January 26, 2005 Garland wrote a piece about Aunt Una.... Aunt Una was a remarkable woman.  I first met her when she was in her 70's.  I was with the Oak Ridge Boys and after a show in Busch Gardens, Williamsburg Virginia, I believe word came backstage that an "Aunt Una" was wanting to say hello to  her nephew, Mark Ellerbee, drummer for the Oaks.  Mark with a puzzled look said he didn't know he even HAD an Aunt Una!  Nonetheless said bring her back stage to say hello.  When she came backstage, he greeted her with open arms and she said, "Oh you don't know me, I just said I was your aunt to get back here!" We all had a good laugh and since then she had become one of the biggest fans and friends of the Oaks and mine too! She had an uncanny wit and a story to tell that would inevitably end with laughter!  I last saw her in Hendersonville after the Oaks open house event last year.  Jaymie called and invited me to the lobby of the hotel where Aunt Una was staying.  We played a game sort of like Charades with her family members and members of the unofficial AUNT UNA FAN CLUB!  I had the most wonderful time, and although it was obvious that she was failing health wise, she still had her wit, humor and warmth of spirit.  I pray that I will have that kind of life and be surrounded by as many friends and family as I grow older.  My sympathies to the family and to her many friends who also feel the loss now that she is gone.  You can rest assured, that somewhere in Heaven, there is a crowd gathered around a grand lady who is recounting stories to the delight of a Heavenly gathering of listeners! September 16, 2003 Garland's personal thoughts of Johnny Cash. " The first time I saw him in person was in 1975 as he strode in backstage at the Circle Star  Theater in California. I was amazed at the striking figure dressed in black with boots laced up to his knees. He was a giant! He has always maintained that image in my mind. He has also became more to me as I have grown to him for his honesty, integrity, generosity, kindness and I could go on.  Truly a great man. Times shared backstage... at his home in Hendersonville at parties thrown for various members of the Cash family including the expanded family... jokes shared with June at Johnny's expense, recording with him years ago cutting my song "That's Just Like Jesus". Most recently working on a Gospel project that will now go unfinished. Then again, it's just a work in progress because he lives on and his work continues. The legacy he left behind will affect us all, and ultimately our life's work, so that's why it is still a work in progress. I will miss him of course as will millions. I has honored to play music at his and June's funeral and (Mother Maybelle's where I played with the Oaks on "That's Just Like Jesus") as they brought them down to the front for their final viewing and when they were taken out to find their final resting place on earth.   I was the last one to leave the sanctuary yesterday, and although it was empty, it was filled with a spirit of a man that was saying to me, that was pretty good pickin' Garland!   I recalled what he said to me about June's service. Thanks,  your music brought everyone's  hearts together for the occasion.   What an honor! I am a lucky man to have known him, and you know, I might not have ever known him had it not been for the Oak Ridge Boys and Duane Allen. So thank you guys, and thank you Cap'n."          Garland After the service,  A news reporter came up and asked me to play the song that I played, as he put it, so eloquently.  It was  "I Walk The Line".  I played it for him and he used it on the news broadcast coverage of the funeral.  At one point during the story, he stopped talking and you could just hear my music with images of the many family and friends gathered to say good-bye to Johnny Cash.                                                       June 2009 iggest project                                     Things have been busy this year so far. I have the most work I've seen in YEARS! That's good because in recessional times like this, the work is welcomed! I have been doing a lot more gospel it seems these days. Just happened that way by luck.....or was it???? I worked several months temporarily at a Apostolic Faith Church in Nashville last year.. Now when I would start with the organ music, there were several members of that congregation who would join in immediately with the tambourines and some would even start "dancing". It was FUN and a great spirit of worship. There was a wonderful choir, small but powerful, and I commend them for no song was too difficult in it's arrangement for them to tackle! It was a great. I played most of the time during the Pastor's sermon as well accenting the message when he would "become annointed and excited"! It was a cool experince. I will be producing a major project with the Toney Brothers this summer. I have done 2 CD's with them already and this will be the biggest project with them so far. I mention this especially because I was always a big fan of the Toney Brothers. One of the members was with the famous Blackwood Brothers and now to be working with his relatives is very cool indeed. I am well versed in working with Cubase in my studio nowadays thanks to my tutor, Larry Marrs. For those of you not familiar with what that means, it is a soft ware program for creating, editing and/or recording music. I LOVE IT!! I am getting to the place where I may need to expand my studio into another facility other than my home, but actually, I'd like to keep it where it is. Now, to some that may not make sense, to NOT want to expand a business but well. We'll see! I have been on a journey to wellness which basically involves me losing a lot of weight......75 pounds so far since August of 2008.......and joining the YMCA to get my body used to motion again!!! I feel wonderful and can do so much more again. I am looking forward to being able to play golf and tennis again. FORE!! I'll keep you posted with new developements and progress as the year rolls on. I am writing new gospeI songs and plan to have them ready soon for artists to listen to for their projects. I have also done a bit of co-writing which is pretty new to me. I have always preferred writing alone. However, in the past year I have worked with Ann Downing on three songs. It has been a learning process and at the same time eye-opening in that I actually enjoy it now. I know it's been a while since I updated this section for Jaymie, so it's about time. Thanks for your patience Jaymie! I am planning a trip to Florida this year. It has been over 6 years since I have gotten down there because of weather, work or scheduling so I am going to make it this year some how!!! God bless and have a good one!             Garland