性视界传媒

GLADEWATER 性视界传媒� Elvis, Johnny Cash and David Varnado have something in common: They性视界传媒檝e all made music in this East Texas town.

Varnado is hailed as the most awarded fiddle player in the United States. He was the Fiddle Player of the Year in 2017, as determined by the Academy of Country Music. The 55-year-old Port Arthur native has made music with Loretta Lynn, Johnny Paycheck, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Chris LeDoux and Longview性视界传媒檚 own Neal McCoy.

The limelight was on Varnado this past month as he received the highest honors Gladewater could bestow on a musician. The city declared Jan. 18 as 性视界传媒淒avid Varnado Day.性视界传媒� He became the first 性视界传媒淟iving Legend性视界传媒� musician inducted into the Gladewater Museum. And he became the first musician inducted into the local Stockyards Steakhouse Hall of Fame following his performance that same day.

Although Varnado will be featured in the town性视界传媒檚 museum, he性视界传媒檚 no museum piece. He性视界传媒檚 still an active musician, carrying with him the music-making lessons he learned from some of country music性视界传媒檚 brightest stars. He still believes he性视界传媒檚 got a purpose, too: making his fiddle tell a story.

性视界传媒淚f it性视界传媒檚 a sad song, I make my fiddle cry,性视界传媒� he said. 性视界传媒淚 want my part to help that singer paint a picture. And my picture is to reach those people out there, whatever he性视界传媒檚 singing about, sad or happy.性视界传媒�

性视界传媒楬e性视界传媒檒l never make a fiddle player性视界传媒�

On the surface, inducting Varnado into the Gladewater Museum might seem odd. He性视界传媒檚 never lived there. So, how did this Port Arthur native become the town性视界传媒檚 newest honoree?

His Gladewater roots started long ago, but not so far away. Bob Miller, owner of the Stockyards Steakhouse, has no shortage of friends in the music business, and he性视界传媒檚 not sure how he got them. But singers such as Kacey Musgraves, Billy Joe Shaver, Deryl Dodd and James Hand have been in his orbit. He formerly owned the Sacred Spur Ranch in East Mountain, which burned down about 15 years ago. It was a dance hall and event venue where Grammy-winning artists casually dropped by to sing.

Being that McCoy lives in the Longview area, he was a frequent guest there. Miller and Varnado met while Varnado was in McCoy性视界传媒檚 band, and they性视界传媒檝e been fiddlin性视界传媒� around together ever since.

It was only a matter of time before Varnado would play at the Stockyards Steakhouse in Gladewater, which Miller now owns. Varnado did just that several months ago, and that性视界传媒檚 when Gladewater Museum Director Elaine Roddy heard him. After that, museum leaders agreed they needed a living inductee 性视界传媒� and it ought to be Varnado.

He性视界传媒檚 known for his country music success, but Varnado性视界传媒檚 Cajun family roots are where his musical passion was born.

Varnado was 4 years old when his parents enrolled him in violin lessons with a professor at a South Texas college. Varnado caught on quickly 性视界传媒� perhaps too quickly for his teacher性视界传媒檚 liking. Varnado 性视界传媒減assed him up性视界传媒� and quickly grasped the advanced concepts of fiddle-playing.

Perhaps jealousy motivated his professor to tell his parents a lie. The professor said: 性视界传媒淗e性视界传媒檚 not interested in it. He性视界传媒檚 looking around the room and this and that. He性视界传媒檒l never make a fiddle player.性视界传媒�

But Varnado wasn性视界传媒檛 deterred; his father was a fiddler. Four or five months later, Varnado walked into his father性视界传媒檚 room and found him sitting on the side of the bed, playing the fiddle. This time, Varnado had a teacher who believed in him.

性视界传媒淭he first song I learned how to play was 性视界传媒楾winkle, Twinkle, Little Star,性视界传媒櫺允咏绱綕 Varnado said. 性视界传媒淚 had it learned in about 20 minutes. And then from there, I started advancing.性视界传媒�

Little did Varnado know that he would become the pupil of some of the most legendary fiddlers of his day.

