2003

The Dunaways -Nov 2003

Ten years ago when The Dunaways first started, our group consisted of Randall, Kanah, Tammy, and another female singer and one of my dearest friends Marilyn Rockco. Marilyn played a huge role in the beginnings of our group and I owe it to her to dedicate this months article to her recent wedding.

Marilyn is Leonard Barrier's neice and is also a good songwriter. Leonard wrote or co-wrote with me the following songs He Kissed My Heartache, I'll Still Be Loving You, Calvary Still Touches Me, I'll Cry All My Teardrops, and a bunch more, Marilyn wrote one of our first national songs Elijah...but anyway, I said all that to say this:

Ten years ago I told Marilyn that if she ever got married please don't ask me to sing or play at her wedding, but instead let me be a bridesmaid. Since I have always had to play or sing I have never been a bridesmaid until October 25th, 2003. Marilyn granted me my wish and Kanah was also a bridemaid.

Now Darren Powell is Marilyn's groom and everybody loves them both! But Darren has been to every wedding over the past ten years and without fail has pulled some kind of stunt. Like stealing the grooms, and all sorts of crazy stuff. Marilyn told me prior to the wedding that she was expecting the worst.(She wasn't kidding)

Marilyn and Darren knew that they were in for it but, I have never experienced a wedding like this and I am sure I never will again so I must tell this story.It was a huge wedding for a country church. Over 500 guests and 30 attendants.Everything was extravagant. As we entered the sanctuary I recognized that this was going to be different right off the bat. All over the sanctuary you could hear turkey calls from every direction and an occasional moo as in (cow moo). City folk might have a hard time with this..... but anyway...the crowd would snicker and chuckle but the craziness was only beginning!

We managed to get to our places and I really thought the fun was settling down when all of a sudden a woman was escorted in dressed in black from head to toe wailing and crying as if the event were a funeral. The crowd laughed out loud this time but before the laughter ended from somewhere in the bandstand, someone grabbed a mic and said " Would the owner of the blue station wagon with Mississippi plates please move your vehicle" By this time I was freaking out and started laughing covering my face with my bouquet!

The crowd quieted down but only for a moment when the band began playing the wedding march and the bride entered. Only it wasn't Marilyn! It was a very obviously "with child" (stuffed with pillows of course) female who was escorted up to the platform and ran up and kissed the groom! He almost fell over backwards... by this time the crowd erupted in laughter. Of course they did it for real and Marilyn was escorted in by her daddy.

Now there were four preachers on the platform who had comments about the couple and they were also very funny and told how Darren was only reaping what he had sowed. Somewhere in the midst of all this some puppets sprang up out of the baptistry in the background and did a silent puppet show.

Now what is crazy about all of this, is that all of the people are just folks paying Darren back for their individual situations and none knew when or what the others were doing.I guess the next two things really took the cake though. Are you ready for this???

Santa Claus runs down the isle grabs the mic from the preacher and then proceeds to introduce Elvis in full costume who then sings with complete musical accompiniment from the band...Hunk a Hunk a burning love while Santa danced around. People were crying and doubling over in hysterical laughter! I am not kidding this really happend!!

Well, you just have to know my friend Marilyn. I don't know of another person who reminds me as much of Dolly Parton as Marilyn. Especially with a mic in her hand. Her movements and expressions and the whole attitude is very Dollyish and she is a hoot! There she was in a wedding gown with the full train and everything. Finally we had a serious moment in the wedding as the couple said their vows. But the seriousness only lasted until that was over.

Marilyn was supposed to sing a very slow and serious song to Darren. She had said earlier that she wanted me to set something up for her just in case she need a little prank of her own so I did. But I never in a million years dreamed she would go through with it. She held the mic and with her Dolly like spirit turned to the crowd with all the confidence of a Queen and said "Ya'll have had your fun now I'm gonna have mine" and with that the band played the intro to "I'm Having Daydreams" If you don't remember that song just ask somebody older. She sang the entire chorus and tagged it. The crowd went wild and gave her a massive ovation!

Well a few more things happened like the bible boy shooting the groom and he fell over backwards pulling Marilyns veil out of her hair...she just picked it up and put it on Darren. Later Marilyn's mother asked her how she got the nerve to go through with her little prank and she said " I couldn't let them steal my thunder" LOL!!!

As for The Dunaways. Me and Randall plan on being in Gatlinburg by the time this is published taking a few days off to just doing absolutley nothing. We have been some busy folks lately. Kanah has left our nest and made her own little nest. So we have been moving things for a few weeks and trying to get situated. God is still doing great things and we are excited about what he is doing in our ministry. Beautiful Day is receiving good airplay and we are thankful for it. We are slowing down our travels as we near the holidays this year but are gearing up for hopefully our busiest most productive year yet for The Dunaways. Thank you everyone for your encouragement and prayers we love you and hope to see you on the road in 2004!

