In 1981 I was playing roadie for John McEuen at the 1st Annual Rocky Mountain Opry at Red Rocks. Doc Watson was on the stage and Jimmy Ibbotson and John were in the dressing room going over a song. I happened to be walking down the hall and Jimmy said "Hey, Warren, come sing harmony on this." We ran through Ripplin Waters and 10 minutes later we were on the stage in front of a sold out house singing to almost 10,000 people. I sang on 4 of the 5 Opries, opening the last one in 1985.

In 1982 Eric enrolled in art school and Randy Pope came back out to Colorado. Jimmy Ibbotson of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band sat in with us. John McEuen had us play on concerts with him, and we opened shows for Russel Smith of The Amazing Rhythm Aces. Eric's and my old bass player, Dave Martin, also played with us a lot. Randy eventually went back to Texas and Dave and I continued on as a duo. By the spring of '87, Eric was out of art school and ready to play again. Randy now sings w/ Mike Stockton & The Rhythmators, a really great band in Texas.

In the Winter of 1983, John took his Opry on the road, billing it as John McEuen's Great American Road Show. I was with them for two shows one night in Aspen. Between shows, most of the players went out to walk the streets of Aspen; not a good idea for Doc Watson when the sidewalks are covered with snow and ice. Peter Rowan and I stayed behind in the dressing room with our jaws dropping to the floor as Doc gave us a private concert of music and stories for about an hour.

It was the best walk I never took.