West Tennessee southern soul artist Terry Wright has sung a lot about backroads and backyard parties, so it is only appropriate that he set up a backyard party this summer in West Tennessee. Terry Wright’s Backyard Party was held at a farm on the Old Jackson Road in Fayette County, not far from the community of Fayette Corner. However, the even flyers read Whiteville, perhaps the nearest town, but in Hardeman County. Perhaps due to the significant amount of rain during the days before, the event was held under the pine trees on the hill at the back of the property rather than on the flat fields nearer the road. The weather was extremely hot and sticky, and I was soaked to the skin within the first half hour after I arrived, even with the shade of the trees overhead.
Wright had planned his event on a Saturday where nothing else was scheduled in the area, but the rescheduling of a rained-out Boots and Dukes party at Zodiac Park in Mason put that event up against the Backroad Party. But still, a good crowd turned out to hear Memphis soul singer Bird Williams, blues musician Gerod Rayborn and Terry Wright himself, all with live musicians. Several food trucks were present, and a number of families with tents that were grilling and hanging out. A couple of fires were set near the stage trying to keep the insects at bay, but to no avail.
As the weather got cooler, the crowd continued to get bigger. But I was tired, as there were no chairs, and I had had to play the keyboards standing up for Geord Rayborn’s set, so once I got paid, I decided to leave out and head to Brownsville to the Waffle House for an after-gig breakfast. That meal proved satisfying, but left me sleepy, and with some difficulty, I made my way home to Memphis.