Did I meet someone "almost famous" yesterday afternoon?

@TheHorse (230919)
Walnut Creek, California
September 29, 2025 12:14pm CST
I have posted this song before. It is by a band called Blue Highway. When I first heard this song, I thought Jerry Douglas, from Alison Krauss's band, was on dobro. I hope you listen. That is some good dobro playing. And I love the song. But it turned out it was a guy named Rob Ickes on dobro. I had heard the name, but did not know much about him. My musical brain (what is left of it) thought, "This dude must have been influenced by Jerry Douglas. Their styles are so similar." Last night, I learned I was right. I went to a causal jam at my bluegrass buddy Tom's house. There were two people there I'd never met, a fella named Mark, and a lady named "Rob Ickes's Mother." She really was Rob Ickes's mother. She sang well, and didn't do any fancy bluegrass slicks.The fella, Mark, also sang well, and played some leads. After a few songs (and a few adult beverages), I asked Ickes's mother to tell the story of how her son wound becoming a bluegrass superstar. She said that music was "around the house," but that he learned dobro as any other kid might, from listening to others, and following some (Mel Bay?) books on dobro playing. He DID play with Jerry Douglas and other members of Krauss's band after he moved to Nashville. Sigh. Right again. I think Alison Krauss might be singing back-up vocals on this Blue Highway cut. Have you hung out with someone "almost famous" recently? I'll take what I can get.
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12 people like this
11 responses
@rakski (148605)
• Philippines
23h
not really... you are definitely famous than me
2 people like this
@rakski (148605)
• Philippines
22h
@TheHorse definitely interesting
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
19h
@rakski Back to my regular ol' life now.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
23h
Heh. It's interesting to meet new people.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (484041)
• Italy
16h
You met interesting people, it's nice to meet people and realize you enjoy their company. I met no one interesting recently.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (484041)
• Italy
7h
@TheHorse Of course, but I know you from already 10 years Colin.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
7h
Well, you know ME.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
7h
@LadyDuck Have we really been here that long?
1 person likes this
@reploid (1415)
• France
21h
What an incredible story! Meeting Rob Ickes's mother at a casual jam sounds absolutely magical. It's fascinating how talent often grows from simple beginnings—just listening and practicing like any other kid. Your musical intuition was spot on about the Jerry Douglas influence too. That must have felt satisfying to have confirmed right there with his mom! These personal connections to artists we admire are so special. Thanks for sharing this wonderful experience.
@reploid (1415)
• France
19h
@TheHorse The best musical moments always seem to happen spontaneously like that. It's what makes the music community so special. Glad you got to have that experience!
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
19h
Thank you! It was really fun.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
19h
@reploid I agree. I wrote a funny (I think) song about a friend who met someone (a guitar player) he idolized at a music festival (late at night), only to realize, after he'd loaned his guitar to the star, that said star he was way drunk and about to fall into the fire pit. The song is called "Yes, I want Your Autograph, But Give my Guitar Back to Me."
@LeaPea2417 (38476)
• Toccoa, Georgia
4h
I have met two famous people but it was 30 to 40 years ago. One was the fashion designer Calvin Klein and the other was the fitness guy Richard Simmons.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (38476)
• Toccoa, Georgia
4h
@TheHorse briefly with Richard Simmons.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
4h
@LeaPea2417 What did you talk about? My "longest conversations" were with Richard Thompson and Bruce Cockburn.
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
4h
Cool! Did you actually get to chat?
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (21102)
• United States
5h
That's so cool. No I met never anyone almost famous.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
5h
What struck me was how "nice" and "normal" she was.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (49089)
19h
Allison Krauss was born in Decatur, IL and grew up in Champaign. She seems to pop up in our area fairly frequently, I have seen her 2 times in the last few years. Once at Barnes and Noble, of all places, when I was with my daughter. Another time Target. But we don't hang out...I do, however really like her voice and her music.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
7h
@MarieCoyle They are all excellent musicians.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
19h
I think she (and Union Station) are great!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (49089)
19h
@TheHorse They are, I completely agree!
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (180160)
• Boise, Idaho
5h
Very revealing song. I like some good guitar cords. Great meet up.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
4h
I like pretty guitar chords too. Heh. So does Kitty.
@wolfgirl569 (123000)
• Marion, Ohio
29 Sep
I never have that I know of. Congratulations
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Sep
She is a really nice lady. I hear that Rob Ickes is a "good dude" as well.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (89402)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Sep
That is awesome. Thanks for the link. I like it.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Sep
Glad you enjoyed it.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (66186)
• Centralia, Washington
29 Sep
Way to go. I love hanging out with creative people.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Sep
I do too. The morning was fun as well, but I'll write about that later. Four of my students performed.
@LindaOHio (201870)
• United States
11h
No but I used to. I've met several celebrities in my past.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (230919)
• Walnut Creek, California
8h
Did you get to chill and talk to them? Who were some of them? I got to talk to two of my favorite musicians.