Post by George J. DancePost by Will Dockery<snip>
That sounds reasonable.
It seems highly unlikely that Ahmos Zu-Bolton was the "poet-in-residence," and no Carver High yearbooks have surfaced showing him as a member of the faculty.
He was in the area at the time, and may have visited Will's English class.
That would be difficult to confirm, but Zu-Bolton was known to have visited many high schools, and he was in the area at that time.
I think it safe to assume for now that Zu-Bolton was not the "poet-in-residence" at Carver, but that he probably did visit Will's class.
Barring any further evidence from Will (or other interested parties), let's all agree to leave it at the above.
Ahmos Zu-Bolton did come to Carver High in Columbus, Georgia in Spring of 1976 and was introduced to the English class as "poet in residence" by Dan Barfield, our teacher.
Since I don't yet have any evidence of this (except Dan Barfield's confirmation that it is true) I agree we should let the matter rest, for now.
I'm worried about how that phrase "poet-in-residence" is taking over the discussion. It's the first time I've noticed you using it. Originally, IIRC, you said that he was introduced as "Resident Poet" - that's close, I suppose, but I'd even question that wording.
For reasons I won't get into, I think the term that was used was "visiting poet". That term fits the job description you described (IIRC) - in the school for a couple of weeks.
A "poet-in-residence", OTOH, would be someone hired for the full school year, or at the very least for a full semester.
"Visiting Poet" is what Dan Barfield tells me it was, now, which is fine. Barfield knew Zu-Bolton, and even helped him cash his paycheck when the racist bank officers questioned him.
On a similar topic, it turns out that a /lot/ of local folks remember that Everly Brothers show I wrote about. I posted this message on Facebook:
"Does anyone else remember when The Everly Brothers performed in Columbus, Georgia at the Fair free show in 1969? I was there but nobody else I know was. Hard to believe now that such name acts would play at Golden Park, but they were there, as well as other name acts back in those days. I'm finding no record of this online... Gooding's Million Dolllar Midway put on a world class Fair back then.."
Debby M B: 13 years old and oh, so excited to see them! Fond memories!
Kim N: I remember seeing Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods in their heyday early to mid 70s.
Stephen M M: my brother got free tickets on stage with the Everly Brothers...he had a broken leg and was on crutches..
Sue M: I was a flight attendant for Delta and they were on the plane from Atlanta to Columbus. Very nice people!
Ricky G: I saw Kenny Rogers there once.
Diane P C: I was there and saw them perform ❤️
Sandra R: Saw them and many others !
Tad W: Saw Cab Callaway
Michael D: I was there, it was probably the best free acts show I ever saw. I’m not sure 1969 is correct though. I thought it was a few years later than that.
Bill G: I worked the free acts at the fair when they brought Mark Wilson of the Saturday morning magic show , Dean Martin`s "gold diggers" , George Kirby ---ole George was a terrific entertainer ---George & Mark were very nice folks , great tippers to me & my best friend Charles R. ---whom later became asst. chief of police in Col., Ga.
Sue G: Yes and also came to Auditorium a few yrs before. My cousins paid for me and my sister to go
Steve B: Sonny and Cher. Johnny Cash and Statler Brothers
Peggy M: Yes I do in 1970. I was pregnant with my son and got hit in the head by part of the fireworks.
Susan T: Yes they did, I saw Johnny T. even talked to the Everly Brothers and got his autograph. They had some great shows back then
Sharon S R: I saw the Everly Brothers at the auditorium in 1958. My first concert.
Debra M: I saw them at the Chattahoochee Valley Fair as it was called back then. Also saw other great performers there every year for free (mind you just the entrance fee to get into the fair)
Dora B G: I remember back in 1956n or '57 The Everly Bros. were at the Auditorium. Cause I was backstage and met them both.
Lisa H: I was there I saw them in 69
Ron M: Tanya Tucker
Victoria F: I was there!
I've always been a fan of theirs....
I remember it like it was yesterday....
David L: Most acts that played Fairs were either on their way up or down-usually the former...
Vanda G: I was there and got to meet them!!!
Mimi S H: Daddy worked with a talent agent out of Chicago and staffed the free acts. I remember his conversations with a man he called Stacy. Stacy was his last name. Stacy gave him information that formed the activity of the free acts. Who was up and coming (e.g.The Carpenters), who would sign autographs (e.g. the reason Lorne Green was not invited) who wowed the crowd everytime (e.g. Dave Meriwether, who did acrobatics from a helicopter) so he was invited back multiple times... I loved eavesdropping on his conversations. Miss it!
Danny D: I was there . Also saw Kenny Rogers at the fair.
Jeffrey N: I saw Bobby Goldsboro at the fair...I think somewhere around 72 or 73
Carolyn McC: Lots of great entertainment at the fair years ago. Not a fair anymore ..is a carnival now.
Tammy M: I was very young but I remember seeing them too!
Tim N: I was there but they refused to sign autographs, I really like the Everly Brothers harmony but unfortunately that’s what I remember most.
Mimi S H: That was the last year autographs were refused. When my Dad found out that was the first criteria of who he hired going forward.
Tim N: Went to a diamonds and denim get together and chubby Checker was there, his face look like it was made out of plastic but he danced down onto the floor and as he walked by me I had a 45 RPM record of the twist and I wanted him to sign it and he said he didn’t have time for such stuff so I broke it and threw it on the ground,I know that was rude and I almost regretted it. He had a twisting machine on stage where he stood in one place in the machine did the twisting for him almost look like something you see you in a gym
Mimi S H: Daddy used to say people who refused to sign autographs didn’t deserve to be famous.
Jeff T: That is why Willie Nelson is so loved by his fans. I saw him in 2008 at the River Center. He was in his seventies, yet he did a two hour show. Then he spent the next hour signing autographs. I don't know how many times he bent over from the stage to get the items that he autographed.
Tom L: I remember it in 1971..or 1972
Kelly C: I remember because I was 7 and my Mama dragged me in there to see them. When you are 7 at the fair the last thing you want to do is go to a concert! Lol
Anita K: 🎶 I was 10 years old and I thought I would die when my Mom told me I was going to see them in person ❤️💯 I still listen to their music and I always think about that concert!!!!! Great memories ❣️
Debbie R B: Collins We saw tanya tucker, billy crash craddock and lots of others
Bill G: I worked with ole Crash`s brother doing drywall work in Myrtle Beach back in 1975 ---he told me that 'Crash' gave him his drywall tools when he signed record deal
Jeff H: I remember Tanya Tucker performing in Golden Park during fair week in the early 1970’s
Mimi S H: Jeff, she was 16! I was overwhelmed!
Dean S: Saw Charlie Pride in 79
Bill H: Saw Paul Revere and the Raiders there when I was a kid, I would guess about 1965.
Jim E: I remember Lester Maddox there in a booth shaking hands.
Jene' J G: I remember when Kenny Rogers & the First Edition were the free act at the fair.
Linda N: I remember Jeannie C. Riley being there in 1980. My husband got a kiss from her. Made his day!
Barbara: Also, Eddie Rabbit
Sharon P: There was lots of great entertainment back then. I remember seeing Jeannie C. Riley, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, Tanya Tucker, & lots of other. I miss it!
Wendell B: I was there, also saw George Jones at Fair.
Will Dockery: So glad a few others here remember when the Everly Brothers did the show here... it isn't listed anywhere on the internet, that I can find. :)