When I found out that Will Turpin, the bass player for Collective Soul, which is my favorite band, would be playing at a local restaurant on February 15, 2007, I asked my wife about us going for our Valentine's Day celebration.  She was all in favor of that.  She too is a big CS fan, plus, we could miss all the Valentine's Day crowds.

In addition to Will being there, I knew there was going to be a special mystery guest.  My imagination had me thinking it might be Ed Roland, or Ross Childress.  It was not.  I will tell you who it was in a bit.  The occasion for the event was a weekly song writer's event where local song writers get the opportunity to play their songs in front of a live audience.  This event is hosted by local musician, Bill Turpin, Will's father.  I wasn't quite sure what Will would be performing.  It is a song writer's workshop, and I wasn't aware of Will writing songs.

Bull Turpin opened the event with guitarist Nathan Bennet, I believe his name was.  Before long, Michie Turpin, Will's brother was on stage with them.  Not long after that, it became apparent that the special mystery guest was Donny Henderson.  This struck me by surprise though I don't know why it should have.  Donny and Michie go to the same church I do, so I know they know each other.  I also know that Donny records at Bill Turpin's recording studio.

For those unfamiliar with Donny, he is an amazing vocalist.  He occasionally sings at our church.  I remember the first time we ever heard him, we couldn't believe the voice was coming from him.  You can learn more about Donny here:

http://www.donnyhenderson.com

After a while, Will came up on stage and sat at a keyboard.  I didn't know Will played the keyboard.  It's funny how you tend to peg people in certain roles.  I saw Will as a bass player, not a song writer or keyboard player.  I also saw him as a background singer.  I was surprised when Will started his set that his vocals were as good as they were.  The first song caught me by surprise.  I really hadn't expected it to be so strong.  I always pictured Ed Roland as the writer in the band and just assumed no one else did that.  I thought the first song was pretty good, but later when I actually got to talk to Will, he indicated that they, CS, were working on a new album, but that song probably would not make the album.  He did indicate that one of his other songs might though.  Before Will completed his set, his borthers Michie and John were on stage too.  Four Turpins on one stage!

I had also heard Michie sing at our church before, but hadn't realized how good his voice was.  It was much deeper than I recalled, and I would say even better, though perhaps less confident, than Will's.

About half way through Will's set I realized I had a crappy digital camera in my car, so I ran out to get it.  Now, this is a digital camera from 1997, so don't expect much.

After the performances were all over, I worked up the nerve to approach Will to get a close up that was likely to turn out better.  Now, I know, there are lot's of pictures of Will Turpin, and I could have easily just downloaded some, so I thought to myself, how would I prove I took the picture?  So, get this, I decided I would ask Will to hold my driver's license in his hand facing the camera while I took his picture.  How nutty is that?  When I approached him for the picture, he and Donny, who was also there, suggested I get in the picture.  That seemed slightly better than him holding my driver's license, which I had already taken out of my wallet, and was clutching in my left pants pocket.  I am glad he didn't notice.  I can only imagine what he would have thought I was doing.  ;-)  So, I got in the picture.  For a 1997 digital camera, the picture turned out pretty good.  It probably helped that I wasn't the one taking it.  Who took the picture you ask?  A Turpin family member from Scotland named Jim Whit (sp?) I believe it was.  I think he was Will's cousin.

Will Turpin, Me, and Donny Henderson

Will was far more approachable than I would have expected.  While standing there waiting for a chance to interrupt him to ask to take his picture, I was thinking, this has to be really annoying having people do this to you all of the time.  On the one hand, I didn't want to bother him.  On the other, I wasn't sure I would ever have the opportunity again.  So, as they say, the rest is history.  And I have the photographs to prove it.

Speaking of taking opportunities while they are available, perhaps one day I will blog about how I took Ross Childress an apple pie to his parent's house for Christmas in 2005.  It was also an opportunity I wouldn't have again.  And no, I didn't actually meet Ross, but I did meet his parents, and they sure were nice.