Kelly Red had something to do with it.)
The band played Otis Redding's "Dock of the Bay." Just sittin' on the dock of the bay, watching the tide roll away...
A second set slow song, "Bring on the Rain," brought couples to the dance floor and left Kelly in tears. A full, clear, fluid onslaught from recently overworked tear ducts. (Jo Dee Messina would have been proud of her, though.)
Yes, Kelly and her children lost Kevin this summer. Just prior to his passing, the family also lost their home to a fire. While the former was more permanent than the latter, both tragic events will remain etched in the family's memories. As it is with all friends, we feel for them and wish we could do more to help. Anything, in fact.
But the show must go on. Indeed. And it is.
For Kelly, Kevin and their children, indeed, the show must go on. And, through the rain, your friends in Highland County have made that point very clear.
Bring on the Rain. Kelly Red can handle it. And she will get by with a little help from her friends.
(If you'd like to make a contribution to the Walker family, you may contact Dr. Bill Fling or The Highland County Press.)
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
I'm not gonna cry.
And I'm not gonna lose any sleep tonight ('cause)
Tomorrow's another day
And I'm not afraid.
And I'm thirsty, anyway,
So Bring on the Rain.
Bring on the rain.
Kelly Walker opened her Saturday, Aug. 20 performance at the Fling Barn with Bobbie Gentry's 1967 classic "Ode to Billie Joe," a song about the day "Billie Joe McAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge."
Kelly, a.k.a, Kelly Red, dedicated the song to her late husband, Whiteoak High School graduate Kevin Walker, who passed away two months ago at the too-soon age of 47, just 11 days before the couple's 20th wedding anniversary.
It was the first of many songs of love, love lost and personal sentiments related to both, presented in powerful emotion by Kelly Red and the Hammerheads last weekend. When Kelly dedicated a song or two to Kevin and glanced over at their daughter, Bailey, who was seated near the front of the stage, tears streamed down both faces.
They say the show must go on.
For the friends of Kelly and Kevin Walker, the show certainly did go on.
The unlikely combination of a Cincinnati Western Hills High School graduate and a Mowrystown Whiteoak High School graduate teaming up for a lifelong career in entertainment is almost as unlikely as perhaps the only other marital combination of West High and Whiteoak grads – which would be my wife and me. Pam graduated with Kelly in the Western Hills High School class of 1982. I graduated just a couple of years ahead of Kevin at Whiteoak High School.
Kelly and Kevin began their "musical journey" together in 1990. She was the lead vocalist. He was the Leader of the Band and keyboardist. Where Kelly is flamboyant and vivacious, Kevin was more of a behind-the-scenes professional. She's hot. He's cool. Fire and Ice. A perfect combination.
Kelly and Kevin performed in and around the Tri-State, and the Hammerheads have been the house band for Jeff Ruby for several years.
They've also played the opening ceremonies for KAMP Dovetail for years.
Earlier this year and shortly after Kevin's untimely death, SATH Executive Director and camp organizer Linda Allen told the Highland County Board of Commissioners that she told Kelly to skip this summer's camp.
According to my recollection of that Wednesday morning board meeting, Linda said she told Kelly, "Don't worry about playing at this year's camp."
To which Kelly replied, "I HAVE to play at KAMP Dovetail. I'll be there."
Similarly, Kelly Red and the Hammerheads HAD to play last Saturday's benefit concert at the Fling Barn. And play they did.
After the first few songs, observant audience members began noticing a trend. Most songs touched on loved ones and loved ones lost. Through it all, the "band kept playing on," as Buck Owens would say.
In between numbers, Kelly told the audience about a song that Kevin insisted she "must" learn. She laughed – and cried.
She thanked friends in her adoptive county. She thanked Dr. Bill Fling and the Fling Barn staff. She joked with anyone and everyone. She cussed. Oh, yes, she cussed. But we all understood. Losing a loved one will make you do that, sometimes.
She even played "Hound Dog." But not the Elvis Presley version. When Kelly Red plays "Hound Dog," you can bet your sweet molasses that it's going to be the Big Mama Thornton rendition. And it was. (If Big Mama Thornton has been reincarnated, I'm thinking Kelly Red had something to do with it.)
The band played Otis Redding's "Dock of the Bay." Just sittin' on the dock of the bay, watching the tide roll away...
A second set slow song, "Bring on the Rain," brought couples to the dance floor and left Kelly in tears. A full, clear, fluid onslaught from recently overworked tear ducts. (Jo Dee Messina would have been proud of her, though.)
Yes, Kelly and her children lost Kevin this summer. Just prior to his passing, the family also lost their home to a fire. While the former was more permanent than the latter, both tragic events will remain etched in the family's memories. As it is with all friends, we feel for them and wish we could do more to help. Anything, in fact.
But the show must go on. Indeed. And it is.
For Kelly, Kevin and their children, indeed, the show must go on. And, through the rain, your friends in Highland County have made that point very clear.
Bring on the Rain. Kelly Red can handle it. And she will get by with a little help from her friends.
(If you'd like to make a contribution to the Walker family, you may contact Dr. Bill Fling or The Highland County Press.)
Rory Ryan is publisher and editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]