Ya know , Thanksgiving and Deer Season put my friend Dave on my radar . He has been posting pics and hunting stories bout him and his Dad , Hank Abbott ! They had a very special bond that ya only can get from sharing many hours of sitting in the woods or on the water hunting . Planning the hunt , preparing for it , up a couple of hours before sunrise , loading and riding together , these are special moments ! Then the hours of telling the stories , shots made OR missed , what mighty hunters OR how smart that buck or gobbler was ! Making memories ! Man, I wish I had taken more pic back then . The ones that Dave shares of him and Hank are indeed precious memories !
So, Dave made this an easy write ! In his words – “Thinking of my Dad on this Thanksgiving. I sure loved him and miss him every day. Thankful today for all that he taught me about music and about LIFE! Like father like son. Here he is on the left and he’s around eighteen to twenty yrs old in this picture, picking a Goldtop Gibson Les Paul. He was my hero! The ABSOLUTE BEST!”
Hank Abbott would be proud ! Dave IS carrying on the Family Tradition of Pickin’ and Grinnin” ! I have made music with Dave thru the years , it is a joy ! He learned most of his style on guitar from Hank and then took it a lil farther ! He took a few lessons ‘bout double stops and such from Gary Hutchison . But the business of music was all picked up from the Abbott Bros – Hank , Sam and Charley ! They played dances , pie-suppers , fish fries and fundraisers and always showed a lotta class ! Heck , I learned a lot from my experiences on stage with the Abbott Bros. !
But I think Dave kinda broke Tradition when he added a girl to the band ! Connie Leen , now Connie Abbott , started singing again in the LeFlore area several years ago . At Jams , Open Mics and such where she kept running into Dave . They sang so well together that Dave soon had another Hunting buddy ! But then, I think that their friends all saw it coming before they did , Dave and Connie up and got married ! I think the “love” themed duets were kind of a dead giveaway ! And now they make beautiful music together !
The thing that I love the most ‘bout Dave is he writes ‘bout those memories of years past . Days in the woods and on stage ! And shares them with us ! In his words ,here is the introduction of “The Last Deer Hunt” and I will post the poem on fb and in Oklahoma Welcome ! It touches me , what a relationship , Father and Son ! Hank and Dave were blessed !
“Feeling
nostalgic about deer season and past hunts so I wrote a poem , “THE LAST DEER HUNT” , about my old best deer hunting buddy, my Dad, Mr. Hank Abbott. Miss you Pop. Deer season sure is different. Gotta keep hunting though. Keep on keeping on for Hank and Charlie.” – Dave Abbott
THE LAST DEER HUNT WELL IT’S ROLLED AROUND ONCE AGAIN DEER SEASON IS HERE
I MISS MY DAD, MY BUDDY, AND NEED MY AWESOME FRIEND
I MISS YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY THAT GOES BY
THE FALL IS SO EERILY LONELY
FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR ALWAYS IS THE HARDEST GOODBYE
WE HAD TALKED AND MADE OUR GRAND PLANS FOR YOUR HOMECOMING SOON
HOPES WERE HELD HIGH AND FILLED WITH GREAT ADVENTURE
BUT THE COLD HAND OF FATE DECIDEDLY PLAYED A DIFFERENT MOURNFUL TUNE
IT TOOK YOU ON YOUR FINAL JOURNEY AND LEFT ME AND THE REST ALL ALONE
I OFTEN SIT AND PONDER BECAUSE WE PRAYED SO HARD
MY MIND KEEPS ASKING
WHY WAS THIS YOUR TIME TO GO HOME
EVERYONE SAYS YOU NEED TO LET IT GO
GIVE IT TO GOD
SO I TRY REAL HARD, I TRY MY BEST
TO ME IT STILL FEELS WRONG, AND COMPLETELY FOREIGN, JUST ODD
OH WHAT I WOULD GIVE TO BE WITH YOU JUST ONE MORE TIME
HUNTING ON A COLD STILL MOUNTAIN RIDGE WATCHING THE WORLD COME ALIVE
THOSE PAST DAYS, THOSE PAST HUNTS
MY GOD WEREN’T THEY SUBLIME
I KNOW YOU ARE WITH ME ALL THE DAYS OF THE REST OF MY LIFE
I SHOULD TRULY REJOICE IN ALL OF MY BLESSINGS
BUT SOMETIMES STILL THE PAIN OF LOSING YOU IS LIKE A REAPERS KNIFE
IF YOU COULD COME BACK AND TALK TO ME AGAIN
I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD SAY
LEAVE THE SADNESS ALONE AND LET THE HAPPINESS COME BACK IN
TAKE CARE OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL WIFE
TREAT HER RIGHT, AND TREAT HER KIND
BE A GOOD MAN TO HER AND MAY YOU BOTH LIVE A HAPPY FULLFILLED LIFE
WATCH OUT FOR MOM ALWAYS
TELL HER I LOVE HER AND MISS HER SO MUCH IT HURTS BUT WILL SEE HER AGAIN
I WANT YOU TO RESPECT AND HONOR HER AS I DID, ALL THE REST OF HER PRECIOUS
DAYS
WELL ITS ROLLED AROUND ONCE AGAIN MY SON
ITS DEER SEASON
YOU GET OUT THERE NOW, YOU GO AND DO SOME HUNTING
THANK GOD FOR EVERY DAY
LIVE, LOVE, AND HAVE SOME FUN
Here is a repeat bout the Abbot Bros. ! Enjoy ! “Live Music #7” (March 2018) And this leads into another part of this article , Pioneers of LeFlore Co. Music !!! The Abbott Boys , singer of songs and makers of music together since the late 60’s! All three of the boys Sam , Hank and Charlie , served in the Military.
So when Hank got back from Vietnam , He could play guitar . Sam could play and Charlie was the Harmony singer , later learning bass ! Their three part harmony has entertained folks in church , bean suppers , fundraisers and even a Dance or two !!!
I had the pleasure of playing with them in the late 70’s and everyone that I talked with that made music with them had a story or two about it !! Too many to mention here !
I’m sad to say that all three have gone on before us , but they leave a legacy in friends and memories , but mostly in the son and nephew , Dave Abbott .. Dave has played bass for Hank , on guitar and fiddle and Gene Hamilton, on guitar and fiddle in a band called NiteFire!
The Abbott boys were pioneers and ambassadors of music in LeFlore Co. and will always be remembered fondly by the many others that got to share the Stage with them ! They were a blessing to me !!!
Live Music this week – This Thurs the 4th of Dec. , Butch Cavandish will be back at the Recovery Room ! Poteau’s own David Carbrey sings and front the great bunch of musicians and keeping the tradition of the “Bakersfield sound” alive ! Mix it with a lil’ Red Dirt and ya got an evening of new and old country music ! Music starts Round 7 pm !
Keep an eye out for an outta work bass player! Serious musician is needed to play with the Bridge South Band . These guys play with a lotta fire and are gonna go places . I love their sound . Contact Corey Edwards on fb or call me for info !
Any questions, advice or info bout Live Music call 918-649-5736 or tj.wiles61@outlook.com
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