Smiley Anders for Friday, Aug. 3, 2012

Here’s a bittersweet story of an Acadiana singer’s brush with fame, from Thomas Murrel, of Church Point:

“With the recent passing of the legendary country music star Kitty Wells, an old story has re-emerged.

“Old friend Elton ‘Bee’ Cormier, of Church Point, a talented musician in his own right, reminded me of the story.

“Kitty Wells rose to fame in the ’50s, and a signature song was the answer to Hank Thompson’s ‘Wild Side Of Life.’

“‘It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels’ was written by Crowley record producer J.D. Miller, who thought of the words while driving between Rayne and Crowley.

“The story has it that he stopped his car and wrote the words down.

“Most people thought Kitty Wells was the first to record the song, but not so.

“Miller asked his friend Happy Fats LeBlanc to find a singer, and Happy Fats recommended a 17-year-old girl, Frances Alice Montgomery, of Washington, known simply as ‘Al,’ who sang on his Saturday morning show on KSLO in Opelousas.

“The record was recorded in Crowley in l952.

“Five hundreds copies were distributed locally, but none were sold to the general public.

“A chance visit by Kitty Wells’ agent resulted in his asking Miller for two copies of Al’s version to bring to Decca Records.

“Kitty Wells recorded the song for Decca.

“Good for J.D. Miller, but sadly not good for Al Montgomery.”

High on the hog

Rob Payer says, “Since so many of your readers (including me) are fans of bacon, I would be remiss if I didn’t direct you to one of my favorite websites — Thinkgeek.com.

“There you can find an astounding assortment of bacon related products, including bacon scented candles, bacon hand sanitizer, bacon dental floss, bacon lip balm and bacon soap.

“Also, I’m sure that as a connoisseur of fine things, Smiley, you’ve heard of bacon vodka?

“Best Bloody Mary you’ll ever taste, garnished with a Slim Jim.

“Truly, we live in the best of times.”

(Yes, Rob, my spouse Lady Katherine has tried a Bloody Mary with bacon-infused vodka, at brunch at Doe’s Eat Place. She says it’s like drinking breakfast — but she had them hold the Slim Jim.)

Worthy causes

• Cancer patients in Pointe Coupee Parish benefit from proceeds of the “Nell’s Angels” 12th annual co-ed softball tournament and 5K run/walk fundraiser Saturday at the Fordoche Ball Park.

To register for the run, visit http://nells-angels.org/5k.html.

For information, visit Jeremy LaCombe at [e-mail].

Donations can be mailed to:

Jenell Legier LaCombe Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 312, Fordoche, LA 70732.

Funds raised will be distributed through Pointe Coupee Homebound Health & Hospice.

• Melinda Marks says a cookbook, “Whippin’ Cancer: Recipes to Soothe Your Soles” raises funds for an upcoming three-day, 60-mile walk in Dallas and other cancer-related projects.

The price is $15, plus $2 if mailed. Call [phone].

Looking for people

Shelly Strobel says the sixth annual “Great Basketball Reunion” will be at LaFleur’s Restaurant, 6865 Magnolia Beach Road, Denham Springs, Aug. 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

“If you coached, played, or just followed basketball in this area from the late 1940s until the present day, come pass a good time!”

No reservations are necessary, and the only cost is the price of lunch, but a response is needed to determine the amount of food needed.

Call Shelly at [phone] or e-mail [e-mail].

Special People Dept.

• Viola LaDay, of the Acadiana-St. Landry Nursing Home in Church Point, celebrates her 102nd birthday Friday.
• Eunice Russell, of Greenwell Springs, celebrates her 93rd birthday Sunday.
• Zulma Marie Chaney celebrates her 91st birthday Saturday.
• Joe Rockforte, of Plaquemine, a World War II Army veteran and POW, celebrates his 90th birthday Friday.
• Horace and Norma Theriot, of Prairieville, celebrate their 67th anniversary Friday.
• J. Albert and Eva Delle Guilbeau, of Lafayette, celebrate their 67th anniversary Sunday.
• Bob and Lola Higby, of Amarillo, Texas, formerly of Baton Rouge, celebrate their 65th anniversary on Friday.
• Jack and Mary Cutrer celebrate 62 years of marriage Sunday.
• Dale and Dr. Karl J. Pizzolatto celebrate 50 years of marriage Saturday.
• Shirley and James A. Cupit, of Clinton, celebrate their 50th anniversary Saturday.

All that glitters…

Roy Pitchford, of Monroe, says, “With Texas A&M joining the SEC, and the Olympics in progress, we should recall the story of the Aggie who won an Olympic gold medal.

“He was so proud he had it bronzed.”

Write Smiley at [e-mail]. He can also be reached by fax at [phone] or mail at P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.