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In 1964, we started out in Martin's 1961 Dodge
Pioneer; |
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We quickly moved on to a 1962 Chevy van; It wasn't too bad in the summertime, but the fact that it usually occurred in the dead of wintermay explain why we became close friends as well as singing partners! |
After a few years of that, we knew we had to do something different, so with the guidance of our very good friend, Johnny Paul Jones, (yes, that really is his name) we stepped out on faith and located a used bus at Valley Bus Lines in Knoxville, Tennessee; -the 4104- the first real bus to carry The Inspirations. Using a combo of Tide and paint stripper, we shined her up. |
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The
Inspirations have a lot of wonderful memories associated with life on the road in the
4104. We took turns driving, which probably wasn't the best idea we ever had! There were
three rooms in the bus; a front lounge -where we spent most daylight hours- and the two
back rooms where we slept -which was every chance we got! |
Jack and Ronnie shared
the back room with a 3 foot plate glass mirror. Jack used the mirror the most, to keep his
"curls" in place (Jack had lots of hair in those days! REALLY!) LOL |
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AND THE MORAL OF THAT STORY IS: |
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| Mark Lowry, (he was just a kid, but so were we), Became the proud owner when we moved on to a brand new, fresh off the boat, 1971 Eagle from Belgium. According to Mark; who's gotten a new bus, plus a whole new career as Gospel Music's most famous funny man since then, the 4104 is probably still running somewhere down in Mexico! We''ll bet it's a sight to see now after all these years! | |
Affectionately called The Big 'I' , for the single letter license plate she wore for 27 years, the 1971 EAGLE carried the group for more than 3 MILLION actual recorded miles. |
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| The 'Big I' was sold in 1999, and still carries SGM singers across the country. | |
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The new EAGLE had a few
trials trying to get used to living here in the Great Smokies and had to rest awhile in
the Inspiration's parking lot with the rear door up, covering Colon, the greatest bus
mechanic we know, as he worked to get it ready for the rigors of mountain living. . .
Inspirations' style . . . |
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| The most recent addition to the Inspirations' bus
history is a modified Eagle affectionately called "Big Red". |
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BUMPER TO BUMPER = 45 FEET |
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The Inspirations current
'stagecoach' (CB lingo for a music bus, as opposed to a regular diesel pusher
RV) features a space age high tech driver's seat, power steering, and automatic
transmission. The only thing the customizers still have to master is a way that the bus
can drive itself. Well, we can always dream! LOL 'Home Away From Home' |
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But the real story
of the Inspirations bus is the sleeping area. Each room has stacked bunks with a
combination desk and dressing area; (The preachers pretty well keep those occupied,
working on their sermons). For some reason, the most popular feature of the bus seems to
be the bunks. SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE! |
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| SGM TRIVIA: Everyone who spends many long hours away from home, traveling the roads of America in custom vehicles, can thank the Blackwood Brothers -especially their legendary bass singer, J D Sumner- for having the vision to turn passenger buses into traveling bunkrooms. | |
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Take a good look and
remember this face! This is "BUCK the BUSDRIVER" aka Donald Watkins. If
the name sounds familiar, Donald is Archie's big bother . . . OOPS, I MEAN BROTHER . .
.LOL! |
For
almost 40 years, Inspirations' buses have been a familiar sight to folks all across
America, especially to long haul truckers and other late night travelers. Below are a few
pictures of the vehicles which have safely carried the group during our years of 'watching
America grow through the windshield of a bus'.
