Parents keep son's musical dream alive

Five years ago, 18-year-old Joey Tucker of Lexington was on top of the world. He had been playing guitar for years and was making it as a player and songwriter. Friends were saying he would make it big in Nashville. Joey, a music student at Guilford Technical Community College, just wanted to form his own blues band and tour.

But one August night, after finishing a gig with his father, he was driving home alone when he ran off the road, crashed and was killed. He either got distracted or fell asleep. Neither alcohol nor drugs were involved.

Five years on, his parents have realized that what seemed like the end was a sort of new beginning. The parents, Davis Tucker and Shannon Gregg, have come out with a country gospel CD, "Gospel Truth," that includes tracks Joey recorded before his death. Through studio mixing, the parents and other musicians play with Joey, their only child.

"This CD is dedicated to the Lord my God, and our late son, Joey Tucker," Davis writes in the liner notes. "Between the two of them they rescued my inner child, which I had lost during my travels on this earth. This proves that you should never take yourself too seriously. In making this CD, I found out things about myself and others that renewed my faith in Jesus, the world and mankind."

Full disclosure: Davis and Shannon became my friends as I listened to them play at area gigs over the years. They play what Davis calls "Americana" music, selections that run the gamut from Billy Joe Shaver and Hank Williams Sr. to Van Morrison and James Taylor. I really got to know Davis and Shannon after Joey died. As a parent myself, I worried about them.

I didn't realize how strong their faith was. And how strong their memories of Joey were.

Shannon, who overcame her stage fright to sing with Davis after their son died, carries some of his ashes in a small bottle attached to a necklace. When she takes the stage, she hangs the necklace on her mic stand. "Joey is always on the stage with us," Shannon said. "I stay scared to death. But that's my little piece of courage."

They'll never really get over Joey's death. But, with Davis leading the way, they play on with a style and grace all their own.

"You just learn to live with the memories and the loss," Davis said. "Some days we'll be doing fine and we'll be good, and then we'll just tear up and break down. You run across an old photo, toys. It'll just kind of bring it back on you sometimes. For the most part we try to stay focused on what we need to do. But we miss him every day, that feeling of loss — you always have that. We're just thankful we had him for the years we had him."

Making the country gospel that includes Joey's tracks was their act of faith. They're not holier than thou. I've had the pleasure of enjoying a beer or two with them. They show their faith through the peace they've found, rather than talk about it. Davis, who has a long white beard and dresses up like Santa for Christmas gigs, has quietly provided comfort to a lot of people, ranging from folks who have been laid off to ones going through divorces and problems with their children. Once when I was going through a tough patch, I asked him to pray on it. That prayer was answered.

Joey lives in his parents' heart and soul, and they pour it out in the CD. The songs include "Hard Luck Angel," "The Wonder of a Child" and the classics "Farther Along" and "I Saw the Light." Joey's guitar playing on three of the tracks is heavenly.

"The older I get, the more I realize that God truly does work in mysterious ways," Davis writes in the liner notes. "When I started this CD in 2005, my son, Joey Tucker, was alive and becoming a fabulous guitarist and songwriter. In August 2006, the Lord called Joey home, changing our lives forever."

Davis goes on, writing about how "the Lord put us here to love and take care of each other. … That's what this CD is all about — keeping your hope and faith, no matter what this world throws at you, and believing that God will bring you through anything as long as you trust in him."

Davis and Shannon were immensely proud of Joey. He'd be proud of them, too. Go to davistucker.com to learn about them.

A note about two other untimely deaths. Seven years ago on the editorial page, we wrote about the courage of the Rowley family. Sgt. Jeremy Rowley of the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office was injured in a shootout with a madman who killed his father-in-law. Last weekend, Rowley's sons, 19-year-old Matthew McAlexander and 12-year-old Joshua B. Rowley, were killed in a Nebraska boating accident, the Journal's Paul Garber reported. The driver of the boat that collided with theirs, Brian R. Parker, was arrested on suspicion of boating while intoxicated. McAlexander had been a boy when he helped his family to safety after the 2004 shooting. Have a good thought for this fine family that has endured far too much.