Anyone attending the Armuchee festival can attest to the great jam sessions. And there are certain performers who come to mind...J.N., Onie, and Jane Baxter, Hughie Wylie, Ralph Abernathy, Curtiss Whitman, Murray Freeman, Connie Morris, Doodle Thrower, James Watson, Tut Taylor, Ed Wade, Bob and Mildred Pinyan, John and Luther Deevers, Stanley Walker, and the Merrill Family. One who seemed to particularly be a center of attention was Paul Jordan (or 'Jer-den,' as some would say). A powerful fiddler! One number that was a signature piece was "Road to Columbus."

 

In the mid-eighties on one of my many adventures to Armuchee, I happened onto a group of - must have been at least - 10 - 15 pickers all going at a 'gazillion' miles a minute with Paul Jordon in the middle..."Road to Columbus."

 

Of course, I could not resist...got out the banjo and joined in. After a few minutes another selection came up...and then another...some instrumentals - then a vocal. Then some 'new' member said, "Paul. Play that 'Road to Columbus.'"

 

So, here it goes again...that scene must have been repeated at least 6-7 times over the course of the evening as people came and went. A magic session - intertwined around the energy and tremendous wit of one of the major personalities of North Georgia music.

 

How I miss that fiddlin.'

 

Bill Brown

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