On
October 13, 1973, George Reese of Houston, Texas went on a first date with a pretty
young lady named Jacqui – 39 years later, the couple celebrated the anniversary
of that first date while completing a checkmark on George’s bucket list by
traveling all the way to Lewisburg for the Goats, Music and More Festival to
meet Jimmy Hall of the headlining band – Wet Willie.
George
and his brother Randy, who has been playing music in various bands for most of
his life, are avid music fans. It was his brother, Randy, who first saw Jimmy
Hall playing the harmonica that made the brothers long-time fans of Hall and
his band, Wet Willie.
“It
was truly on my bucket list to see Wet Willie,” George said. “But, how much
more special was it that I checked it off my list in Lewisburg, Tennessee.”
George
heard about the band coming to play the 10th Annual Goats, Music and
More Festival this year and began calling around to see if he could not only
watch them perform but also meet Jimmy Hall.
“It
started with Gina Jones who got me in touch with Eddie Fuller,” George said. “I
am so grateful for him allowing my wife and I backstage to not only get
autographs but to stay and hang around with the band as well.”
George
and his wife Jacqui enjoyed a little time in Nashville before coming down to
spend the day enjoying everything the Goats, Music and More Festival had to
offer. When the band arrived early Saturday evening to get ready to perform,
George and Jacqui were right there backstage and spent time with Jimmy Hall and
the rest of the band right up to the time Wet Willie took the Rock Creek Park
stage.
“If
Eddie is the one in charge of getting the music for the festival, he could not
have picked a greater band in my books,” George said.
The
couple from Texas truly enjoyed their 39th anniversary of their
first date at the Goats, Music and More Festival in Lewisburg. They were
surprised by the welcome and the warmth shown by the community.
“Everyone
should experience, once in their lives, that genuine welcome we received from
complete strangers who quickly made us feel at home and treated us as if we
were long lost relatives,” George said. “The folks I met from Lewisburg are
simply amazing and y’all gave my wife and I a trip we will never forget.”
Photo Above:
George Reese (left) gets his Wet Willie poster
signed by Jimmy Hall (right) of Wet Willie as fellow band members (brother Jack
Hall in background and sister Donna Hall far right), get ready to take the stage.