Varnado quickly surpassed his father性视界传媒檚 fiddlin性视界传媒� faculties and needed a more advanced teacher. Enter Rufus Thibodeaux, the 性视界传媒淜ing of the Cajun Fiddlers性视界传媒� and, conveniently, a friend of Varnado性视界传媒檚 father. He was known for playing with Grand Ole Opry star Jimmy C. Newman and Bob Wills, the 性视界传媒淜ing of Western Swing.性视界传媒� Thibodeaux worked for George Jones, Jim Reeves, Lefty Frizzell and other country stars.

Varnado was a teenager when he started taking lessons from legendary Texas fiddler Johnny Gimble, who played with Bob Wills before embarking upon his own successful recording career and playing with some of country性视界传媒檚 most noted musicians: George Jones, Ray Price, Dolly Parton and George Strait, to name a few.

Another musician helped Varnado break into the Nashville music scene.

Jo-El Sonnier, an RCA recording artist hailed by the Grand Ole Opry as the 性视界传媒淜ing of Cajun,性视界传媒� was born to a poor Louisiana French-speaking, share-cropping family in 1946. By the age of 3, he was playing the accordion, and he began recording music at age 11. He made music under country and Cajun labels, and his accordion can be heard on the records of numerous country stars, according to his Grand Ole Opry biography.

Sonnier brought Varnado with him to Nashville.

性视界传媒淲hen I went to work with him, we were touring with Alabama,性视界传媒� Varnado said. 性视界传媒淭he rest is history, Man. I went on to work for Loretta Lynn, then Chris LeDoux and Ty England.性视界传媒�

Making the transition from playing Cajun music to country music wasn性视界传媒檛 all that hard for Varnado, he said. Cajun music is a combination of country and blues anyway. But, of course, he had the best teachers around.

性视界传媒淚性视界传媒檓 not the greatest fiddle player in the world. I was at the right place at the right time,性视界传媒� he said. 性视界传媒淚性视界传媒檝e had older people that believed in me and helped me and showed me guidance on what to do in this business and what not to do in this business, and that性视界传媒檚 what性视界传媒檚 helped me.性视界传媒�

Playing with heartVarnado couldn性视界传媒檛 imagine doing anything other than making music for people and watching their faces light up with joy, he said. But country music 性视界传媒� known for its odes to breakups, hurts and hang-ups 性视界传媒� isn性视界传媒檛 always joyful.

Nevertheless, even a sad song can be music to the ears and medicine to the soul, Varnado said. George Jones was no doctor, but when he passionately sang of deep heartbreak and being done wrong, people who性视界传媒檝e experienced the same kind of hurt could relate to it.

Varnado has watched people tell Jones that his music saved their lives. Songs such as 性视界传媒淗e Stopped Loving Her Today性视界传媒� talk about real pain that people live through, and that性视界传媒檚 why people relate to it, he said.

To convey that kind of pain in an authentic way requires something special: heart. And that性视界传媒檚 what Varnado has, said Sari Hewlett-Pacheco, a talent manager and award-winning producer who has worked with him.

性视界传媒淵ou have to put your heart and soul, and you have to feel it,性视界传媒� she said. 性视界传媒淥therwise, it性视界传媒檚 just notes. He feels it.性视界传媒�

Varnado remembers the words George Jones once told him about singing: 性视界传媒淚f you性视界传媒檙e going to sing a song, sing it every night like you性视界传媒檙e reliving it. It性视界传媒檚 the only way you性视界传媒檙e going to get to those people.性视界传媒�

Varnado applies that mentality to his playing, and all the effort is worth it.

性视界传媒淥ut of thousands of people, you性视界传媒檙e bound to get one person that性视界传媒檚 going to really appreciate it,性视界传媒� he said. 性视界传媒淪o, that性视界传媒檚 in my blood. That性视界传媒檚 coming from my heart.性视界传媒�

If he has done that job, he has fulfilled the purpose God created him for, he said.

Varnado owes his entrance into the Nashville scene to Sonnier, but it was Grand Ole Opry member and country outlaw Johnny Paycheck who 性视界传媒減ut me on the map,性视界传媒� Varnado said. Paycheck性视界传媒檚 music prominently featured fiddles, and Varnado still remembers his first Opry performance. Opry staff were enthralled with a fiddle harmonizer Varnado created that blends in the sound of additional fiddles, turning a single fiddle into a duo or trio.

