Jan 1, 2008 – Glenna Bell’s song “Can’t Get My Mind Off You” with Picks backup vocals released.
Jan 11, 2008 – Peggy Sue’s book, “What Ever Happened to Peggy Sue?” is out with lawsuit from Maria and a lot of controversy.
Jan 15, 2008 – Ms.Peggy Sue was heard on radio show “Coast To Coast AM” with George Noory. A DJ was on the show after her and said the song was not about her.
Jan 18, 2008 – John signed a guitar pick shield for Sid Holmes of the West Texas Music Hall of Fame; then mailed it to Carl Bunch, Sonny West and Bob Lapham to sign and send to Jerry Naylor to take to Clear Lake, Iowa to the Surf Ballroom for other signatures.
Jan 24, 2008 – Saw 4-Oscar winning movie “No Country For Old Men”, and heard Michael Sanchez, President of the NM Music Hall of Fame and Museum, song, “Puno de Tierra”.
Jan 28, 2008 – As a result of the Chronicle article on Dec. 13, 2007, Jerome (Jerry, Jay) Rogers came to visit the Pickerings. In 1949 as a child of 11 or 12 his mom would take him to KTRH to see the Pickering Family sing. He remembered John from that time.
Feb 10, 2008 – BBC Radio 4 event “Forever 22” is using the same title as one of John’s tribute songs to Buddy Holly.
Feb 3, 2008 – The Picks were not invited to attend the Surf Ballroom 49th Anniversary of the Holly/Bopper/Valens/Peterson deadly plane crash.
Feb 4, 2008 – Bob Lapham’s 73rd birthday.
Feb 25, 2008 -John and Vicky joined a group of readers of the Houston Chronicle writer, Leon Hale to hear him speak and view a movie with him at the Houston Museum of Fine Art. The group enjoyed an evening seeing “Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid”. They met his wife, Gabrielle who is a Holly music fan and publisher and novelist.
Feb 28, 2008 – Meet with Lubbock High School Houston area Class of ’55 friends for lunch every other month. Buddy Holly’s class.
Feb 29, 2008 – Leap Year Day!
Mar 5, 2008 – Niece, Roxanne called to say she and her family were at Lubbock radio station KKCL 98.1 FM “Cool 98” and saw a picture of “The Picks”.
Mar 8, 2008 – John Pickering’s 75th birthday.
Mar 30, 2008 –Heard Buddy Holly’s “Learning The Game” on radio at 6:30 a.m.
Apr 12, 2009 – Garrison Keillor sang “True Love Ways” on Prairie Home Companion radio show.
Apr 16, 2008 – United States Senator from Texas, John Cornyn, sent a letter of salutation on music and the NM Hall of Fame.
Apr 16, 2008 – Buddy Holly’s “It Doesn’t Matter Any More” played at Walgreen’s Drug Store.
Apr 16, 2008 – In movie “Juno” Buddy Holly “Dearest” is played. Movie released 12-25-07.
Apr 24, 2008 – Bob Lapham’s brother Bill died after a long illness. He attended the “Oh Boy” session of The Picks in Clovis, 1957.
Apr 28, 2008 – Joe Melson’s son-in-law called and John enjoyed a talk about his Dad and his career.
May 11,2008 – Dottie Rambo died. Her husband, Buck, told The Pickering Brothers in 1969 when they saw him in Nashville that they could make more money in gospel music. He was probably right!
May 15, 2008 – George Noory on radio “Coast To Coast AM” mentioned Buddy Holly.
May 16, 2008 – Houston’s Channel 2 KPRC-TV Icon, Ron Stone died. He hosted “Eyes Of Texas” on a John Pickering segment. Pickerings visited with several of the staff at the funeral. Ron Stone, Jr. said that was his favorite show that he assisted on production.
May 31, 2008 – Son, John V. Pickering sworn in as a CPA in Austin, TX followed by lunch with family and friends and later to Hut’s Hamburgers with wife, Kathy, and John and Vicky for a “Buddy Holly” hamburger. Works for KPMG in Houston.
Jun 1, 2008 – Saw Ralna English Hendrix Hovis and Guy Hovis on Lawrence Welk while Pickerings were in Austin.
Jun 2, 2008 – Bo Diddley died. Holly covered his song “Bo Diddley” and used the guitar style on “Not Fade Away”. Pickering met Bo around 1985 at a Lubbock show with the Holly music people but he would not allow a picture to be made with John.
Jun 4, 2008 – The Picks received a plaque for The 2006 West Texas Music Hall of Fame Pioneer Award from Sid Holmes.
Jun 13, 2008 - Granddaughter Rylie heard “That’ll Be The Day” on radio and called.
Jun 14, 2008 – John and The Picks’ backup on “Can’t Get My Mind Off You” on the album “The Road Less Traveled” and singer Glenna Bell heard on “Larry T” Florida Radio show WIKX.com.
Jun 14, 2008 – Vicky Pickering was published in Texas Highways on a quote about Award Winning Western Writer Elmer Kelton.
Jun, 2008 – Records and CDs of The Picks and Buddy Holly available on eBay.
Jun 21, 2008 – Email exchange with Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Jun 21, 2008 – Saw son-in-law, Terry, on TV at the U.S. Diving Team meet in Indiana.
