Bobby Allday back to performing after recent illness
When Bobby Allday couldn’t bring his band to Golden Villa Nursing and Rehab last month, residents had a legitimate complaint.
After all, Allday and fellow musicians have been playing regularly there for 30 years.
In fact, the Allday band is not named properly for their nursing home gig. They call themselves the Uncertains.
“Because we never know who is going to show up,” Allday explains.
But for the nursing home, maybe the name should be the Certains because this band is going to show up. Its musical playlist is up to 300 songs now. When the telephone call comes, the tug of the heart to make someone else happy with music is strong.
It’s all about blessing, Allday likes to say. “You give a blessing to get a blessing,” he said. Recently, Allday had become ill and could not perform. A live band playing music today is not an easy occasion. Modern musicians have a lot of work to do with the setting up of heavy speakers, drums to move and cords to connect.
Thus, when Allday did recover his strength, the telephone call went out last week and the band of six put gear into trucks and went over to the nursing home. It was their first time back, and the house was full. For the occasion, the audience even saw the three singing girls dressed in yellow as bumblebees.
“One thing the girls add is that when they are with us, they walk around the room giving hugs while we’re setting up,” Allday said. “They don’t miss anyone either.”
The bumblebees are Vickie Carver, Janice Turner and Carolyn Johnson. The band players were Don Loper, Guy Solley, Phil Cox, Gary Watkins, Travis Partain and Allday.
The group plays about twice a month. Everything is flexible. There’s no certain day or time, but Allday is usually able to get his uncertain group together.
They play to have a good time.
“And that’s what we see. Every band wants an audience and really enjoys one that responds. Sometimes at Golden Villa, you may see the head down but the toes tapping. That’s why we come.”