I could never write anything as lovely as the talented Sista has about Mr. Arnold, but I have to break the radio silence for just a bit to thank Eddy Arnold for sharing his gifts with the world.

I had only a tiny acquaintance with him (from local government meetings, which he often attended to keep up with development and other community issues), but he indeed was the consumate gentleman as well as a brilliant artist. One of the lullabies my mom used to sing to us was “Bouquet of Roses,” her favorite song. (What? We were babies; we didn’t know the lyrics!)

What resonance! What phrasing! Some purists criticize the countrypolitan sound that emerged from Nashville as a result, but honestly, like Patsy Cline or Jim Reeves, how else can you showcase such an instrument without an orchestra? I can count on one hand the country artists in the last two decades about whom I could say the same. In fact, that would cover ALL the artists, regardless of genre.

When TNN did a tribute to him in ‘92, my sister used her industry connections to take Mom to the show (the *only* time she ever pulled strings), and one of our photographers got the shot that the LA Times is using in their online obit. I asked Steve to print it for my mom, and because Mr. Arnold was a pal of our editor, I used the hookup to request that he autograph the photo for my mom’s birthday. (I enclosed a little note explaining our family’s long enjoyment of his music.)

The photo was quickly returned, autographed, with another autographed publicity still and a little note: “Thought your mom might like a little bit better picture, too. Thank y’all for listening.”

I got ‘em all matted and framed, and she like to fell out when we presented the composite to her. The only other time I’ve seen her react like that was when we gave her a first-day issue, cancelled in Monaco, of the Princess Grace stamp. (Now y’all see where we inherited our love of gifted singers, pearls and good handbags.)

The world isn’t often blessed, it seems now, with entertainers (or, for that matter, civilians) who have class, discretion and good sense. Mr. Arnold had all that and more.

Thank you, sir. We’ll hold you in our hearts.

And I’ll see y’all directly.