In the 50's, John started having musicians appear on a concrete stage down by the river. He would travel around the local area starting on Thursday, with a big horn speaker on top of his pickup truck, advertising the headliner and others.
Watermelon Park has a rich history when it comes to country and bluegrass music, having played host to such artists as Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, the Statler Brothers, Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner, Loretta Lynn and George Jones. The site played host to its inaugural Bluegrass Day in August 1960, ...http://traveltips.usatoday.com/watermelon-park-fest-berryville-virginia-107064.html
One story John related brought tears to his eyes, and it concerned Merle Haggard. It seems that Merle was playing at "the Park" one weekend in 1973, and some of his fans were part of the Pagan Motorcycle gang. Those were some rough and tumble bikers, and that weekend, lived up to their name.
After Merle played on Saturday night, and everybody went to bed (most were drunk), there was quiet in the campground. But, on Sunday morning, there was the sound of a gun which woke many of the attendees. There was big trouble brewing.
There are vendors that had set tents to sell their wares, and one was selling belt buckles and such. One of the bikers came early and bought a buckle from the man, paid and left. But, he turned a short while later and accused the vendor of not giving the right change for his $20. the vendor told him he paid with a $10, they argued, and the biker shot the guy dead. The Sheriff was called, the biker locked up, but that was not the only result.
John Miller went on stage that morning, told everyone how sad he was about the shooting, and told everyone that they should pack up and go home. Music was no longer to be a reason to come down by the river. He kept that until about fifteen years later, when they started up again with Gospel Festivals.
A complete history was changed in an instant!
