A Wendy V Trip Report: 

MARK LOWRY'S SENIOR TRIP

GAYLORD OPRYLAND -NASHVILLE, TN

APRIL 5-8, 2006

                                                                                 Mark on the Grand Ole Opry stage

 (Pre-Senior Trip)- Tuesday:

Believe it or not, no stressing over travel weather this time. Great weather was predicted for days in the Twin Cities and Nashville. Yet, at one time the flight out was almost doubtful. Even though the plane was sitting out there two hours before the flight, Northwest decided at takeoff time that the plane needed some sort of line maintenance check. We were told there would be a 45 minute delay, but the actual inspection only took about 15. The pilot thought we’d be taking off shortly thereafter. Not so fast. Then, they must have forgotten some more bags to be loaded on. So, it did end up being a 45 minute delay. But, the pilots kicked tail wind and we ended up coming in only 15 minutes behind schedule.

Fortunately, my logistic plans did work beautifully enough for me to make it to the GMA Southern Gospel showcase downtown at the Hilton Hotel. I would have been a complete idiot to come in one day early for Senior Trip and not try to make this gig. I grabbed a city bus downtown at a stop just a short walk from my hotel (and enjoyed the other Ernest Tubb Record Shop nearby while waiting, including a cool self-tour of Ernest Tubb’s 1970s tour bus), got my showcase pass and did my usual Broadway “tour”.  Then after the concert, the Hilton concierge lined up a taxi for me within five minutes. Easy as pie.  Those of you who keep saying to me you are afraid to do these kind of things on your own, well you’re missing out on a lot of fun. All this takes is a bit of good pre-planning and knowing what you’re doing.

The Southern Gospel GMA showcase spotlighted the diversity that is often talked about within the genre these days. Each act had two songs. When you are an artist in that position, you need to choose the songs carefully that will bring it and pack a punch. I’d say pretty much everyone pulled that off. I am sure I won’t remember all the acts that were there, but the drawing cards for me were Ernie Haase and Signature Sound (knocked the crowd dead as usual), the Isaacs, Talley Trio and the Crabb Family. The Crabbs have certainly gone through some changes stylistically but lived up to their crowd-pleasing buzz. I didn’t know Jason could play a kickin’ rock guitar. The guy’s still a great singer. Of the acts I weren’t as familiar with musically, aside from their names, I was most impressed with Brian Free and Assurance and 3 Bridges, three guys who were in the upper demographic of the artists (meaning closer to my age), but were just as powerful as the youngsters.

Day 1- Wednesday:

 On Wednesday it was onward to Gaylord Opryland Resort for the first day of Senior Trip. Most of that day was spent navigating the complex and waiting. Waiting for a room to be ready. Waiting to see if my online friends would recognize and find me. And generally, waiting for things to happen. If you’ve not been to the Mall of America, we have an indoor park-- formerly known as Camp Snoopy , now called the Park at the Mall, or something like that. Anyhow, take that, remove the rides, multiply that size wise about a dozen or so times and that’s how big Opryland is. All indoors, but with the feel of being outside. If you’re walking around at night, it’s like walking around a city with night air and all…but a safer atmosphere. What a concept, eh?

 Eventually I did get my room and hooked up with online friends Theresa, Bev Jean, and Carla Jean (later Anne Marie)…two who brought with them a couple of folks they found walking around…Bev and Charles Lowry, Mark’s parents. We got to spend a half hour or so chatting with “Mama”, talking mostly about raising Mark and raising children, and how she encouraged Mark to find his niche…that being the earliest beginnings of his singing career and Bev told us how Mark impressed seasoned veterans with his singing at a very young age.

It was finally time for the first concert. Mark made his “grand entrance” zipping around in his new scooter with a big red, white and blue bow on the front, wearing an Evel Knievel meets Elvis suit. I have to intend a couple of puns here…Mark did indeed get quite a bit of “mileage” material -wise from his accident…but he also shared a bit of honest reflection. The night’s artists were well-received--Michael English, LordSong, Reggie and Ladye Love Smith, classic country-gospel singer Barbara Fairchild, and an improvised bluegrass group made up of members of the Del McCoury Band and Ricky Skaggs’ Kentucky Thunder. But as always, the musical standout for me was Mark himself. He hadn’t sung in a month, but that voice had all its power and beauty. “Whatcha Need” was the biggest highlight for me…Mark added so much style and emotion to that song. “Mary Did You Know” brought the place to its feet, as always.  

Oh, and I might add: carefully leaning on his scooter, Mark brought himself to his one foot from time to time, doing a good job so far in not putting weight on the right leg.

Probably one of the best things to run through this whole time thus far is happening early: people are bonding with one another (having the same seats for most of the events makes that easy), and everyone carries a warm and friendly spirit.

Day 2- Thursday:

The day started with a massive breakfast, then we moved to the ballroom for what was billed as a “hymn sing” with Bill and Gloria Gaither. Well, there was some of that, but basically for an hour or so it was Bill and Gloria just being Bill and Gloria in an “intimate setting“ of 1000+ . As you might expect, with Mark in the mix there were some very hilarious moments, especially when Bill completely blanked on the lyrics of “I Wish”. Tony Campolo gave an often humorous but also thought-provoking message on being reconciled and bearing one another’s burdens. After intermission was “The TrulyWed Game” , with Bill and Gloria Gaither and Tony and Peggy Campolo competing to see which husband and wife team knew each other best. Mark called for a scorekeeper. Knowing once again just who to go to when he needed a pen, he and Norman Holland called upon yours truly Wendy V to come up with one and serve as scorekeeper. Fortunately I got all the details right and declared the Gaithers as a close winner…the grand prize was a copy of Bill Gaither’s solo CD.

