Not long after the unfortunate demise and closure of the “Country Club” jam locale, a restaurant cook named Lucy decided to move back to the rural township of McBaine for her retirement years and open a pub in an empty storefront. She promptly invited our Sunday jam session to move-in, and we so did gratefully. The pub was just a stone’s throw from the defunct Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad line that had been converted into a bike trail. A replica whistle stop station nearby provided a panel of archival photos from the days when a steam-engine locomotive shuttled a daily train of rural folks to and from the neighboring university town. A banjo picker and bassist frequently bike the MKT or “Katy” Trail that parallels the Missouri River.
Because of the proximity of “Lucy’s” pub to the university town, the School of Journalism students took interest in the jam session site. YouTube enthusiasts videotaped the musicians. Links to YouTube jam clips are below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67j4l1ue5QY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_tIbrexWgM
Although the Missouri River Flood of 2005 submerged Lucy’s pub under 5 feet of water, the proprietor afterwards restored the premises for patrons and pickers while she readied to fully retire. As a special thank-you for her generosity to us and our listeners, the BRC founder penned the farewell tune “Sweet Lucy.” One Sunday afternoon when her girlfriends stopped-by the pub for tea time, Lucy requested the writer who gladly agreed to perform the song for them. The tune brought smiles all around. A few years later, he attended Lucy`s funeral along with her many, many admiring friends.
On the below “Sweet Lucy” sound file, all music and vocals are performed by the author as recorded on his 2005 CD “Songs about the Heartland” which benefitted the Children’s Hospital. Enjoy.
From the BRC: Be safe, follow hygiene rules, and keep on picking.
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