Fred Hunter's Alabama

As a young DJ at his dream job in Myrtle Beach, Greg Fowler repeatedly read an ad encouraging people to visit The Bowery to hear a group who, at that time, was known as Wild Country. Little did he know that spark would change his life, eventually intertwining his path with that of the most successful band in country music history — ALABAMA.

Read the accompanying story here, and watch the interview on YouTube!

Beth Cowan Drake loves outdoor photography and astrophotography, and she loves inspiring other people to explore their world through the camera lens. Through her exemplary work and her incredibly popular Alabama The Beautiful Facebook group, Beth shines a spotlight on our beautiful state and the breathtaking skies above us.

In this episode of Fred Hunter's Alabama, Fred swaps stories with Sean Dietrich, a columnist, humorist, multi-instrumentalist, and stand-up storyteller known for his commentary on life in the American South. Best known as "Sean of the South," Dietrich shares personal and heartfelt stories of his youth, family, Southern traditions, and life as a writer and performer. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Southern Living, Reader's Digest, and Garden and Gun, and his column appears weekly in newspapers throughout the U.S. He has authored eighteen books and over four thousand columns. Sean makes appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, and his work has been featured on the Today Show.

When I sat down to chat with Colleen Duffley of Andiamo Lodge, I knew we were in for a special conversation. Colleen, with her vibrant energy and captivating stories, is the kind of person who thrives on adventure. And now the town of Mentone is a new chapter in her fascinating story.

Colleen discovered Mentone in an unconventional way — on a bicycle. Back in the early ’90s, she was training for the Olympic trials and would ride from Birmingham to Mentone. “We’d get a cold drink at the market and then ride back to Birmingham. The landscape here was so similar to the terrain in Barcelona, where I was preparing for the Olympics,” she recalls. That’s how Mentone first landed on her radar. As life circled back, it felt only natural to return to this magical place.

Fast forward a few years, and Colleen and her husband, Steve — better known to some as “Crabby Steve” from his restaurant on the Florida coast — were on another bike ride when they stumbled upon what would become Andiamo Lodge. “We were on our bikes, riding through town, and saw this dilapidated old lodge with a ‘for sale’ sign. I was still working as a commercial photographer, but during the pandemic, everything slowed down, and we just thought, ‘Why not?’” she shares with a grin.

That spontaneous decision turned into a beautiful project — an experiential retreat where guests come not just to rest but to create, learn, and connect with their surroundings. “We wanted Andiamo Lodge to be more than a place to sleep. We want people to leave with memories and new skills, whether it’s cooking with a James Beard chef or attending a writing workshop,” Colleen explains. The word “Andiamo” means “let’s go” in Italian, and it perfectly captures the spirit of her lodge: let’s go create, let’s go explore, let’s go experience.

Speaking of experiences, Andiamo Lodge is gearing up for some exciting fall events. Heather Webber, the talented author, will return to Mentone in early October for a dinner inspired by her latest book, A Certain Kind of Starlight. As if that’s not enough, Colleen has also convinced her long-time friend India Hicks, goddaughter to King Charles, to make a stop at Mentone during her book tour for Lady Pamela, a deeply personal account of her mother’s life as Queen Elizabeth’s lady-in-waiting. “India’s schedule is tight, and she’s only making a few stops, so we feel incredibly lucky to host her,” Colleen says with excitement.

Those attending these events can expect more than just a meet-and-greet. “It’s intimate,” Colleen emphasizes. “Our dinners are for 12 people, max. You get to sit down with these incredible individuals and ask them anything — how they got where they are, what inspires them. It’s like the best dinner party you’ve ever attended.”

With Andiamo Lodge, Colleen is curating a blend of creativity, culinary mastery, and personal connection, all tucked away in the mountains of Mentone. Her ability to bring in world-class talent while keeping the experience personal and deeply connected to Alabama is nothing short of remarkable. As we wrapped up, Colleen invited everyone to come see for themselves. “You can go to a hotel anywhere, but here, you’ll leave with stories, memories, and new friends.”

Andiamo — let’s go!

