Zephon: One of the things I always found interesting about Branson and the "stars" that live there is how normal of a life they can live off stage. I remember people lining up to see the TV stars of Hee Haw at the Hee Haw Theater (where Mickey Gilley's is now) when I worked there. Then, later after the show, passing through the dressing room and seeing the Grammy Award winning banjo player Buck Trent changing into his street clothes! He actually lived in an RV parked next to the dumpster at the theater when he was in town back then (before he moved there.) Jim Stafford lives in a rather ordinary suburb next to Lake Taneycomo, and drives himself to work each day. I know 'cause I was passing through his neighborhood and he drove out of his driveway and we "tailed" him to the theater. (We were going that way, I promise, my wife and I are not stalkers!) My brother recounted to me going to Wal-Mart in Branson and seeing Dolly Parton shopping there. He runs his own catering/restaurant business, and had catered, met, and hung out with the Oak Ridge Boys, Micky Rooney, Kenny Rogers, Conway Twitty, and many others. Rodney Dillard is an icon to those of us who know his background with TAGS and with Bluegrass and the emerging Country Rock scene of the late '60's and early to mid '70's. Here he is all these years later, just puttering around in his yard like anyone else. Branson is a truely unique place. I'm glad I had a chance to live and work there.
