Fred Lord's musical talent has led him all over the world, but he chose to play music permanently in Loachapoka.
Lord, owner of Fred's Pickin' Parlor and Fred's Feed and Seed, has a passion for bringing music to the community.
The idea for the Pickin' Parlor, where live music is played in the warehouse next to the feed and seed during the warmer months, had been on Lord's mind for quite some time.
"I've toyed around with (the idea) for years," Lord said. "We had pickin's and stuff, and my friends said, 'You know, we need to do this regular.'"
The Tampa native has been playing music for 48 years--the result of growing up in a musical family.
"My momma and grandmother played piano," Lord said. "My momma played trumpet, and then I had an aunt who played the organ and piano in church. Then I had an uncle who played the saxophone. So I didn't really have much of a choice."
It took Lord more than a couple seconds to count up the number of instruments that he can play before coming to a conclusion.
"Probably around 20," Lord said, including, but not limited to, the fiddle, viola, bagpipes, dobro, banjo, clarinet, violin, mandolin and guitar.
"I'm still learning every day," Lord said.
Lord's talent led him to travel the world during tours with the United Service Organizations in the early 1970s.
The musician and composer played in Saudi Arabia, Germany and Greece, even all the way to Greenland\0xAD--just 60 miles south of the North Pole--where Lord had an unfortunate incident with the 80 degree below zero weather: his brand new Ray-Ban sunglasses froze to his ears and nose.
Back home in Loachapoka, Lord passes on his gift by giving music lessons during the week to students ranging from 8 to 70 years old.
"(Music's) one of life's simpler pleasures," Lord said. "It's self-gratifying. If you ever get depressed--everybody has mood changes-- all I gotta do is sit down and play or write something."
It's not uncommon for Lord to jump up on stage with his musical guests, playing anything from jazz to folk to Celtic-Irish.
"It's worked out pretty good," Lord said. "I'm real pleased. Plus, being out of the feed business, shoot, my back don't hurt no more."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