They say the mark of a great song is when you can remember exactly where you were and what you were doing the first time you heard it. That was my experience with the music of a group I’d end up listening to my entire life. Three on a String is made up of the nicest, funniest, most humble guys you’ll meet.

The 2023 Alabama Music Hall of Fame inductees have earned their way into rarified music circles. I visited with group member Bobby Horton at his home recently, where we talked about the bluegrass group and about his work in film.

“The group goes back to Chandler Mountain and Horse Pens 40,” Bobby says. “Jerry Ryan was a freshman basketball coach at Samford University. I was a junior at Samford, and Jerry had been a basketball coach where I went to high school. So, I’d known him. The PR director for Samford owned Horse Pens and approached Jerry about getting a banjo player,” Bobby remembers. “He said, ‘You reckon you two could come up and play for my folk festival?’ Jerry called me, and I said ‘sure, I’m free this weekend.’ We learned seven songs and went up there and played them twice. That was the very first gig for what was to become Three on a String. And we split the 15 bucks,” Bobby chuckles.

“A guy named George Pruitt owned Alabama Music, where I was working as a college student. He heard us that day and said, ‘You get a bass player and a guy who can sing high, and I think you might have something.’ We found John Vess at Samford, and then we started playing. That was 1971,” Bobby says.

The group was hired to play Vestavia Country Club near Bobby’s hometown of Birmingham on Friday nights, then worked their way into the Lowenbrau Haus, a college bar in Homewood. That’s where I heard them the first time. A nice crowd, packed shoulder to shoulder and enjoying the tunes.

“It was just a wonderful place,” Bobby says. “It’s where we learned how to get up there and stay a step ahead of the crowd. It taught us about timing and that kind of thing.”

As their popularity grew, Three on a String outgrew the Lowenbrau. And Bobby faced the dilemma of which path to take in life: stick with his secure job at an insurance company or keep traveling with the group and taking advantage of the opportunities coming their way. Doing both was starting to impact his family life.

“I realized I was never home and my first son had been born. I wanted him to know he had a daddy,” he recalls. “I went to see my grandpa and told him I needed help with a decision.

Bobby’s started by telling his grandfather about the security he had with the insurance company. “What security?” his grandfather asked. “You don’t have security there. The only security there is, is how much you know how to do, how hard you’re willing to work, and how well you know the Lord. Now start over — which one do you like best?”

“He asked if I could support my family in music and I told him I thought I could,” Bobby recalls. “We had a business plan, we had a market, and all the guys were in it for the right reasons.

“And my grandpa said, ‘You’ve made your decision.’ I just had to hear him say that.”

Bobby gave notice at his job and never looked back. His gratitude for the blessings of his music has never waned. Three on a String, in various iterations, has continued to entertain audiences for five decades.

“We’re of course like family. When somebody asks how we’ve stayed together so long, I tell them we get separate rooms for starters,” Bobby laughs. “But seriously, I work with some of the greatest people. They’ve got a work ethic, and we all want to go the same direction.”

Bobby and I segued into his solo career, a reflection of his ambition and a fascinating tie to his love of history.

“I didn’t want to be dependent on somebody else for everything. You know, all the eggs in my basket,” he says. “I was able to combine the love of history that I’ve had my whole life with music. Every adult male in my life is a World War II guy, and they all had a story, and they’re my heroes. I realized that history is made by common folks playing the card that’s dealt them, and they’re usually in a whirlwind. It’s not of their making, but they made the best of it. I got into history when I was a kid, and then the Civil War centennial hit when I was 9, and I got sucked into that. I realized from World War II veterans that these were just guys doing what they had to do. So, I had that love. And then, of course, I love music. I've been playing my music my whole life, and I had some plans that went bust, but all this wonderful stuff fell in my lap. I know from whence all blessings flow, you know.”

Bobby’s story reminds me of the saying, “Life is what happens while you’re making plans.” Although his path was somewhat intentional.

“I started recording Civil War-era music,” Bobby says. “Mr. Edison’s recording machine changed everything musically in t...