I did not know he was a Folk singer – song writer and a teller –
that is a teller of STORIES –
A writer – a musician –
and a over all good dude !
His early years started out on Arena Stage in Washington D.C.
As a builder of sets !
We talked for about 45 minutes before his performance
his wife Mary –
How she graduated from Georgetown University –
How they lived in a little basement apartment
Poor – no money – humid and damp –
books on the floor would mold
writer of his own songs
The sheets to the bed would be damp
But he had his ” MARY”
She was 15 – he was 18 when they started dating.
She was extremely smart – in the top 5% – all over the country !
She later would do graduate work at Sloan – Kettering in N.Y.C.
on Cancer research !
Then after many jobs in the industry
while living just outside NY City
He got the break of a lifetime
A staring role as ” DREW” in DELIVERANCE
with Burt Reynolds – Ned Beatty & Jon Voight
and as the guitar player in DUELING BANJO’S !
conversations with Ronny Cox
and Rad
The rest is Hollywood history –
over 150 movies –
Multitude TV roles and series
Playing music before huge crowds and small venues
He likes the small venues where he greets and talks to everyone.
He lives in LA now –
in a small log cabin on his property
He tore out the tennis court so he could build it
And his daughter and family moved into the house
100 feet away !
His grand daughter Katherine – his buddy – they do everything together
Taking her twice to Ireland for several gigs
Dropping her off and picking her up from school
and now – in a short while – she will go to college
a short hour drive away –
always close –
always family.
He asked me how long we had lived here
saying it was a beautiful house
Thirteen years I replied –
” 2006 ‘ he replied .
” The year my Mary passed away” !
Mary was his World –
the only one he ever dated –
Never remarried –
or dated so he says.
I have a feeling that void was filled by his daughter
family
and his buddy “Katherine” !
His best friend became that from the movie Deliverance
Ned Beatty and remains so to this day.
Today – he does not do much acting
his last series was Nashville –
as Deacons father
In 2018 –
he hit the jackpot once again with his writing and music
” Bus to Baltimore ”
he wrote – produced and sang
A classic among Folk Music
He won Best American Roots Song
at the RoundGlass Awards.
And today that song is the theme song for the Alzheimers Foundation !
It was a opportunity of a lifetime to spend a evening and morning
with Radoslav Lorkovic ( Rad) and Ronny Cox
Although we never met Mary –
I feel we have through his music
and the haunting sounds from the accordion from Rad
The guitar and the stories from Ronny
and to know the story of his life
I am forever grateful for that chance
PAPA’S WORLD – HANGING OUT WITH RONNY COX
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