ANDERSON — A whole lot of shaking was going on in the Eagles Lodge downtown Sunday afternoon as friends, family and local musicians gathered to celebrate the life of legendary local guitarist Jim Connelly who died earlier this month at the age of 78.
"Back when I was younger, Jim used to play with all the name bands that came around, all your big stars," said Merrill Michael, who helped organize Sunday's tribute. "If there was a star that was within 200-250 miles, Jim was their frontman either playing lead or steel guitar."
These celebrity musicians included Elvis Presley, Loretta Lynn, Rick Nelson, Buck Owens, Dale Reeves, Tom T. Hall, Emmylou Harris and Conway Twitty.
He also performed with local musical groups, including Cops and Robbers, Nuthin' Fancy, Country Reactions and the Jesse Rhodes Band.
Connelly was remembered fondly Sunday for loving and telling a good joke, being generous with other musicians, and almost always having a pipe clenched between his teeth.
Local drummer Steve Wilson first met Connelly in the early 1960s. When he returned to the area after service in the U.S. Air Force, Wilson, Connelly and bassist Bill Tooms formed a trio.
They performed regularly from 1969 to early 1974, Wilson recalled, but never got around to giving themselves a name.
Wilson, now 70, remembered what they wore, though. Paisley jackets and black pants; and what they played, a mix of classics, country standards and rock 'n' roll.
"I never did hear him talk about taking music lessons with anyone," Wilson said. "I believe he was self-taught. In the heart, that's where it came from."
Liz Rayford, Connelly's oldest child, also is not sure what formal musical training he had, but recalled that he had a true fondness for the Hawaiian guitar. "He loved that music," she said.
She also recalled that her father and mother, Lillian, who died in 2010, met when they both performed on a local radio station.
"Growing up in those days, he didn't care if you played, sang or listened ... If it had to do with music, it was OK," Rayford said.
Her brother, Robert Connelly, also wasn't sure what formal training his dad had. But it didn't make any difference.
"My dad brought music alive wherever he went," Robert Connelly said.
"He could play anything he wanted to play," and could probably have spent a lifetime touring, Michael said, but family kept him here.
In addition to selling and repairing musical instruments, Connelly gave lessons and reveled in helping students.
"It thrilled him to see a kid get started in music," Michael said.
"Connelly used to take care of all the schools in Madison County, re-padding flutes and trombones, and repairing other instruments as well," Michael said.
"Joe's (Record Shop) had the lease, but Jim did all the work."
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