The coffeehouse
It’s hard for me to believe that I’ve been writing nostalgia columns about my life exploits and have never written about my fantasy of performing as a stand-up comedian.
Truthfully, I hadn’t even thought about it until I recently got an email from Jeff Bell, a musician friend with whom I traded jokes and insults at the Ligonier Community Coffeehouse.
Jeff, a quick wit and an excellent banjo player, has been a close friend back to the days when he would jam with Jo and Ted Kozar, John Prah and me in our band, New Country Edition.
While his heart is in bluegrass, Jeff’s talent allows him to compliment just about any type of music. We also share a love for the acoustic blues guitar music of a friend, Ernie Hawkins of Pittsburgh.
About 17 years ago, I discovered from a mutual friend that Jeff was emceeing the coffeehouse show in Ligonier. We went to that show, and then I appeared there regularly for the next dozen or so years.
My stints there were unquestionably highlights of my musical career. I would mix a set of guitar solos and stand up comedy, and at times Jeff would accompany me, or just be on stage with me exchanging ridiculous improv insults.
The coffeehouse is a production of the Valley Youth Organization, a faith-based network supported by most of the churches in the Ligonier area. The organization does wonders in guiding young people in an ambitious schedule of community, sports and citizenship.
The coffeehouse is held in the headquarters of the youth network, a former converted barn and rental hall. Local churches take turns providing desserts for sale at the events, and the entertainment is provided by local, area, and even national artists that donate their time.
Perhaps the most emotional and rewarding event of my entertainment travels happened while I played at the coffeehouse.
At the close of a concert, a gentleman approached me and asked me if I had any CDs or tapes for sale. I told him I didn’t, and he told me he was asking for his uncle who enjoyed my playing but was unable to come because he was battling cancer.
That was enough for me.
“Tell your uncle that the next time I play here, probably next month, I promise I will have something recorded for him,” I said.
For the next month, I learned a lot about recording music. While my wife Bert never nags me about anything, she reminded me often about the promise I made.
With the acoustic guitar that I used for all of my concerts, I recorded 12 instrumentals including songs that I had featured at the coffeehouse. I included a couple of originals and a few standards like “Waltzing Matilda” and “Love Me Tender.” I even bought label-making hardware that made the CDs look professional. The finished product really turned out well.
At the next show, I proudly handed a CD to the nephew with blessings and well wishes for his uncle. “He will treasure this, I’m sure he will love it,” he told me. I buzzed through my set that evening, content that I had kept my promise.
It was a couple of months before I got back to the Friday night coffeehouse. Before my set, the gentleman who approached me originally met me as soon as I arrived. He was very emotional and thanked me for the music.
“Really, you deserve the thanks,” I replied, “I learned a lot. Did your uncle like the CD?”
The man told me his uncle loved it. “Unfortunately,” he said, “he passed just last week”.
I did my set that night with a heavy heart. While the jokes were still there, and Jeff and I carried on to keep folks laughing, I couldn’t help feeling that someone had given me a gift that I couldn’t repay. Although I had always hoped to record CDs, that was the only one I ever finished.
The coffeehouse was cancelled during covid, and in the interim I developed medical problems, but I returned there in 2024 to a packed house for a short gig with Jeff.
Roy Hess Sr. is a retired teacher and businessman from Dawson.