A High-falutin' Affair

 

You'd never in a million years guess where this little lady spent her Thursday evening. So I suppose I'll have to tell you: at the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce's biggest event of the year, the Spindletop Awards.  
 

     

 

So you are wondering how a person gets from Caneyhead to an event like that? Take 92 south, then 96...oh, no. Sorry. You didn't mean directions. You meant social status wise.

The family owned company I work for won the Spindletop Award. Munro's started as a dry-cleaning company in 1928. There is a wonderful old photo in our community room that has businessmen in their boxer shorts practicing their golf swing outside the original building with a sign posted that says something about free golf while you wait for your pants to be pressed! I love it.

Now there are three divisions ran by the 3rd generation of Munros with the 4th wading in to get their feet wet to one day take over.

The original Dry Cleaning is now accompanied by Safety Apparel and Uniform Services...which I work for. You'd think rental of uniforms to companies for their employees would be a simple affair. It is nothing but. I have worked in the lumber industry, traffic and oil & gas, yet none had the level of detail involved as eleven sets of clothes per man.

But I've drifted away from your original inquiry; how'd I end up at such an affair? Well, our boss, Chad (best boss ever) invited and handed out tickets to all his ladies in the office, among many others. Pete was afraid he'd get too tired or sick feeling so he begged off going with me. So, I immediately thought of my sister, Edna, who is always up for anything. Besides, we have a blast together no matter what we do.

The evening started with a VIP Reception for the Chamber at the Beaumont Civic Center. We were served horse doves...just joking. I know they were hors d'oeuvres, after all I took 4 years of French in high school. And drinks. With a private gathering for the winners down the hall. Afterward,everyone headed across the street to the historic Julie Rogers Theater for the Awards ceremony. Nice little historical film piece about the family Munro and their business. And of course there was the actual presentation of the award.

By the way, my hat is off to those who renovated the Julie Rogers after Hurricane Rita! I was there about 15 years ago and it was nice, but rather plain. Now it is ornate & beautiful!
 

 

Then it was time for the entertainment of the evening: Michael Grimm, 2010 winner of American Idol. Now I have a question for that young man....how'd you get my playlist? Seriously, every artist he covered is on one of my playlists. There was Muddy Waters, Otis Redding, CCR and Bob Seger to name a few. He did excellent vocals for all of them. Some you couldn't have told if it were Grimm live or the original artist on Memorex. Others he stylized his own unique way. But every one was awesome!

He did a couple of duets with each of his back up singers, both of which was very good. But the second girl tickled us all with her antics on stage and her vocal playing. He also did an awesome song he simply said was an original, called "I Am". Beautiful lyrics that touched your heart, it also show cased his talented voice.

The only problems I found with the show were that the first couple of sets, the music was set so that it was overpowering his voice. That got adjusted to a perfect blend. It may be because I am "old" and wear glasses, but I did not care for the lights they would shine out over the audience. They blinded me and I wanted to see it all. He played guitar for himself and did quite well with it. But having had the privilege of hearing local boy, Glen Gordon play his guitar on numerous occasions, God rest his soul, Grimm's guitar solos, while pleasant, didn't excite me.

I thought it spoke well of him that after the show, he walked to the edge of the stage and shook hands with the front row, which included the Munro family and their closest friends. Proved he has manners.

Overall, it was an excellent show that was well worth attending. If you care at all for those styles of music, or for gritty vocals, you have to catch him when you have the opportunity.