Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Thank you for letting us know Carole. Our condolences go out to Suzi and her family during this most difficult time. From your memorial, it is apparent that Roy and Suzi enjoyed many musical moments over the years. It is fortunate that they were able to enjoy this recent time together before his passing.

Just a note to remind those of you who were interested a while back that Suzi Arden's Ole Time Country Music Festival will be taking place in Mapleton, North Carolina, at the Darden Family Farm on June 17, 18, and 19th.

Suzi is currently in the mid-west cutting a CD of her old guitar man, Leon Richardson, who she claims is the best there is. She expects to be at the festival.

They have electric hookups for campers/motor homes there.

Just to let you know that Suzi Arden still conducts the Darden Family Festival in Mapleton, North Carolina, the 3rd weekend in June every year. I was able to attend on June 16 and 17, 2006. Suzi is the last living sibling of the Dardens, but she has numerous nieces and nephews to carry on the family tradition. At 76, she still brings down the house with her fiddle and Martin guitar. Thought you might like to see this most recent shot of her.

Suzi's husband, Bob, broke his knee just before the festival. Here is a picture.

This is a shot of the Darden Family with their good friend, Jeanne Powell, on fiddle to the left of Suzi. Jeanne has had a bad bout with cancer. Her hands are all swollen. She still plays very well. Her spirit is good and her doctors have given her the pink slip to a cancer-free recovery.

Wow! This thread was an incredible read!

Carole, thanks for sharing those pictures with us.

I just spent the last two hours reading this thread from top to bottom. It was was worth every second of my time. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories the anecdotes and looking at the pictures.

Thanks to all who have contributed thus far. This is a gem that I did not know existed on the forum until I noticed Caroles recent post.

Carole, good to hear from you again. Welcome back! Give all our best to the Darden Family.

The interesting thing about this festival is that the Dardens no longer have an admission charge. It only costs $12 a day to hook up motor homes/campers to the electricity. Entertainers may park for nothing. They roast a pig and the dinner was free although donations were accepted. The entertainers also donate their talents. I heard some say they were booked to play elsewhere from appearing at the farm. The children thoroughly enjoy the activities available to them. The same people have been supporting this for over 14 years. If anyone lives in the vicinity, Suzi will gladly accept your offer to help set up, tear down, entertain, or whatever. Wayne Morris is the guy who schedules the acts. Here is a shot of one of the Bluegrass bands. Being from California, I regret that I don't know who they are, but they were certainly well received. Their children, one under 4 years old, also sang and were fantastic.

These guys were terrific. She sounds a lot like Anne Murray. He is from Bakersfield, California, and is so good. I asked him if they were married. He said, "Do we look like we are married or do we look like we're having fun?" I said, "You looked like you were having fun." He said. "Right. We are just good friends."

This is another group of entertainers. Sorry about not knowing who anybody was. There was a flier, but I never saw it.

Here's a little picture I threw together of June Mayes and Suzi Arden. They were part of Abbie Neal and Her Ranch Girls when I first met them back in the early '50's. That's the top picture, of course. June was celebrating her 81st birthday at the festival. We had a good reunion. She took me aside in the barn and sang me some songs she just wrote. One was called "Jose" and I swear it could be a hit. It is still ringing in my ears. Her voice is amazingly as good as ever even though she recently had a tumor removed from her thyroid gland. June's brother also plays a 12-string guitar.

This last shot is one of Suzi Arden with her protege, Jeanne Powell. They play so good together. No greater fiddle players on earth. Hope you enjoyed my reminiscing. I just sent for a book called "Love Always, Patsy." It's a series of letters written by Patsy Cline. In it, she states in one of her letters that she has to write a letter to Suzi Arden. They were the best of friends. And time marches on.

Wow, this is really great stuff you are sharing with us Carole! Does Suzi know about the Rickenbacker 75th Anniversary events that will be taking place August 25-27 this year?