I became interested in country music at an early age due to the influence of my grandparents, the late Robert (also known as Bob or Moss) and Donna Thompson. When I was two years old, I began playing a plastic guitar with them at various jam sessions. At three, I hit the stage with my plastic guitar at the World Series of Fiddling held at Powderhorn Park in Langley, Oklahoma.
At Powderhorn Park, I met Noel and Doris Peavler from Oklahoma City. Noel had just started playing the fiddle and would spend hours jamming with me and my plastic guitar. When I was six and had played with Noel for three years, I decided I wanted to play the fiddle. I discussed his decision with J.C. Broughton, a national champion from Sapulpa, Oklahoma. When J.C. told me I would need a 3/4-size fiddle to start, I immediately began checking the vendors at the festival to see if one was available. I found one for $75 and agreed to buy it with money saved from my allowance if my parents would pay for lessons. Everyone in the family agreed that the $75 would likely be money wasted, but I bought that fiddle!
In October of 1995, I began taking Suzuki violin lessons from Ruth Wilson, a classical violinist from Tulsa. Ms. Ruth gave me a great start. I would play Allegretto and Andantino with her then come home and play Old Joe Clark and Cripple Creek with Pop or back Nan while she sang Sweet Thing. I continued the Suzuki lessons for nine months until my family moved from Tulsa to Spavinaw.
In October of 1996, I met Monte Gaylord, a real fiddler, and began lessons with him. Monte had the ability to take my Suzuki training, ear for music, and desire to learn and teach me tunes like Sally Johnson, Chancellor's Waltz, and Dill Pickle Rag. After fifteen months with Monte, I was fiddling! When Monte was offered a touring position with Clint Black, he connected me with Dave Gaylord his younger brother. In January of 1998, I began lessons with Dave at his home in Vinita, Oklahoma. Dave taught me tunes like Sally Goodin', Don't Love Nobody, Martin's Waltz, Dusty Miller, and Gray Eagle before accepting a position with Alan Jackson. In the spring of 2003, I began lessons with Matt Wyatt of Independence, Missouri, learning tunes like Fort Smith, Choctaw, Whoa Mule, Forked Deer, Wednesday Night Waltz, Durang's Hornpipe, and many more. Matt inspired me to learn the history of Texas-style fiddling, travel to Texas and meet the musicians, learn how to teach myself, and how to truly love the music.
Well-known fiddler, Jana Jae has encouraged and inspired me. I attended several workshops sponsored by Jana, played with her at various Grove activities, and opened for the Kountry Kuzins at her urging. I was honored in 1998 as a "Youth Star of Tomorrow" at the Grand Lake Pelican Fest in Grove due to Jana's influence. At one of Jana's events, I met members of the Northeast Chapter of the Oklahoma Fiddlers' Association and began attending their monthly meetings. The chapter awarded me a scholarship to assist with lessons. In April of 1999, I was honored to play a tribute to Bob Wills on the floor of the House of Representatives at the Oklahoma State Capitol. I also received a scholarship to study with Matt from the Oklahoma Bluegrass Association in 2003.
In 2003, I made my first trip to Texas playing in the youth division of the World Championship Fiddlers' Contest. Texas fiddlers and guitarists welcomed me with open arms and encouraged me to join the Texas Oldtime Fiddlers' Association. Since that time, I've been obsessed with attending every TOTFA event that I possibly can.
