I hear that Porter Wagoner, is in the hospital. I don’t know why or what, but, say a prayer for the Wagonmaster, would ya?
I meant to mention last week, the passing of Brent Burkett, who was part of The Fabulous Four Guys that were featured on the Opry for many years. These guys, I think were the only act to ever become members of the Opry without the benefit of a record deal/hit record. It’s a shame they never had a major record deal because I watched them perform many times from the side of the Opry stage from the time I was about #2’s age on up til I was grown…those guys ALWAYS lit up the crowd and got them going. Always. They were great singers and entertainers, always dressed impeccably…I never saw them not wake up a sleeping Opry audience. (I’ve seen many sleeping Opry audiences, too.) Interesting trivia about Brent is that he hailed from the same hometown as Dean Martin…Steubenville, OH. I don’t remember ever knowing that little tidbit.
And somebody else I want to mention, who died a couple days ago is Clarence “Tater” Tate. Tater was extremely well known and revered in the Bluegrass world. He was a member of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys as a fiddler and a bass player. He worked with all kinds of people through the years and even played on Patty Loveless’ most wonderful Mountain Soul album. One artist he worked for was Wilma Lee Cooper. He worked with a teenaged Mr. Smiff in those days. Mr. Smiff has a hilarious imitation of Tater. He will be missed.
Thing about Tater and Brent though…one of the things I remember about both these guys is I never saw either of them without a cigarette, except when they were onstage. I can remember as a kid, all the way up til I had my own kids, seeing Brent at the side of the Opry stage, looking at the show schedule, in his fancy suits and he seemed huge to me when I was a kid, but always had that cigarette between his fingers. I believe both men died of lung cancer.
21 responses to “Grand Ole Opry Sorta Stuff”
Busy Mom
October 19th, 2007 at 13:20
Am I dreaming, or, didn’t they have a club or something called the Four Guys Harmony House?
sistasmiff
October 19th, 2007 at 14:52
You aren’t dreaming.
Frank
October 20th, 2007 at 13:39
I heard where Dolly visited Porter in the hospital yesterday and described him as weak but alert and joking around a bit. She said she told him that the first night he returned to the Opry stage, she’d sing with him.
Mr. Perfect
January 29th, 2008 at 15:13
Brent Burkett was a piece of garbage that WON’T be missed by a LOT of people! I’m sooooo sad that he’s gone that I threw a party!
Lindell Thomas
July 4th, 2010 at 18:41
I’m more than 2 yers late, but this is garbage. Sounds like first class jealousy to me.
In Response
January 4th, 2011 at 13:03
Brent Burkett was a gentleman. He is missed today and everyday.
Mr. Perfect, you need to get over yourself.
Margie
August 30th, 2011 at 12:03
You obviously did not know Brent Burkett well at all…He was one of the kindness men that I have ever known. He always had time for his friends and fans and was a wonderful father and husband to Jackie and their children….
Shame on you!!! The only garbage that I know of must be YOU!!!
sistasmiff
February 1st, 2008 at 10:07
I bet he won’t miss you, neither.
RICH GARRATT
February 12th, 2008 at 20:00
Hi. I was the lead singer for the Four Guys. Nice of you to mention Brent. He was very special friend and a very talented (funny) guy. Glad you enjoyed our work.
Rich
John Frost
June 23rd, 2008 at 13:25
I had the privilege of working with Brent for 19+ years as a member of the 4 Guys. He suffered and fought a long battle with cancer, but he finally succombed to this terrible disease. He is thought of by many through the wonderful memories that I was honored to share with Sam, Brent, and Laddie.
Gone but not forgotten. John Terry Frost
Sam Wellington
June 25th, 2008 at 12:15
Mr. Perfect, or should I say Imperfect – Please tell me a little more about yourself. I bet you could speak all day on this subject. First let me tell you this….Brent Burkett never knowingly harmed a living soul. I can personally vouch for this since I was his singing partner and friend for more than 50 years. He truely never met a man he didn’t like, but then he never met you. I recommend you bury some of those ugly feelings somewhere, but not with Brent.
Sam Wellington
Nobody You Know
June 25th, 2008 at 16:07
Geez…bitter, party of one?
Sam Wellington
June 26th, 2008 at 19:47
Thanks to the lovely person who had such great things to say about The Four Guys. One slight correction…the group did have some major label record deals and several nationally charted records but no big hits…i.e… RCA, Mercury, etc…
Thanks for the memories.
4 Guy Fan
December 16th, 2008 at 16:10
Mr. Perfect – – there’s a place called Hell waiting for you, but then you could already be there !
Rich Garratt
July 1st, 2009 at 15:25
Hi Collie,
Im Rich Garratt. The original lead singer for The Four Guys. Thanks for your wonderful compliments. It was a hell of a ride. I’m living in North Georgia now. Its a nice place to be. Hope all is well with you.
Rich Garratt
July 1st, 2009 at 15:32
I read back and don’t understand the negative comments about Brent. He was a very fun and open guy. This comment might have been because his wife wanted him. That is NOT a rare thing. Hi should have taken care of his business. Bye bye, now. I’m not in the oprah business. Just thanks for the site, and the compliments.
Rich Garratt
July 1st, 2009 at 15:38
By the way Collie, Brent pased away because a brain tumour. NOT lung cancer. I quit smoking 35 years ago. See ya.
Rich
Phillip Gagnon
February 2nd, 2010 at 19:06
I had the pleasure of meeting Richard Garratt yesterday, He is married to my cousin whom I have been out of touch with for many years. Richard is a pleasant and admirable man and made me feel very welcome in his home. Thanks Richard !! Phil
Lindell Thomas
July 4th, 2010 at 18:37
Mr. Perfect has to be a callous, heartless piece of trash to speak of Brent that way…..this is very late, but thanks, Sam and Rick for defending your friend. I was Sam’s and Jerry Whitehurst’s neighbor in an apartment complex in Nashville, in the early 70s and frequently heard the Guys. I’ve never stopped loving their tight harmony and fun times at the Harmony House. Just wish we hadn’t gotten old and tired. Love ya Guys.
Lindell Thomas
July 4th, 2010 at 18:38
Rich, pleave forgive my typo.
Sonya Fisher
June 19th, 2011 at 05:03
I remember our family trips to Nashville going to the Opry..then those trips was just to see The Four Guys at their Harmony House. VERY talented group. Love them all. Brent was a very special man that always took time to visit with me and my family every trip that we made down from Michigan. WILL MISS YOU BRENT! ISALY…..
2 Trackbacks / Pingbacks
The Cold, Hard Facts of Life « A Whiff of Smiff October 21st, 2007 at 19:11
[…] Cold, Hard Facts of Life 21 10 2007 Ironic that I wrote about Tater Tate and Brent Burkett dying from Lung Cancer the other day and mentioning that Porter was hospitalized when come to find out today that he is also fighting […]
Music City Bloggers » Blog Archive » Celebrities in Peril October 22nd, 2007 at 14:22
[…] Smiff on Porter Wagoner: Ironic that I wrote about Tater Tate and Brent Burkett dying from Lung Cancer the other day and mentioning that Porter was hospitalized when come to find out today that he is also fighting […]