Goober and Shemp

This story never made the final cut and will not be included in my new book

My new book is called “Stories Not Fit For The Stage - An Anthology” and it is being printed at this very moment, July 1, 2026. 56 stories by 37 authors.

R.I.P. Goober

During our visits to the Tommy Hunter Show back in the early 1980’s, we met and performed with many legends. Billy Meek, Al Simmonds and Grandpa Jones come to mind. The stars who visited us on the Ol’ Back Porch were mostly gracious and great fun to be with. Ray Stevens was the exception. He thought we were losers because we didn’t know one of his loser songs.

Perhaps the only visitor who didn’t understand what the gig was all about was George Lindsey

.

We recorded two or three episodes with him one night. His job was to come out and be funny for 2 or three minutes and our job was to book-end his jokes with a song. Instead, he came out and spent 2 or 3 minutes promoting George Lindsey. There was nary a chuckle in his monologue.

As a result, his episodes never aired. I could never figure out if he was just dumb or was overcome with a dose of vanity.

Too bad really. I played a brilliant banjo solo that night and 2 million loyal Tommy Hunter fans did not get to hear it.

Oh, I forgot to mention. George (Goober) Lindsey died May 6th. He was 83.