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In the quaint country setting of Snead’s Grove an almost forgotten gem of McKenzie history took place from 1937 to 1943. Snead Picnic was an annual country and folk music concert “picnic” attracting thousands to the Snead Community located between Highway 79 (Paris Highway) and Shiloh Road.
Living near Clear Lake Road in the early 1980s, I remember by granddad telling me stories about how there were concerts down the road when he was a young man. He told of how he met and sang with some big names like Little Jimmy Dickens and some others that I just can’t recall. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized the Snead Picnic was a big deal and not an exaggeration of a grandfather trying to impress his grandson. Many who took the stage were part of the Grand Ole Opry and members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The story of Snead Picnic begins with two brothers, Grady and Mace Snead. The brothers looked to provide “wholesome” and quality musical entertainment. From sunrise to sunset on the last Thursday in July, local musicians where featured along with some of the biggest names in the music business at the time.
The Sneads wanted to help in the advancement of the musical careers of some of the local talent, one such young musician was Hugh Gordon Stoker from Gleason, Tenn. The 12-year-old Stoker was a piano savant who caught the eye of John Daniel, manager of the famed Daniel Quartet, said he would make the boy a star someday. Stoker was already a name around West Tennessee from his early morning radio shows on WTJS in Jackson with “The Clement Trio.”
Gordon Stoker later joined the Daniel Quartet when he turned 15. In 1950, Stoker joined the Jordanaires. The group was elected in 2001 to both the Country Music and Gospel Hall of Fame. The group was noted for providing backup vocals to music legends like Elvis, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Don McLean and Dolly Parton.
Other local acts and entertainers in the day-long festival included the Girls Harmony Four of Paris, Sammy Ezell of Huntingdon, the Stockard Twins of McKenzie, Dick Martin and his string band of McKenzie, and Dan and His Twins of Henry.
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