Tail of the Weak is a series of insights and musical memories from the mind of Uncle Dave Griffin, singer/songwriter and founder of the Annual Gram Parsons Guitar Pull and Tribute Festival, from Waycross, Georgia. In 1968-69, my sophomore year at Ware County High School, I struck up a friendship with Robbin King, a fellow classmate in Band and Biology. We shared a lot of common interests—music, sports, and sound upbringings. Robbin was the youngest of several siblings raised

Tail of the Weak is a series of insights and musical memories from the mind of Uncle Dave Griffin, singer/songwriter and founder of the Annual Gram Parsons Guitar Pull and Tribute Festival, from Waycross, Georgia. As a local outdoor music festival promoter, I've seen a few things over the years—from males and females wishing to pay tribute to Ray Stevens's legendary 1974 nudity ditty, “The Streak”—from gracious celebrities who gave magical musical performances to former stars

Tail of the Weak is a series of insights and musical memories from the mind of Uncle Dave Griffin, singer/songwriter and founder of the Annual Gram Parsons Guitar Pull and Tribute Festival, from Waycross, Georgia. It was the evening of January 18, 2016 when I got the news that Glenn Frey, founding member of The Eagles, had passed away. I was just walking out the door, heading to play the Annual Lee-Jackson Banquet for the Waycross, Georgia Sons of Confederate Veterans chapte

Tail of the Weak is a series of insights and musical memories from the mind of Uncle Dave Griffin, singer/songwriter and founder of the Annual Gram Parsons Guitar Pull and Tribute Festival, from Waycross, Georgia. Much like springtime rejuvenates the soul, the first crisp, cool days of Fall does the same after a long, hot Southern summer. As far back as I can remember, those first crisp, cool days always moved into Waycross at the same time the fair came to town. The 1st Ann

Tail of the Weak is a series of insights and musical memories from the mind of Uncle Dave Griffin, singer/songwriter and founder of the Annual Gram Parsons Guitar Pull and Tribute Festival, from Waycross, Georgia. James Cocke sat in Waycross, Georgia's Hickory Wind Music Store, smiling at all the friends, family, and curiosity seekers who had come to hear a story or buy an autographed copy of his self-published book, Cocke Tales: Memoirs of a Redneck Hippy. I was reminded of

Tail of the Weak is a series of insights and musical memories from the mind of Uncle Dave Griffin, singer/songwriter and founder of the Annual Gram Parsons Guitar Pull and Tribute Festival, from Waycross, Georgia. If I may impart for a moment—when you get to be almost 65 years old, you're supposed to have somethin' to impart, whether its a pearl of wisdom or a sexagenarianist (hmm, I like the sound of that) opinion. It's easy to get married—it's hard to stay married—this, co

Tail of the Weak is a series of insights and musical memories from the mind of Uncle Dave Griffin, singer/songwriter and founder of the Annual Gram Parsons Guitar Pull and Tribute Festival, from Waycross, Georgia. There's a growing trend—at least in my neck of the woods—in musicians-turned-wedding officiators, spurred on by nothing more than the simple wishes of friends, fans, or family of certain artists. Their wish is for that special artist to perform the ceremonial nupti

Tail of the Weak is a series of insights and musical memories from the mind of Uncle Dave Griffin, singer/songwriter and founder of the Annual Gram Parsons Guitar Pull and Tribute Festival, from Waycross, Georgia. There are musicians who are star headliners, the mere mention of their name evoking tears and hysteria. There are musicians who are excellent session players, cream-of-the-crop studio sidemen who make star headliner's records come to life. There are musicians who

Tail of the Weak is a series of insights and musical memories from the mind of Uncle Dave Griffin, singer/songwriter and founder of the Annual Gram Parsons Guitar Pull and Tribute Festival, from Waycross, Georgia. Judge Ben Smith, Jr. was married to Lynn, a beautiful, petite Florida girl. Together, they raised four children—Ben III, Bill, John Randall, and Evelyn. All the Smiths are talented souls. Ben III is a master craftsman and woodworker; Bill and John Randall are exce

Tail of the Weak is a series of insights and musical memories from the mind of Uncle Dave Griffin, singer/songwriter and founder of the Annual Gram Parsons Guitar Pull and Tribute Festival, from Waycross, Georgia. Gustav Valentine Berglund III, born April 30, 1947 in Knoxville, Tennessee, was a surrealist musician, an actor on television and in movies, a stand-up comedian, and a philosopher—in short, an American treasure. By the late Sixties, Mr. Berglund III was a member of

Tail of the Weak is a series of insights and musical memories from the mind of Uncle Dave Griffin, singer/songwriter and founder of the Annual Gram Parsons Guitar Pull and Tribute Festival, from Waycross, Georgia. During the Summer of Sam, folks in New York really had something to worry about. I suppose whether or not to go disco dancing with a killer on the prowl was a pretty weighty decision to make. Down in Valdosta, Georgia at the King of the Road, the motel where Down