Thanks to the enterprising Sadie, Celeste's own RCG Band performed Saturday after Thanksgiving at the L&L Cafe in Leonard.

Sadie, known in real life as Marsha Godwin, booked the Gilliam family band for a showing the cafe where she works.

Sadie is the self-proclaimed manager for the band, consisting of R. C. Gilliam and wife, Billie Gilliam, with sons Tim Gilliam and Ryon Gilliam, and friend, Roger Turner. Tim's son, Brandon Gilliam, has also made appearances with the group. Marsha is R. C. and Billie's oldest daughter.

R. C. is lead guitarist and Billie is lead vocalist. Ryon, their teenage son, plays drums, but is especially interested in singing. Son Tim plays rhythm guitar and Turner is the bass man.

The band is named for Ryon Clay Gilliam--who was chosen to sing at the Grapevine Opry recently. He wants to seriously pursue singing and hope to appear at the Grapevine Opry again.

He grew up singing with his mother and father. Many Celeste citizens remember the Gilliams' appearances at the Kingston Community Center in 1965 and 1966 before Ryon was born.

During the 1970's, the Gilliams also performed, including shows for the Bi-Centennial in Celeste and at Celeste High School homecomings. At this time, a professional musician, George Bickham, was an integral part of the group. He died in 1979.

Then, a few years later, the Gilliams and Turner got together and this past summer they were asked to perform at the Quinlan Jamboree. The group had to have a name for the appearance and they named the band for Ryon because he wanted the appearance so much.

"A star was born that night," Sadie recalled. She said that she hated to see her family members leave to do something fun without her so she put a wig on and said, "I think I'll just join the group."

"I thought they needed a tambourine," she said.

Sadie went to Quinlan and sat in the audience. During the RCG set, she suddenly stood up and hollered, "Stop the show!" Stop the show!" She ran up onstage and began dancing and participating in the singing. The audience was shocked and pleased. Since then, she has been a vital part of the RCG show.

"She started out with just a little part and now she's run kind of rampant," Tim said. "She's taken over."

But Sadie disagrees and claims many supporters. The Quinlan Jamboree asked the RCG Band to come back and to "Bring that crazy woman with you."

"You know how the crowd ..." con't on page six (but no page six).

(Picture: R. C. Gilliam and Roger Turner played Saturday night at the L&L Cafe in Leonard. Turner {in the RCG shirt} is the bass player and is from Sherman. R. C.'s interest in music has spread to the whole family and from it was born the RCG Band. Photo by Leslie Lorenz) (Picture: Brothers Tim Gilliam and Ryon Gilliam perform together as part of the RCG Band. Ryon has played drums since he was three years old. Tim used to entertain his high school friends by picking and singing his original songs. Photo by Leslie Lorenz) (Picture: Billie Gilliam, lead vocalist for the RCG Band, listens to the musicians in their performance at the L&L Cafe in Leonard. Billie's husband and two sons are in the band. Janet, one of her daughters, is a loyal fan. Marsha, her other daughter, has established herself as an active member of the band by performing as "Crazy Sadie."

(Picture: Enter Sadie, the Tambourine Lady. Tim has to concentrate to keep playing in step with the rest of the RCG Band when Sadie enters. Sadie has a way of distracting Tim when she keeps time with her tambourine and sings. Tim did ask Sadie to join the band originally, but now claims she has "run rampant." Photo by Leslie Lorenz)

(December 2, 1982, The Celeste Star)

Submitted by Sarah Swindell

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