All Tangled Up In Love & Remebering"Gus Hardin- Blankenship"

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 14 Nov 2015 9:56 am

Gus Hardin was our Top New Female Vocalist in 1984 in Southern California by The Academy Of Country Music. Garth Brooks half sister Betsy Smittle was in Gus band.Thanks to Charlie McDonald from Lubbock,Texas for shaking my brain for I to remember this and knowing I knew her with Earl Thomas Conley. Betsy Was a great Artist/Musicians just as Carolyn Blankenship. RIP my friends.Uncle Leo J Eiffert Jr.

they are gone from History but not forgotten from I.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 15 Nov 2015 4:42 am

Betsy played guitar in that band, with her partner K.C. Cochran on drums, and Spencer 'Fingers' Sutton on piano.
It was a good band, and we had a wild time, befitting the era. Nice to see these names remembered, Leo, you remember so many.

Yes, Gus' name was Carolyn. She was a lovely lady, and grew me up musically and personally.

(I like to tell the story of how I slept with Gus Hardin but I don't; we inherited The Oak Ridge Boys' hotel room for the night when they left, which was good, because we didn't have a place to stay after opening for them. Beds were limited, so I got lucky--to have a place to stay, that is. Bless her heart, I haven't thought about that in a long time.)

To try and make this relevant: Cal Freeman, wild man and steel player extraordinaire, also played with her; subbed for me on bass one New Year's Eve when I couldn't be there. Famous for saying "We did it that way in case we had to do it that way." He and I hooked up again through this Forum in a round about way... but that's another story.

God bless all musicians present and passed, and this musical community.

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 16 Nov 2015 12:12 pm

I'll be back to see you again in March Charlie.You need to help keep Gus Hardin's music life alive.I will now that you reminded me of her and my own memories with her and Earl Thomas Conley. I think she is a cuz of my good friend Johnny Blankenship here in Southern California.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 16 Nov 2015 4:08 pm

I know Johnny B. well. Did a whole summer with him at Knott's Berry Farm back in the 90's and a few of his birthday bashes as well. Tell him I said hi.

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 17 Nov 2015 5:33 am

You got it Barry. I'll tell Johnny hey for you. Small world in that wagon camp.

PS: Let's keep Gus Hardin name and music alive in memory of her my friends while we can.