The label and our promoters were paying for us to go first class on this trip to California. They sprang for air fare, a family-sized condo on the beach at Malibu, and the whole works. As I said earlier, we had never been out of the South, except for Daddy when he served in the Army. It was going to be like the Clampetts on The Beverly Hillbillies and we would bring Tennessee to Los Angeles—only not quite as naïve.  All we were missing was Granny.

Daddy had our driver drop us off at the airport in Memphis.  He had given strict instructions on the route the driver was to take in order to bring the coach to California, and where and when he was to meet us.

Meanwhile, we were flying out and would take a short vacation while we were in California—something we had never done in our entire lives. Ordinarily when we came in off the road, we spent our time either in the Hollow or some place nearby.

Getting through the Memphis airport with Mamma and Daddy and four mostly teenaged kids was like trying to herd cats. All of us wanted to eat barbeque and buy knickknacks and magazines. We finally wound up in the first class lounge. All the people in the lounge looked at us like we didn’t belong there. (If they only knew!) Eventually, we boarded the plane and relaxed all the way to California. Flying was not all that much different than traveling by our own coach; it was only faster.

When we checked into the condo, we found it was located on one of the best surfing beaches in California. All three of us boys wanted to try that out, and Daddy wanted us all to do some fishing while we were there. Mamma and my sister, of course, wanted to shop.

As we enjoyed our vacation time, Mamma and Daddy and the rest of the family were tight-lipped about the big awards show. I kind of felt guilty because my family had not been nominated for an award.  Win or lose, though, my nomination really should have been for the whole family.

Under the old contract, it was the label that had released those songs under my name—Billy Ray Stone and the Stone Family—trying to capitalize on my age. Although I sang the lead on both songs, the entire family had done the backup and played the instruments. So, while I was receiving all the acclaim and publicity, it really should have been for the whole group and our non-traditional harmony. That was what really set those songs apart.

In the month since our Opry appearance, the sales had just about doubled on “Ripples,” and it was still at #1 on the charts. “I Surrender” was now at #5.

When we arrived at the awards ceremony, the family was all dressed up in their stage clothes. I was told by the label to wear the white suit that I had worn at the Opry.  We were not fancy by California standards, but we would look like hot stuff to the southern gospel music fans. 

There were other nominees, of course, and we were all seated in the same general area with our families or management. Our label’s California distributor was also our escort and he just didn’t seem to be too thrilled to be sitting with a bunch of rubes from Tennessee. He was one of the reasons I was praying I would win—just to see his face.

We didn’t have any idea how long the show was going to be, but it was the usual television production, so we planned to be sitting for at least an hour. There were awards for many categories besides New Male Vocalist.  Most of the awards for technical achievements and productions were done off the air, so it was to be mainly a talent show. 

Most of us New Male Vocalist nominees were also regional winners. Most were older than me but really were genuine newcomers to the business. Compared to them, I was a veteran. I had the two national hit songs and even though we were based in the South, I was part of a group which was also becoming nationally known. While statistics didn’t matter, when I analyzed it logically, I felt I had a pretty good chance to win, simply because “Ripples” had been number # 1 twice for a total of 12 weeks, over a million copies of the Stone Family’s first CD had sold. Our appearance on the Opry and other shows should also help.

When my category was announced, each of us nominees was introduced with a two-minute film clip. As I later found out, while Chris and I were in Nashville, a film crew had visited Daddy and Mamma at the Hollow and had been interviewed and also contributed some family pictures and videos of us singing at various fairs and shows.  The film crew had also shot some footage in the area around the Hollow and even the inside our new coach. Then they had edited it all down to two minutes.

When the announcer read off our names, I saw the red light of the camera pan over all of us. The announcer said, “And now to present the award for Best New Male Vocalist, I would like to introduce a past winner—Chris Baker!” I was stunned!  Chris was supposed to be in New England. What the hell was he doing here?

As the audience clapped wildly for Chris, he walked on stage in the same black suit he had worn for our Opry appearance. He kind of smiled toward me as if to say, “I guess I fooled you, didn’t I?” I couldn’t get my mind around what was happening here. How can it be that Chris is even here? He told me he was going to be on the road in New England! I was shocked.

I had no idea Chris was going to be on the show or anywhere near California. He took his place behind the microphone, and as the applause died down, he announced, “And now for the award for the Best New Male Vocalist.” He paused dramatically, and as he opened the envelope, a small grin came upon his face as he read, “Billy Ray Stone of the Stone Family!”

Again, I was floored!  In spite of my normally calm, mature demeanor, a few tears began flowing. The camera swung toward me and the family.  Mamma and Daddy hugged me tightly. Daddy whispered in my ear, “I bet you thought we couldn’t keep a secret, didn’t you, son?”   

I turned and walked quickly down the aisle toward the ramp leading up to the stage. But something was wrong here—Chris was walking away from where I was heading toward the podium! His strides were taking him straight for the stage’s center curtains. Those massive curtains suddenly opened, revealing two stools and two guitars on the otherwise empty stage. Chris grabbed one of the mikes that stood there and announced, “I am sure we are not going to crown a Best New Male Vocalist without a song … right, folks? Come on over here, Billy Ray.”

Chris continued, “Billy Ray and the Stone Family currently have a #1 song as well as a #5 on the charts. You might not know it yet, but Billy and I have a new release coming out this month also, and we’d like to give you a little preview of it now …”

When I got over to Chris, he grabbed me and gave me a big hug—in a brotherly sort of way. With that, we both picked up the guitars and sat on the stools. Chris nodded towards the orchestra leader. They started off the song with a string intro and we sang “Battleground”—it floored the audience! We received a standing ovation from our peers—even the other nominees who lost out for the Best New Male Vocalist award—and there were those damned screaming girls again.

When the applause died down, I said, “I gladly accept this award on behalf of my whole family, because there are six voices on those two songs not just me as the lead singer. I’d like to introduce my two brothers, Donny and James, my sister Kathy, and most of all, my Mamma and my Daddy, who wrote both of the songs. Daddy is also the one who taught us all to sing … the Reverend John Stone.” The camera cut to the family, all standing and smiling. The teeny-bopper girls screamed even louder when they saw my two cute younger brothers.

That small recognition of the other family members went a long way toward healing some of the jealousy that being singled out for the award had caused—and it wasn’t bad for CD sales either.

The show cut to a commercial right after that and Chris hugged me again, apologizing in my ear for the surprise. We both left the stage and the family joined us back stage.  Later that evening, I found out that after we had all appeared on the Opry, my parents had received a call from the award show’s producers informing them that I had won the award. I had received so many votes due to that show that nobody could possibly beat me.

Chris told me that while the family had been on the three-week Southern tour, the producers had contacted him and set up the rest of the arrangements.  Chris had secretly been in California for two days to rehearse with the orchestra.  The other nominees had also been informed and kept it secret in exchange for an all expenses paid trip to California and a special appearance on a cable television gospel channel show which was being produced.  We would all be appearing on that special which we would tape the following week.

Meanwhile, we had more vacationing to do and Chris would be there for two more days to share it with us.

To be continued...