rambunctious guy like me, Momma’s prayers.”

Also, there were some performances at galas in Los Angeles, with so many actors and actresses, but we had a thing we did in Staunton, Virginia every year on the Fourth of July called “Happy Birthday, USA” that grew to over 110,000 people in our little town. Those events were so memorable because our families also got to be there to celebrate our country, our independence, and our veterans.

You wrote the #1 hit Elizabeth. Was it planned as a Statler Brothers song?

I had never written a song before. I had always been so busy working I never had time to write. After I had been in the group awhile, I asked whether they would record a song if I wrote it. Harold Reid gave me a really honest answer. He said, “Well, little buddy, if it’s good enough… yeah, we’ll record it.”

I had a melody in my head, but I was looking for some words. We were leaving for a performance in Oklahoma and stopped at a Kroger to get some things for the bus. While I was there, I heard a mother fussing at her little girl for taking items off the shelves. She kept saying, “Elizabeth! Why did you do that?” Then on the trip, the Statlers (being big movie buffs), asked me if I had ever seen the movie Giant, with Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean. I hadn’t, so they pulled it out and we watched it on the bus. Then, during the next concert in Oklahoma, this young lady comes up to the stage and grabs my hand. She kept saying, “I’m Elizabeth. I’m Elizabeth.” It just hit me that I had to put that name in this song. It was another God thing. That night in the hotel room, I started putting words down and played the song into my little recorder. The next day, I played it for the guys on the bus, and they loved it. We recorded it, and it went #1. I won songwriter of the year, and it won song of the year for 1985.

Any other personal favorite songs you have?

All my patriotic songs…More Than a Name on a Wall That’s one of my favorites, because I get to say thank you to some very important people. Then I’ve written some…In God We Trust, and a song called Meet Me at Arlington These pay tribute to our veterans and are stories of people searching for comfort. Also, some gospel songs like I Believe, which are pretty much given to me by the Good Lord up above. One more recent special song is called I Love You More; it was inspired by my granddaughter. When I tell her I love her, she says, “I love you more!” That’s the way God is. He loves us more than any mistake we’ve ever made and is always there for us. That’s what that song is about.

How did you connect with the Gaither group as a label?

We have always been fans, and Harold, Phil, Don, and Lew were good friends with Bill Gaither. When the Statlers retired and I was on my own, I didn’t have a record label. I did a few projects here and there, then Bill Carter, an attorney for so many big acts—like Reba McEntire, The

Rolling Stones, and the Gaithers—contacted me. He had heard something I did and asked me to come to Arkansas to open for Dailey and Vincent and Jason Crabb. After that performance, he contacted Bill Gaither and told him he needed to do some projects with me.

How did the group “Brothers of the Heart” develop?

Mike Rogers was playing downtown doing some clubs, and Ben Isaacs and I would go down there and sit in with him from time to time. Eventually, Bradley Walker came and sat in. We got to listening to the blend, and the Gaither group suggested we do a project. We thought “Okay, we’ll see.” We all have our own careers going, Mike is with Ricky Skaggs, Ben is with The Isaacs, and Brad and I each have our own thing. Our first studio project was called Brotherly Love. We recorded another project at the Grand Ole Opry. Don Reid of the Statlers came down and did the video interview portion, and he made the comment, “You guys really are brothers. You’re brothers of the heart.” We are now called “Brothers of the Heart.” We just released the first half of that project, called Listen to the Music. The other half, Will the Circle Be Unbroken, will probably come out in the fall. We only do about 5-10 live shows together a year, which makes it kind of a special thing.

You work closely with your wife Nina. What are the pros and cons of working together?

It can take its toll on a husband and wife. I write songs, play my guitar, and sing…Nina does the rest. She’s very overworked and underpaid! If it wasn’t for her, none of this would be possible. It’s hard to find people to hire with a strong work ethic who won’t drop the ball. She oversees all the details, and when needed, she steps in and gets it done. Now we are trying to be purposeful and take mini-vacations to not let work rule our lives.

What do you want to be remembered for?

I want people to see a grateful person who has let the Lord lead him and has let them know they are loved—someone the Lord used through music to bring joy and laughter, comfort and healing…because we’re all in this together.

Jimmy Fortune will be performing in Huntsville at the Old Town Theatre

April 21, 2023. Visit oldtowntheatrehuntsville.org for ticket information. For more information about Jimmy, his schedule, and his music visit jimmyfortune.com.

By Daniel Strigenz, MD

5 Tips For Avoiding Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

A person with seasonal allergies is sensitive to allergens that are only around at certain times of the year. Plant pollens from blooming trees and grasses are the classic examples. Dr. Daniel Strigenz, an otolaryngologist at Houston Methodist ENT Specialists at The Woodlands, has five tips to help you prepare for seasonal allergies now that pollen has returned to Texas.

1. Know when it’s time to prepare

There are three different allergy seasons: spring, summer and fall. Each of these seasons is marked by a different type of plant pollen being released. Know your history of when your symptoms traditionally act up the most.

2. Take steps to reduce your pollen exposure

“Staying indoors is the best way to avoid seasonal allergy symptoms,” said Strigenz. “It is difficult, but at least take steps to limit your exposure.”

Tips to limit pollen exposure:

• Check the pollen count using your weather app and plan your day accordingly.

• Avoid driving with your windows rolled down, especially in the mornings.

• Wear a mask if you need to be outdoors.

• Set your car’s A/C to recirculate the air, rather than drawing it from the outside.

• Change clothes when you arrive home after being outdoors.

3. Pre-treat symptoms if you’re a regular sufferer

Start with an over-the-counter nasal steroid spray regimen or take a daily non-drowsy antihistamine when you know your allergy season is approaching.

“If you prefer a natural remedy for allergies, try frequent saline rinses,” offered Strigenz.

4. Know the allergy symptoms

As soon as you notice these symptoms, it’s time to start treating them:

• Runny nose

• Nasal congestion

• Itchy eyes

• Sneezing

• Scratchy throat

• General fatigue

• Headaches

5. Take an antihistamine

Allergies can hit even if you’re doing everything right. Non-drowsy oral antihistamines are a preferred method of treatment. “These medications start to act within a few hours and target the histamine response itself,” explained Strigenz. “They are an excellent initial option for treatment of allergy symptoms.”

While nasal steroid sprays are also good options for treatment, he cautioned against using nasal decongestant sprays, as you can become dependent, and they can cause rebound congestion. “Your congestion actually gets worse as your system becomes reliant on the spray,” noted Strigenz. Should you see a doctor for seasonal allergies?

“The symptoms of congestion, drainage and facial pressure can be a bad bout of allergies or a sinus infection. If you’re not getting better in 7 to 10 days, it’s time to see a doctor,” Strigenz added. “There are new in-office procedural treatments that may help with allergy symptoms. For instance, we can try to calm down over-active nerves in the nose that stimulate mucous production and shrink congestion.”

Your primary care provider may refer you for chronic issues to a board-certified ENT specialist.

"BLESSED

Special to Postcards

Submitted Photos