Love Tammy
[url=http://www.dunawaymusic.com]http://www.dunawaymusic.com[/url]

New Ground - What A Month!!

What A Month!!

Hi Everyone,

What a month is putting it very lightly - it was lots of singing and praising the Lord and we absolutely love it!!

We started our weekend out in Sumter, South Carolina with Paul & Donna Shannon of Paul's Promotions. New Ground, along with Michael Combs and the McKameys sang to a house full!!! Paul & Donna definitely know how to promote - very first class concert. We are already looking forward to going back to Sumter in 2004. On to Blue Springs Baptist and Iuka Church of God. Both of these churches are located in north Mississippi and we love being a part of their Homecoming and worship services.

The next weekend finds us near home - well, only two hours away is near home to us - LOL. We sang at the Mt. Lakes Resort, Bethel Assembly of God and Briarcliff Church of God - great singings, concerts and fellowship.

Then it was off to the Perry's Homecoming in Dahlonega, Georgia. We met the neatest group by the name of the "Pioneers" from Georgia. They were our table neighbors for the day and we became instant friends. Needless to say, no one could get a word in edge wise with me and Hurley both talking - just kidding Hurley - we had a blast. From there onto Gainesville, Georgia to the Emmanuel Baptist Church with promoter Odeus Smith. It was a great spirit filled morning of worship. We end the weekend in Rome, Georgia with Dale's kin!! We were at the Dayspring Assembly of God for a Sunday night sing and lo and behold our extended family - the Howell's come in!!! Made our day to see Dorothy, Bobby, Verlene, Jessie, Lou, Wallace, Ethel and Ressie. Also, got my monthly supply of chow-chow!!! Thanks Uncle Wallace!!

We end the month singing for the WEIS Radio and Solid Rock Appreciation Sing held in Centre, Alabama. New Ground, the Florida Boys and Aaron Crisler sang to a great crowd on Thursday, October 23rd - then off to the Singing Convention in Savannah, Tennessee with a young man that you will be seeing a lot of in the near future - Josh Franks. Not only can this young man sing the house down - he can promote like nobody else's business. To only be 19 years of age and promote a singing like he does - WOW. We shared the stage that night with Josh, Palmetto State and the Hamilton Family. We definitely want to go back to Savannah very soon. We ended the month in Albertville, Alabama at the Corinth Baptist Church. Mr. Cook welcomed us with open arms and his congregation really worshiped during the service. We love those types of services.

We've got a lot of singings already on the books for November. Make sure that you check out our web site at [url=http://www.newgroundministries.com]http://www.newgroundministries.com[/url] and come and be with us when you can.

Until He Comes,

Robbie Maxwell
New Ground
[url=http://www.newgroundministries.com]http://www.newgroundministries.com[/url]

The Dunaways - Oct 2003

Whoa Nellie! Ever been double booked? Well my husband is beginning to be notorious for doing that to us. I think his booking job is on very shaky ground. We recently had another caper so I guess this is as good a place as any to share it.

Somehow, someway, he had written down a date on Friday and it was supposed to be on Saturday. We found out on the Thursday night prior. We were also booked to sing with "my hero" Dottie Rambo on the Midnight Jamboree on the same night!!! We had a major problemo. The first event was in Corinth, MS at 7:00 and of course the other was at midnight in Nashville.

What on earth were we going to do???? We absolutley could not cancel either one of them.

Ever heard of a corvette airplane? Well there is such a thing. Les called it a tiny bird. We walked off the stage in Corinth at 8:30 and to God be the glory the airport was only two miles from where we were. A lady pilot was waiting for us and she took us right on out to the little tiny bird and three of us scardy cats climbed up on the wing and got in.

Susan was a great pilot! She was so smooth and 40 minutes later we were in Nashville with Twila Labar bless her sweet precious heart waiting for us. Twila was equally as smooth in getting us to the Earnest Tubb Record Shop. We got there in plenty of time and had a ball with Dottie on the Midnight Jamboree. Dottie Rambo is a really funny lady and she kept us laughing all night. She still has a strong voice and is allowing God to just keep on and on using her for his glory.

All I could think when I got back in the plane to fly back was....if I die at least I will die happy, I got to sing with Dottie Rambo!

October is busy busy for us and Randall did it again. We are double booked for a revival in Kentucky and the Mississippi State Quartet Convention. Here we go again!!! "SIGH"

Thanks for all the response out there for our new single 'Beautiful Day"

Love Tammy
The Dunaways
[url=http://www.dunawaymusic.com]http://www.dunawaymusic.com[/url]