HerbieMeeks

""To My Yankee Friend, Linda Fryer"
An old respected name, "Fryer", here around Mt. Ida, Arkansas. I remember " Whistling Bill Fryer", a genius with a photographic memory, a farmer, who we often saw in town, on the town square, entertaining the Saturday shoppers. No radios or TV's then, and a crowd would gather to listen to Whistling Bill recite comedy, and tell jokes. I often recall how a listener would challenge Bill to recite the Constitution, or let him look at a book page, then recite it word for word,,!!! And Whistling was his act, he could whistle a tune like he was reading the music.
I was a young kid back then, and I often think about Bill and what he could have been with the gift he had. But he was content just being a farmer, and hanging around the small town of Mt. Ida, Arkansas.
Your REB. Friend, Herbie"

		"AN INDEPENDENT VIEW" by: Linda Fryer, BMI, CLA © April 21, 2002 HERBIE MEEKS COLLECTION

CD TITLE: COUNTRY INSTRUMENTALS, 1950'S and more… ARTIST: HERBIE MEEKS LABEL: (HOME STUDIO) PRODUCER: HERBIE MEEKS
		If you like sitting around in the old 'honky-tonks', , or maybe even on someone's front porch, listening to the musicians jam, these are the CD's you need for your collection. Herbie Meeks, who grew up and cut his teeth on country music…long before Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, or Alan Jackson were even born… has been on a stage somewhere. And now, back home in Arkansas, he's been recording some of his favorite old-time tunes right in his own living room. I was fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of this music, along with some of his great old stories, and I am thrilled and honored to be able to tell you about them. Herbie has backed up some of the greats, talked and jammed with some of the legends, and spent much of his life doing what he does best, playing his music. He's started out playing a home-made lap steel guitar. He also plays fiddle, acoustic guitar, and about every other 'pickable instrument', and in fact, according to his bio, he has one of the most famous pedal steel guitars ever made! It was given to him by Dean Markley, back in 1972, and has been just about everywhere this musician has gone, and has back up many legends of our time. His bio points out that Herbie played back up for Garth Brooks, very early in Garths career, before most of us even knew he was alive! You can see a picture of Herbie on his mp3 website seated behind this guitar. And while you're there, you can listen to some of his tunes!
	The CD's that I have are from a collection of his 50's country ballroom and jammin' stuff, and all are dedicated to his late wife, the lovely Betty, to whom he was married for many years. Hmmm..I wonder how she put up with him, all that time. Just kiddin', Herbie. I know a nice guy when I meet him. And believe me folks, Herbie is one of the nicest in this business. At least that's what he tells me! Okok, couldn't resist another one…Seriously, though, I've been very honored to meet this man, and be privy to such great old stories. He's very modest, and tends to play down the importance of such a good side-man/session player, but I'll bet his old jammin' buddies, like George Jones, Lefty Frizzell, Cal Smith (the Country Bumpkin) and even Dottie West, would agree with me when I say, Herbie Meeks is VERY talented,,, and thank God for guys like him. Several years of this, getting to know so many great players and writers, were during the times of the Korean War (which Herbie also took time out to fight), and many of the musicians filled in for others, freelancing up and down the west coast, and just about anywhere their music took them.

			I learned some great stuff about the musicians who sorta 'started it all', reading his stories, and even though they are a bit sketchy and written with a modest hand, I think many of you would love to read them too. Hey, maybe we can get him to write a book! How about it, Herbie? I'll be glad to help ya! The CDs that I have, aren't generally for sale, and he doesn't record now for any record label, big or small, but I've been able to convince Mr.Meeks, that lots of folks would like to have them in their collections, and he's agreed to consider filling orders if there's enough country fans out there who want them… even if there are just a few. He's a very obliging
		gentleman, so with a little begging and pleading, I bet you can own some of his music, just like I do! All you have to do is ask. Ok? After you've heard his work on the MP3 site, and are convinced you NEED his songs in your CD rack, just contact me, or contact Herbie, directly, at HerbieMeeks@norman.lib.ar.us . Before I close this one up, I'm gonna let you read a little story that Herbie first told me. I thought it was great, and hey, I know…it's only…
		""To My Yankee Friend, Linda Fryer" An old respected name, "Fryer", here around Mt. Ida, Arkansas. I remember " Whistling Bill Fryer", a genius with a photographic memory, a farmer, who we often saw in town, on the town square, entertaining the Saturday shoppers. No radios or TV's then, and a crowd would gather to listen to Whistling Bill recite comedy, and tell jokes. I often recall how a listener would challenge Bill to recite the Constitution, or let him look at a book page, then recite it word for word,,!!! And Whistling was his act, he could whistle a tune like he was reading the music. I was a young kid back then, and I often think about Bill and what he could have been with the gift he had. But he was content just being a farmer, and hanging around the small town of Mt. Ida, Arkansas. Your REB. Friend, Herbie"