I headed for the Opry Mills shops in my free time break. I stopped in the Grand Ole Opry museum on the way and took a bunch of pictures of the displays in honor of the best female singer who ever walked the earth, in my opinion: Patsy Cline. Most interesting was a replica of the living room of Patsy’s and husband Charlie Dick’s home. If you are sightseeing in this area, the museum is a must see.

If the opening night concert was great, what can I possibly say about this one? Mark, LordSong, Stan Whitmire, Crossway, the Martins, Chonda Pierce, Lulu Roman, and Bev “Mama” Lowry, plus Stephanie and Barry Smith, two singers who work with George Jones, and a hilarious female character called Miss Puddin’. Everyone was just wonderful…there were a couple of false starts and missed lyrics, but WHO CARES ANYWAY??

The last half of the show belonged to the Martins, making a triumphant return, and Chonda Pierce, who was red hot in her extended set. “Wow…incredible” were the words I heard most often describing this concert, so I’ll go with that!

 Day 3 - Friday:

We had another great big breakfast, then moved on to another morning concert, where Mark led us off with a medley of TV themes. This one featured the MacRaes, Gordon Mote, LordSong and Pastor Stan Mitchell of GracePointe Church. It was wonderful to see the growth and maturity, both personally and musically, of Annie and Kelly MacRae, who many of us followed as teens debuting on Mark’s Broadway video. LordSong did a solid solo set featuring “Day Three” (very appropriate!)

The artist I want to focus the most on is Gordon Mote. He announced some of the best news of the weekend: he confirmed that he will be on the piano for the remainder of the Gaither Homecoming tour. Having had the opportunity to hear Gordon and also visit with him this weekend, I can tell you that he will be a healing balm and a huge asset to the Homecoming concerts. His musical gifts are tremendous, and he is a warm and friendly person on and off stage. After hearing him play, I knew there would be a huge crowd at his table. I offered my help and they graciously took me on. I discovered I had a “talent” to tear off CD shrink wrap pretty quickly, and many customers took me up on that.

I was very excited that this audience was able to experience in person the incomparable preaching gift of Stan Mitchell. No other pastor I know of across several denominations I’ve been exposed to can open up the Gospel and challenge you to think at such a higher level the way Stan does. As always, he was enthralling to hear.

Lulu Roman entertained us with her lovely voice and Hee Haw humor. The audience howled with laughter at the sharp wit of (Minnesota native!) Steve Hall and sidekick Shotgun Red (you’ll remember him from Ralph Emery’s TNN shows).

Unfortunately, tornadoes did rip through the area in the afternoon. The Opryland staff was on top of the situation and moved people away from the glass areas in the complex. I’m sure many of us spent our afternoons in our rooms tracking the weather and praying for those who were affected by property and, sadly, human losses.

The storms passed and it was on to the Grand Ole Opry. The Opry had a very strong lineup, from veterans Porter Wagoner, Little Jimmy Dickens and Connie Smith, to Buddy Jewell and Vince Gill, just to name but a few. Now, you might think that a guy like Vince got the biggest reception of the evening, right? Wrong. That went to the night’s surprise guest: one Mark Lowry. I was tipped off in advance that Mark would be on, so when Little Jimmy began the introduction, I did a stage rush and dived to the front where folks take pictures. Mark on his scooter did “Jump Across Jordan” with the guys who sang backup for him on the recording (Chip Davis, Billy Davis, Jacob Hubbard), and “Whatcha Need” (backed on that tune by Michael and Amber of LordSong). I was on my knees on the floor for both songs snapping pictures and shouting “sing it!”…just like Mark does for the artists who appear on stage with him.

The last part of the evening, the "Don't Tell the Preacher Big Band Dance", went way too quickly. Yes, I did get to “dance” with Mark. Such as one can do when confined to a scooter, but we had a little fun with it. Reggie and Ladye Love Smith did a tremendous job (as did bandleader Rory Partin and his wife) singing big band and pop standards. As time was running out, Mark did get to sing a little of a song you probably never heard him sing: “At Last”. He didn’t really know all the lyrics (reading them from a sheet), but what he did know of it…wow. Thus fulfilling a little bit of my fantasy to hear him sing pop standards.

They had to throw us out when it was over…because none of us wanted this whole experience to be over.

I can show you pictures. I can give you descriptions of who sang what. But I probably will not adequately express the impact these phenomenal few days had on so many of us. I saw the face of God everywhere I went those past few days.  The bonding between us, the artists and on down to Mark’s family and staff was felt by many and is priceless. Bill and Gloria had it right when they led us Thursday in the song, “I’m so glad I’m part of the family of God.” Because this is family…whether or not you were seeing Mark in person for the first time or you were a “veteran” like me or many of my old and new friends.

I wasn’t planning to make it to the next Senior Trip in Asheville, NC in December because of money or Minnesota weather. But some things are worth making sacrifices for. So, I might see you there.

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