We Lost a Dear Friend

 

On January 18, 2021, we lost our dear friend and fellow musician, William F. "Toby" Hughes. Toby and Dick first met at George AFB, California, in 1967. They were both learning to fly the F-4 Phantom in preparation for their air combat tours of duty in Southeast Asia. They performed together for the first time as members of the Incountry Group. First came the Incountry album, followed by Austin City Limits with Kris Kristofferson hosting.

Toby was an excellent singer, songwriter and musician. In addition to his "Fast and Low" CD, Toby worked with Dick on several albums preserving the songs and stories of the Vietnam War. 

In May of 2018, Toby joined Dick, Irv LeVine and Chip Dockery at Maxwell AFB to present an evening of songs as the culmination of a paper on the military/warrior music history. It was at this concert that "The Light In The Window" was first introduced which later became the title song on Dick's #32 CD. "The Light In The Window" is about the wives and families who waited at home while their husbands and fathers were away in the military. As part of the dedication on that CD Dick wrote: "I've known some pretty good fighter pilot lyricists through the years, Bobby Middleton, Thud Jock, Irv LeVine, also a Thud Jock and Chip Dockery who has flown the Phantom and a bunch of other stuff. But the warrior song-writing talent of Toby Hughes are unmatched by any of us. If there is a heavy thought you want to leave to posterity and you don't know how to say it, check with Toby."

On February 9, 2021 Toby was laid to rest with full military honors at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX.

Toby, we will miss you now that you have "Flown West".

80 Years Young and still going strong!

Dick celebrated his 80th Birthday this March!

As you can see from the list below, he his looking forward to a full year of performances.

If you are in the area please drop in, say Hi and share the fun.



PERFOMANCE DATES & LOCATIONS:

29 March POW reunion 560FTS, Randolph AFB TX - Auger Inn

12 - 13 July, Patriotic Celebration, Forest Lakes AZ

25 September, F-105 Thud Reunion, Dayton OH

4 - 5 October, TLC Brotherhood Reunion, Las Vegas NV {Thailand-Laos-Cambodia Brotherhood}

We will be doing a lot of traveling this year and doing our best to criss-cross the country.

For more information about the performances contact the organization or Dick at .

"Dick's Gig Schedule" is also at his website .

Evening with San Antonio Ralph Parr Pack

November 6th found us in San Antonio at the Randolph AFB O'Club. 

The Ralph Parr River Rats had asked Dick to perform for them. It was a great evening.

Mary & "Goldie" Goldfein were there. Good to see them again.

Dick sang the songs.

Charlie Huff told the stories.

 After the evening with the River Rats, word got down to the Auger Inn and the active duty pilots down there decided to join us for some "after hours" fun.

A standing ovation for the Rowdie songs.

Some of the pilots were from Poland on an exchange tour.