性视界传媒淚t ain性视界传媒檛 something that sounds synthetic,性视界传媒� Varnado said. 性视界传媒淚t is real fiddles that I put together in this machine.性视界传媒�

(A demonstration of Varnado性视界传媒檚 harmonizer can be found in . To see how the harmonizer changes the fiddle性视界传媒檚 sound, skip to the 28-minute mark. The harmonizer also works with other instruments.)

Paycheck was a 性视界传媒渞eal outlaw,性视界传媒� Varnado said. The 性视界传媒淭ake This Job and Shove It性视界传媒� singer served a stint in prison in the early 性视界传媒�90s and was otherwise encumbered by drug problems. But toward the end of his life, he cleaned things up, Varnado said.

When Paycheck性视界传媒檚 health went into decline, one of his former band members called Varnado and told him Loretta Lynn was looking for a fiddle player. Thus began a relationship Varnado held dear. Though Lynn often wore beautiful dresses, there was no 性视界传媒渇ront性视界传媒� about her. She was genuine, he said.

She was 性视界传媒渁 wonderful lady. Country as cornbread,性视界传媒� Varnado said. 性视界传媒淪he性视界传媒檚 gonna tell you what性视界传媒檚 on her mind whether you like it or not, good or bad.性视界传媒�

Some of her words of wisdom still have a place in his heart. One night, Lynn and her band were set to play for a crowd of 1,000 or more people. Varnado doesn性视界传媒檛 recall when or where that was, but he still remembers how the two sat backstage to watch the opening band. Her manager, Tim Cobb, was there, too.

Lynn sat down next to Varnado and said: 性视界传媒淗ow you doin性视界传媒�, baby?性视界传媒� Varnado replied: 性视界传媒淵es, ma性视界传媒檃m, Loretta, I性视界传媒檓 doin性视界传媒� fine.性视界传媒�

性视界传媒淪he said, 性视界传媒楾hose guys are good.性视界传媒� I said, 性视界传媒榃ell, they seem to be all right.性视界传媒� There was a little bitty ole opening between the wall and the curtain, and we could see out in the audience really good. Most people are sitting there, watching. She said, 性视界传媒楤aby, you see those people out there?性视界传媒� I said, 性视界传媒榊es, ma性视界传媒檃m.性视界传媒� 性视界传媒� She said, 性视界传媒楽ee those smiles on their faces?性视界传媒� I said, 性视界传媒榊es, ma性视界传媒檃m.性视界传媒� She said, 性视界传媒楢s long as you keep those people happy, you性视界传媒檙e going to be happy playing for them.性视界传媒櫺允咏绱綕

性视界传媒業t性视界传媒檚 been my best friend性视界传媒�Lynn性视界传媒檚 words held true. Varnado has never thought of quitting the music business, even during the most challenging seasons. He has grown tired of his craft at times, but after a few days性视界传媒� break, he性视界传媒檚 eager to find somewhere to play.

性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 stressful,性视界传媒� he said. 性视界传媒淵ou have highs and lows in this business. There性视界传媒檚 more downs than there are uppers. But that fiddle that I carry in my hand 性视界传媒� it性视界传媒檚 been my best friend for the highest of all highs and the lowest of all lows.性视界传媒�

Friendship was a common theme during the Jan. 18 performance at the steakhouse, too. Varnado gave Miller a photo of himself and Sonnier, who was a friend of Miller性视界传媒檚 as well. And Miller pledged to make Sonnier a posthumous inductee in his hall of fame.

Miller described Varnado as 性视界传媒渁 great talent,性视界传媒� 性视界传媒渁 great friend and a great human being.性视界传媒�

性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 an honor in the first place to have anybody that has as much talent as David does, just to have him play at your place,性视界传媒� Miller said. 性视界传媒淒avid is kind of like an ambassador. He goes every place that you possibly can to promote fiddle music, country music, and this way of life.性视界传媒�

Varnado has more awards than strings on his fiddle. The Texas Country Music Association named him Fiddler of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2018, he received a high honor from the CMA of Texas: the Johnny Gimble Award. There性视界传媒檚 hardly a more fitting an award for one of Gimble性视界传媒檚 pupils.

性视界传媒淚 don性视界传媒檛 know what these cats saw in me,性视界传媒� Varnado said of his teachers. 性视界传媒淚 think they saw that I just wanted to learn.性视界传媒