Sunday - July 15, 2007

On Friday and Saturday July 13 & 14, 2007 several thousands of Country Gentlemen fans were treated to a once in a lifetime event when "The Gents", lead by founding member, Charlie Waller's son Randy celebrated the 50th anniversary of this world famous band.

The festival was held at John Miller Jrs. Watermelon Park on the Shenandoah River near Berryville, Va. one of America's first country and bluegrass showplaces where possibly the first bluegrass festivals ever, were held. The park owned and founded by John U. Miller Sr. hosted nearly all of the great acts in Country and Bluegrass Music beginning in the early 1950s and was significant in bringing The Country Gentlemen to National prominence as a festival act.

Randy Waller and Len Holsclaw, long time CG manager/agent produced the event.

Fridays day opened a 1 PM with Nickel Misery, Naked Mountain, Dirty River, and Heather Berry's bands doing excellent jobs.

The Friday night show began with the host Randy and The Current Gents and progressed through many incarnations from the past featuring former members, Dick Smith, Kevin Church, Ronnie Davis,
Jimmy Bowen, Greg Corbet. Darren Auldridge, Billy Gee, Kent Dowell and Rick Allred.
The evening ended with a finale of all the players on stage for a super jam of Train 45.

Saturday opened with Nickel Misery Band, then began with folks who had long time connections to the Country Gentlemen.
Eddie and Martha Adcock with Tom Gray were next followed by the U.S. Navy Band who was joined by retired leader M/Chief Bill Emerson, the founding member of The Gents. The afternoon concluded with a standing ovation for former Gent Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver.

The evening began with Emerson telling the story of how it all began followed by Randy doing his song dedicated to his Dad, Charlie "My Daddy Old Guitar' played on Daddy's Old 1937 Martin D28 which Charlie played for over 40 years.
Pete Kuykendal, Tom Morgan, and Kenny Haddocks and Jim Cox of the very early Gents began the memory lane for the evening with Tim Finch singing the John Duffey tenor. The show then brought the bands of Eddie Adcock, Tom Gray, Jimmy Gaudreau, Bill Emerson, Bill Yates, Doyle Lawson and Mike Auldridge.
The current Country Gentlemen Randy Waller, Dave Kirk, Mark Delaney, and Gary Creed closed , followed by a finale of all the players on the Gents Classic "Fox On The Run" which was followed by the same tune which closed the 25th anniversary show at Wolf Trap "Orange Blossom Mandolin" and as they say "THE CROWD WENT WILD".

The band received letters of commendation from Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine and from the president of The Virginia Folk Music Association Sigrid Williams.

"Tom Cat" Reeder of WAMU radio and Len Holsclaw mcd.

RANDY WALLER PLAYED GUITAR AND SANG LEAD ON EVERY SONG, 9 HOURS ON STAGE, AN IRON MAN WITH A MAGNIFICENT VOICE.