Ruby Allmond would be pleased to know she can still pack the house. 

Sixty-two years after she won the "National Champion Lady Fiddler Contest in Greenville, and a half century since her music entertained crowds at dances, gymnasiums and rodeos throughout North Texas and southern Oklahoma, an anxious crowd filled the seats in A&M-Commerce's Gee Library to listen to local musicians perform several songs written by Allmond. 

Texas A&M University-Commerce President Dan Jones

"Her music bespeaks the music and people of this region," remarked A&M University-Commerce President Dan Jones, "and it has been a real treat for me to learn about her music.  This collection enriches our campus and the Gee Library.  A library can be so much more than books and shelves; it can be a repository of cultural life."

(l-r) Brad Davis and Dr. Deborah Porter

The musical portion of the Ruby Allmond Music Recognition program opened with Dr. Deborah Porter playing a dulcimer and singing a sparkling rendition of Allmond's "Play One More, Mother Maybelle," a tribute to Mother Maybelle Carter that displayed Allmond's ability to communicate emotions through her lyrics, particularly with the refrain, "Bring back memories that live when you play." 

Vocalist Lou Ann Petty, accompanied by guitarist Brad Davis and bass player Rob McWhorter, took the stage next at Gee Library to delight the crowd with three Allmond songs, "Play the Blues for Me, Baby," "Walk on, Woman" and "Sparrows and Me."

Allmond was an accomplished fiddler and guitarist who died in 2006 at age 83, but her poetic lyrics left an impression on both the performers and the audience Monday in Commerce.

(l-r) Brad Davis, Lou Ann Petty and Rob McWhorter

And it was Allmond's lyrics that first caught the ear of legendary Texas songwriter Cindy Walker.  Having written "Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)" for Roy Orbison and co-authoring "You Don't Know Me" with Eddy Arnold, Walker knew a songwriter when she heard one.  Walker arranged Allmond's first sessions in Nashville.  The result was Allmond's top-ten hit "Reno," sung by Dottie West and produced by Chet Atkins. 

"I can't think of anything that gave her [Ruby] more pleasure than the first time she heard "Reno" on the radio," recalled Allmond's lifelong friend, Audra Brock. 

Special guest Audra Brock with Greg Mitchell, Master of Ceremonies in the background

Brock recently donated a collection of music and memorabilia of Ruby Allmond's career to Gee Library and she was a special guest at the program Monday.  As a testament to Allmond's warm and genuine personality, the audience was sprinkled with people that had been close friends with the Bailey, Texas native for years. 

John Armstrong

John Armstrong, Bonham State Bank President during the years when both Brock and Allmond were employees at the bank, was in attendance, as was Glynell Sewell, another longtime Bonham State Bank employee and friend of Brock and Allmond.

Sitting on the front row was a 1945 Bailey High School graduate who played bass for Allmond's Texas Jamboree Band, Emmitt Gene Bryant.  Other members of the band included Guy Bryant, Joyce Bryant and Clay Harvey.

"She was superb," Bryant said.  "She was just as good a guitar picker as she was a fiddler."

Emmitt Gene Bryant

Bryant played in other local bands after working with the Texas Jamboree Band and the names he drops paint a picture of the music scene in Fannin County.

Billy Paul Johnson was emcee.

"And a good one!" Bryant adds. 

Bryant's band evolved into the Country Gentlemen.  When Allmond rejoined the group around 1960, the opening set would be by the Country Gentlemen and then the second set would feature Allmond in a gold and pink sequined outfit with the boys in the band, now called the Gold Tones, all wearing flashy gold lamé jackets that matched Allmond's attire. 

These music shows often gave guitarists J.D. Atchley and Vonda Frailicks a chance to entertain the crowd.  Cheryl Hicks was a popular local singer. 

In addition to Bryant, the Country Gentlemen featured an amazing drummer named Donnie Bowden and the talented Leroy Tarpley on steel guitar.

The music of Ruby Allmond is among the selections played on KETR 88.9's Notably Texan program, which airs from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. on Saturday. 

In case there is another Ruby Allmond just waiting to be discovered, KETR sponsors a monthly Songwriters Showcase at Cowhill Express Coffee Company in downtown Commerce and broadcasts part of the show.  This provides a unique opportunity for local musicians to get airtime on a 100,000 watt public radio station.

courtesy photo