Grinnin' and More at BG & Tammy's Pickin' House

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By: Angie Stryker

It’s Monday evening and I’m wearing a skirt. I have no idea what to expect or exactly where I’m going. I’ve heard rumors off and on about a place where my friend Wallace Murphree plays guitar “with some folks” on Mondays. As I inquired more I was told, “oh you should go!” So I venture out and contact BG Harvel. I tentatively ask him if I can visit and maybe write a story about them. I’m invited with a hearty, “We’d love to have you, come hungry.

”I drive out behind “the Mexican restaurant,” as it is locally referred to around here. I find the address easily. I’m in a quiet neighborhood. It’s a few minutes past 5 o’clock.

Behind the house a field has been cleared for parking. The cars are streaming in. I’m about to find someone and ask where the music house is when I hear it. There is a full band sound streaming outside the little house behind their home, even though the windows and door are closed. This must be it.

I walk right in and am immediately greeted by Tammy, BG’s wife of 5 years. She welcomes me wholeheartedly, tells me to make myself at home, and shows me the dinner buffet. I sit to take it all in. Onstage I count 11 men and women playing various instruments: the slide, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, banjo, fiddles, keys, drums. I count 5 more in the audience who are close to the stage and also have guitars. By the end of the night I count 28 people in the audience. There are 13 guitars on the walls, a shelf full of guitar cases, a banjo, a tambourine, and a mandolin. There’s a bathroom, 7 tables with chairs, padding on the walls for acoustics, and a majorly impressive sound system. There is a small sign by the microphones that says BG and Tammy’s Picking House.

I’m stricken by this: There is no marquee. No announcement of the big names playing. There is only a gathering of people who are there for one reason: the love of music. A place to share their talent. As it is Memorial Day, there is a recognition of the veterans in the room with a round of applause. BG comes and introduces himself to me and says, “We are glad you are here. You just enjoy yourself.”

There is a VIP table for two couples who have been there since the beginning of the music house - Don and Donnie and Shirley and Wally. It’s handwritten. The desserts are homemade and too many to count. There is plenty to eat for everyone.

BG takes a moment to introduce me and from that moment on I’m treated like royalty. Apparently, he told the crowd last week that I’d be visiting on behalf of Lake Wedowee Life. I’m thankful he does because I’m immediately found first by Shirley (the VIP table) and then Lavonne. Both make it their job to give me the inside scoop on what’s happening and who is who.

With every single story they tell me, I’m starting to fall in love with this place and these people.

Lavonne tells me, “My husband passed away a year ago. I came here with some friends and now I don’t feel alone anymore. Everyone here is like family.” Later I’m told that her table is full of widows and widowers. Together they don’t feel alone anymore.

She later confesses, I wish I had a talent. While she didn’t get on stage, she sang along, knew everyone’s name and stories, and sent me a bunch of pictures... I think, Lavonne, you do have great talent, you are everyone’s friend!

Gospel singalongs, country songs and classic rock unfold before my very ears. Everyone who wants to sing gets the chance to do two numbers. Everyone jumps in and plays the songs. It will take about two hours to get through everyone’s first round. After that, some will come up for another song or two.

Thanks to Lavonne, I am learning that people come every week from Anniston, Lagrange, Roanoke, Munford, Bowdon, to name a few.

As I’m laughing about a hilarious interaction on stage that includes a reminder how they know each other, my “friends” Nancy and Janice and Wallace call me up on stage to join their performance. Now I love some karaoke but this is a little different. Especially since they all think I would know this song for some reason when I can tell you with complete and total honesty that I have never heard this song in my life. It's a lovely old song about Jesus being my buddy but know it, I do not. BG hands me a microphone that I protest about but he insists and so there I am, singing along to sheet music that is moving in Nancy’s hands. I’m careful to hold the microphone FAR from my face. We are given lots of applause, just like everyone who performs. I relax and smile and muse inwardly, “Is this place heaven?”

Dawson, who some call “Hank”, a 21 year old from Mumford who is almost too tall to make it in the door, brings his cowboy hat and deep voice and entertains us with “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” “Tiny,” has just come back for his first time playing after an extreme surgery. He is welcomed back with gusto and fanfare and sincere authentic love as he plays the bass. Faithful Louise plays the keyboard and never misses a night. Carey dutifully plays steel along with Jerry. Jordan sings “I Saw the Light” when he isn’t playing the fiddle. Jimmy, I learn, “has some records out” and sings classic Johnny Cash by starting out with that famous line, “I hear the train a comin...”Wendell sings an old Ray Price song. Dale, the plain clothed worship leader is asked to sing the old Gospel singalong The Lighthouse and people end up raising their voices and their hands in impromptu praise. He ends his set with “On the Other Hand."

BG sits on stage playing and singing right along with a wonderful smile on his face the whole time. He actually delights in these people singing and playing their songs. He says after two hours, “We just have so much talent here.”

The night continues, Donald leads “Amazing Grace,” Chuck is unable to physically get to the stage these days so he sings from his seat “Rainy Night in Georgia.” A family with little kids comes in and are mesmerized by the sounds while their grandad plays along with everyone from the audience. Tim, sporting the other cowboy hat in the room he helped build, goes at a Merle song. BG kicks it up a notch with “Blue Suede Shoes” and a showstopper of a voice. A tambourine emerges on stage from an audience member. Angie and Lamar get the dancers in the crowd up with “Proud Mary.”

I see Tammy up and go to her to find out more about the origin story of this little slice of heaven. She says, “BG asked me one day, ‘What would you think about us having a music house in the back, could you see that?’ Tammy replied, ‘ Yes, I could.’ We prayed about it and then Covid came and sort of derailed it for a little bit but then we slowly put it together.” I ask, “Could you tell me how many people have come through these doors?” Tammy says, “Oh there is no telling. The Lord has really run with this. People bring food and tips and we just make it happen over time.”

Next thing you know, BG is asking me from the stage, “What do you think, Mrs. Angie?”

I’m thinking, “Well at this point I sang on your stage, I danced in the back with the dancers, I ate homemade dessert, I have heard beautiful stories of belonging and I have hugged Tammy as if we were long lost friends."

So I respond, “Are you kidding me? You may never get rid of me.”

I'm told that Paul, the drummer, met BG the Friday before for the first time and drove from Lafayette to be there on Monday. Tracy gets up and does a beautiful Patsy Cline song. Chuck gets us moving again with “Old Timey Rock n Roll.” There’s more dancing and dare I say giggles. John rocks the hot red electric guitar. Dawson takes another crack at it then Jimmy gets everyone in stitches because a whole lot of shaking is going on. Dale finishes us with “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” and in the most fitting ending possible, several remaining audience members (myself included, I just could not help myself) gather on stage to sing “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.

”BG and Tammy Harvel humbly and gratefully invite you to experience their picking house every Monday from 5pm to 8 pm. at 118 Mashburn Drive, Wedowee. No alcohol please and no pets, just you and your family. Bring something to share and get ready for a beautiful evening of music and friendship.