Fleet Stanley passed away this week. To most who saw the notice or read the posts it does not hold a special significance outside of family and close friends, but there are others, like me, who sit on the fringes of the Stanley family who see this and realize a loss in a different way. Fleet was a talented musician. But it is a disservice to leave the categorization of his work as that alone. Fleet represents a connection to times past and a greater history of community. He comes from the talented Stanley Family of Dacula. The family had one of the first female recording artist in country music. Each subsequent generation was instilled with the importance of music and trusted to continue that progress and tradition. I saw members of the Stanley Family perform throughout the years in a variety of ways. I watched Levi Stanley play Fleet’s guitar in High School with a smoothness I completely envied. Every time I hear fiddle on a Doug Stone Record, I know its Jeff Stanley drawing the bow. And perhaps the memory I have most repeating of fleet is his smile while walking in with that instrument case in his hand. Most often I saw that walk down the dirt path from his car to the Elisha Winn Festival where he played with the Skillet Lickers.

I think its in that moment of reflection I see the small town slip away just a little bit more. Fleet was of the legendary Stanley family, but right across town was the Tanner Family and the Tradition of the Skillet Lickers. In the late 20s they had a following and a popularity that led to a national record deal cutting over 88 songs in their time. As always, the importance of the music was stressed as they handed it down from generation to generation. In the past decades, Fleet Stanley cemented the bond between these two musical families with frequent visits to the “Chicken House.” The old Chicken house on the Tanner property hosts an open session most Friday nights. Fleet was there often. As I think about Fleet playing there at the Tanner Chicken house I reflect on another bit of small town Dacula that is slipping away. These local traditional gatherings are slowly slipping away and are all but lost except to the locals with memory.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that hope springs eternal. As we think about the joy Fleet brought to others through his music and the sounds of the chicken house one has to wonder what new tradition or art is being born just across the road at Dacula Middle School. There, we hope, some young adult is discovering the joy of music and will make it a part of their family and life. Fleet would be proud.