Musicians of all ages have played important roles in my continued improvement: Jason Andrew: Justin Branum; J.C. Broughton; Orville Burns, Royce, Jerome, and Eric Campbell; Jason Crisp; John and Jake Duncan; Major, Louis, Ray and Royce Franklin; Randy and Marty Elmore; Sam Fields; Earl Garner; Monte, Dave, and Sadie Gaylord; Rex Gillentine; E.J., Carl and Tonya Hopkins; Jana Jae; Jacob Johnson; Frankie Kelly; Kyle Link; Junior and Cody Marriott; John Masters; Anthony Mature; Dale and Terry Morris; Rick Morton; Valerie O'Brien; Noel Peavler; Norman, Vernon, and Betty Solomon; Fred and Alita Stoneking; Benny Thomasson; Bob and Donna Thompson; Gordon Townsend; Ricky Turpin; Wes Westmoreland; Steve Williams; Bud, Allen and Matt Wyatt; and members of both the Texas Oldtime Fiddlers Association and the Northeast Chapter of the Oklahoma Fiddlers' Association. Yes...I know I was too young to know a few of these folks, but their music is timeless!
In addition to playing the fiddle, I played the alto sax in the Adair High School Band under the direction of Richard Newhart and was selected as a member of the 2002-2007 Mid-Eastern Oklahoma Band Directors Association (MEOBDA) Honor Band, the 2003-2007 Northeast Band Directors Association (NBDA) Honor Band, and the 2006-2007 Oklahoma Secondary School Association All-State (OSSAA) Honor Band. I'm currently a member of the Northeastern State University Marching/Concert Bands and the NSU Jazz Combo.
I have placed in fiddle contests throughout Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, Tennessee, Illinois, and Idaho and have kept track of all my musical accomplishments.
Please Help Me Find Pop's Guitar |
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On the evening of Friday, December 28, 2001, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. while I was at my grandmother's, thieves in a dark car backed into our driveway in Spavinaw, kicked in the backdoor, and stole a Gibson guitar left to me by my grandfather (Robert Thompson) as well as four other guitars:
If you have any information about these items, please call. |
MAYES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT. |
On the morning of August 7, 2008, I awoke to find a message on my cell phone saying, "Bubba this is your lucky day. I have your grandfather's guitar." After 6 years and 223 days, I was doubting that I would ever hear those words. The caller's ID was blocked from my phone, and he said that he would call back later and let me know how I could pick up the guitar. He sounded honest and sincere, and I really wanted to believe that this was finally it. I called Mom and Dad who were both in meetings at work and couldn't be reached. I went to Nan's and let her listen to the message, and we were both in tears. We were trying not to get our hopes up until we had more information. The previous evening, I had received a call after midnight asking for information on a Godin guitar that I was selling. This guitar had been left with me several years ago as a consignment sale by a cousin whose father had played music with my grandfather. The caller wanted to know the price. Since his caller ID was blocked, I asked that he send me an email so that I would have contact information. It was strange but this caller sounded very much like the one that was calling about Pop's guitar. As I awaited the second phone call, I received an email with pictures of him holding the guitar, stating that the serial number was a match, and saying that he really was interested in the Godin guitar. I called the owner of the Godin, Jerome Campbell, to tell him the good news about Pop's guitar and to ask how much he wanted for his guitar. Jerome said, "I was on the road and missed getting you a graduation present. Take this guitar as a gift and use it to get your grandpa's guitar back." As soon as Mom and Dad got home from work, we drove to the home of Mr. Ernest (Ernie) Pittman, a retired private investigator and guitar player, who met us at the gate. When I opened the case and looked at the guitar that I thought I would never see again, I became forever indebted to my new friend. Ernie explained that he had purchased the guitar in a pawn shop the day before for $1000. With excitement over the new purchase, he called a friend in the insurance business who happened to ask the serial number. The friend ran the serial number and reported to Ernie that the guitar was stolen and belonged to Bubba Hopkins. Ernie spent the whole evening researching my web site, watching videos, and reading about the long lost guitar. He shared with us that he just knew he had to contact me and return the guitar even if he lost his money. Knowing that Ernie could have easily kept the guitar and never contacted me, we struck a trade...Pop's guitar for the Godin guitar and a little cash. We ended up visiting with Ernie and his wife for quite some time, left feeling like family, and invited them to the Branson fiddle contest. The moral of the story...never lose hope and know that there are still good and honest people in this world like Mr. Ernest Pittman. Thank you, Ernie!
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