Jul 15, 2008 – The Rockin’ Rev, Dr. Ken Haskins on “Coast To Coast AM” 3 – 4 a.m. Ordered his book, “Reminiscing With Music Legends”, a book of interviews with legends when he was a DJ.
Jul 16, 2008 – Learned that Echo (McGuire) and Ron Griffith were in a very serious auto accident.
Jul 26, 2008 – Songs submitted to NM Hall of Fame producer Mike Sanchez for CD.
Jul 29, 2008 - On trip to Denver, stopped in Raton, NM and had dinner with Fireballs George Tomsco and Stan and Dawn Lark.
Aug 2, 2008 – While in Denver with family, the Pickering family all attended The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities presentation of “Buddy…The Buddy Holly Story, The Man…The Music…The Legend.” It was the first time John had heard his voice used in one of the presentations. Enjoyed meeting up again with Dan and Nancy Dunshee.
Aug 4, 2008 – In Denver, met bridesmaid in Pickering wedding in 1957. Millie and Vicky attended school with Buddy Holly and some of the other musicians at Lubbock High School Class of ’55.
Aug 4, 2008 – In Englewood, visited Jim and Sallie Ratts of “Runaway Express” for dinner in their home. They have a superb in-home recording studio that reminded the Pickerings of Norman Petty’s situation.
Aug 7, 2008 – When in Grand Junction, visited friends, Sheldon and Janice, whom they had not seen in 50 years when the men were in the army at Ft. Belvoir, VA but had kept up by correspondence 50 years.
Aug 8, 2008 – When in Gunnison, the Pickerings went to Crested Butte and visited extended family that was there on vacation.
Aug 12, 2008 – Bob Lapham finished his overdubs for son John Mark Lapham and he mixed his part.
Aug 14, 2008 – Ken Hoffman article in the Houston Chronicle “Big Bopper Finally Get Recognition” © Houston Chronicle.
Aug 16, 2008 – Gary Clevenger asked to use lyrics in his book to John’s tribute songs to Buddy “Buddy Holly Not Fade Away” and “Forever 22”.
Aug 19, 2008 – Pickerings grandson, Zachary had successful back surgery for Scheuermann’s Kyphosis.
Aug 19, 2008- Pickerings visited Garry Shrum at Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. He gave them catalog for next auction.
Aug 29, 2008 – Bob Lapham and John discussed the backup work Bob is doing on some of John’s songs with Bob’s son, John Mark.
Sep 2, 2008 – Vicky sent Gary Clevenger stories about knowing Buddy Holly in high school for his soon to be released book.
Sep 3, 2008 – Glenna Bell’s song with John and The Picks’ backup on “Can’t Get My Mind Off You” on the album “The Road Less Traveled” is in stores.
Sep 3, 2008 – The August 2008 Artist Development Co-op ADC Media Guide story on “Glenna Bell the Real Texas Deal” by Reb Landers p, 29-30.
Sep7, 2008 – The Picks were not invited to appear at the Clovis Music Festival, nor the Lubbock Buddy Holly Center activities honoring Buddy’s 72nd birthday.
Sep 8, 2008 – Kevin Wall on “Morning In America” national radio program played “Maybe Baby” on which The Picks sing.
Sep 9, 2008 – A friend and a former Pastor of the Pickerings told them about the presentation at Conroe’s The Creighton Theater by the Creighton Players of “Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story”. The Director, Marty Craig, invited the Pickerings to attend the show on the 19th and plans were made. But, Hurricane Ike chose that time to come into Houston and cancel the show.
Sep 13, 2008– The Pickerings had to “hunker down” and “shelter in place” when Hurricane Ike came through the Houston area. They were without electricity for 7 days and telephone, Internet and TV for 26 days.
Sep 27, 2008 – Saw cousin-by-marriage Ralna English (Lawrence Welk Show) on PBS special “From My Heart”.
Sep 25, 2008 – Patricia Lou Holley Weir Kaiter (Buddy’s sister) died in Lubbock.
Oct 10, 2008 – Garry Shrum from Heritage Auction Galleries called to verify records in auction.
Oct 11, 18, 2008 – RV ads for Outback Steakhouse used theme song “Crave On” to the tune of Sonny West’s “Rave On”.
Oct 29, 2008 - Instrumental Crickets inducted into the Nashville Musicians Hall of Fame. Abilene Reporter News article.
Oct 31, 2008– Visited with Jim and Pat Schuman at the International Quilt Festival in Houston. Dinner at the 59 Diner.
Nov 1, 2008– John sang with band “Prohibition” and John Bowyer at his private party in Houston.
Nov 3, 2008 – John and Vicky received and accepted an invitation from Laurie Lietz, Executive Director, to be guests at the “Winter Dance Party-50 Winters Later” from January 28th to February 3, 2009 at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. It will be the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Richie Valens and pilot Roger Peterson on February 3, 1959. Followed by a response from Executive Director, Laurie Lietz.
Nov 7, 2008 - Heard singer Glenna Bell on KPHT.
Nov 18, 2008 – Invitation to New Mexico Music Hall of Fame for 2008.
Nov 30, 2008 – Attended Sandi Patty Christmas Concert at Richardson, TX First Methodist Church. CD later released of one of her Christmas Concerts at the church.
Dec 31, 2008 – The Houston Chronicle picked “The Road Less Traveled” as #1 Album of 2008 for the Houston Metropolitan area!
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