In honor of Grand Rivers native and musical talent Stanley Walker, Sunday, June 7, 2015 will be celebrated with a concert by Stanley and friends at the Badgett Playhouse. The concert is free, but donations will be collected for Together We Rise. Together We Rise is a non-profit organization benefiting area foster children. The donations will go towards a fund to purchase custom duffel bags for foster children going in between homes.

When moving from home to home, or facility to facility foster children carry their belongings in a plastic bag– if they have belongings to begin with. Most of the things they carry are clothes that aren’t even theirs because in most foster facilities children share clothing. Stanley Walker Day will raise money to purchase duffel bags with special items placed inside for these children to travel with. These bags are $30 a piece and come with a blanket, pillow pal, hygiene kit, a box of crayons, and a coloring book. A team of volunteers will decorate the bags and add in a personal letter. Giving them words of inspiration and encouragement they don’t hear very often.

Help us to make a difference in the way children experience foster care here in our area. Concert time is 2:00 p.m. Join us in Grand Rivers for an afternoon of live music by Stanley Walker and friends and help Stanley raise money for a good cause.

Stanley Walker
Stanley was born in Grand Rivers and started playing guitar when he was only five years old. Growing up, he listened to the Grand Ole Opry and dreamed of being there. In 1969, his dream came true when he played behind Jean Shepard. Stanley’s sound is different from any other guitarist because he tunes his guitar to straight E rather than natural tuning. His early playing resembled single string Ernest Tubb songs.

Stanley played lead guitar for Ray Smith and the Rock and Roll Boys from 1956 to 1969. With rockabilly enthusiasts, Ray is revered for his five singles released on Sun Records. Stanley played on all of Smith’s songs cut at Sun.

Stanley’s career highlights also included appearances on Hee Haw, solo recordings, and backing artists including Roy Clark, Lefty Frizzell, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Stanley has produced four country albums and was recognized in Billboard Magazine for the singles, ‘Old Easy Loving & He Ain’t Easy Anymore. Stanley was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2008.

Here is a link we have started online to help raise money for the bags. Together We Rise!