Toe-tappin' good time created in Paris

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

Members of the Hard to Git band performing at the Red River Valley Fair were (from left) James Martin, Anna Martin, Sam Bolton, Reva Bolton, and Stuart Anderson. -- Staff photo by Cope

Sept. 16, 2004 - There were plenty of tapping toes and patting hands within the audience facing the Red River Valley Fair's outdoor stage on Sept. 3. Although each night, during the fair, entertainment enthralled the crowds, the Friday night show offered popular, local talent.

As the sun set and the temperature dropped, The Hard to Git bluegrass band, and The Paris Cloggers, heated things up with their performances.

The six-member Hard to Git band united for some of the familiar bluegrass tunes, including "Gospel Plow," "Can't You Hear Me Calling?" and "Train Carrying Jimmy Rogers Home." Between songs, band members James Martin and Sam Bolton shared stories about band members, jokes, and some tales. The rapport between the band members drew the crowd into their fun.

"We do this for the fun of it," said James Martin, band member. "Actually, I think we have much more fun than the audience."

Martin and Bolton have a following of bluegrass listeners that remember them from their radio show. "Sam and I did skits and stories during our early Sunday morning radio show on KPLT (Paris). ... Many of those people where there at the (Sept. 3) show."

Show officials said the crowd gathered for the bluegrass, and cloggers, was the second largest during the Red River Valley Fair; just behind the numbers gathered for Paris native, country music legend Gene Watson concert.

The Hard to Git band had played together for many years, then dispersed when Martin and Bolton were active in the Simply Gospel group. Reunited for just over a year now, the band practices about once a week; and more if they have an upcoming event.

"We left from the fair (on Sept. 3) and went to Mount View, Ark., to perform (over the Labor Day weekend)," Martin said. On Sept. 11 they played an event in Lone Star, and on Oct. 1, they will perform in a gospel jubilee in Bonham. They also travel in the area to monthly bluegrass shows.

The band consists of Martin on mandolin, and Bolton on guitar, plus Anna Martin on right bass, Reva Bolton on rhythm guitar, Stuart Anderson on banjo, and Jonathan Perry on guitar and dobro. (Perry was unable to perform with the group at this year's Red River Valley Fair.)

Also generating a good time for fair-goers were "The Paris Cloggers." The fast-footed females took the stage and performed several favorites, including a dance to "Boot Scoot Boogie."

There are usually 15 to 20 cloggers who perform with the group and travel to events in the surrounding area, but more than that participate in the classes offered Monday nights in Paris.

The group has been clogging for about 10 years, and started with five women and their daughters. "We thought we'd be skinny," Susan Davis said, with a chuckle, about the forming of the group. "Then our daughters grew up and didn't want to do it any more, but we kept going."

To keep going, the group gathers weekly at the YWCA in Paris. To get others involved they offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes. "Anyone can come, and anyone can perform," Davis said.

"It's just a lot of fun," said Terri Creamer, who along with co-worker Ginger Higgins, has been clogging for about a year. "It's good exercise, too."

Higgins said she wasn't too sure about performing in front of an audience, but has developed her skills well enough to do so. "I still get so nervous before we go on," she shared.

Davis pointed out persons can advance from beginner to intermediate, and from intermediate to advanced, on their own pace. "They move up when they feel like they are ready."

(For information about the clogging classes, call Davis at 903-784-2365 or the Y at 903-785-5221.)