In my travels I sometimes find myself in a wonderful position to hear a great story and, sometimes, be a part of the situation that brought this story together. This was the case when a gentleman and his wife made a trip from Tokyo, Japan to Bean Blossom, IN to bring me something that was dear to his heart.

 

On September 21st 2006 at a show in Bean Blossom, Mr. and Mrs. Shigeo Niida asked if they could come on my tour bus and personally hand me a picture that Mr. Niida took of my farther and his band in 1976 while my dad was on tour in Tokyo.

 

I was overwhelmed with the conversation and how he thanked my dad for turning him on to a music that has filled his heart with joy for some 30 years; and I was very touched that he wanted to meet the son of Don Reno so he could share the joy of the music. I sang several of my dad’s songs for Shigeo and his lovely wife and thanked his wife for putting up with her husband’s passion for this music called Bluegrass. What if she really liked opera all these years and had to listen to banjos and mandolins instead?

 

My heart goes out to Mr. and Mrs. Niida and I hope they had a safe trip home, May God Bless.

 

From the Bluegrass trail,

Ronnie Reno