About Me

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Since 2005, and over 800 entries, the orginal purpose of this BLOG has never changed. I consider it to be a personal letter from me to my extended family of fans, supporters, and friends. I ALWAYS encourage your emails, comments, suggestions, and questions. Be Blessed! ~Percy

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Country Music Loses It's "Voice"

If you come here on a regular basis at all, most of your know that I am a country music aficionado, with a special affection to the "old school" tradition of George Jones. Ranking right up there on my list next to "The Possum" is "The Voice" Verne Gosdin. On Tuesday, the same day professional wrestling lost Buddy Rose, country music lost it's "Voice".

Vern Gosdin, a singer-songwriter whose "Chiseled in Stone" was named the Country Music Associations' song of the year in 1989, has died. He was 74. Gosdin died late Tuesday at a Nashville hospital, according to Mount Olivet Funeral Home in Nashville. The singer reportedly had suffered a stroke a few weeks ago.

Specializing in straight-ahead, traditional country music, Gosdin spent decades making music. His hits included "Set 'em Up Joe," "I Can Tell by the Way You Dance," "I'm Still Crazy," "That Just About Does It," "Who You Gonna Blame It on This Time," "Way Down Deep," "Dream of Me" and "Yesterday's Gone," a duet with Emmylou Harris. In "Chiseled in Stone," an older man tells a younger man who is going through tough times, "You don't know about sadness 'til you faced life alone, you don't know about lonely 'til it's chiseled in stone."

During his career, Gosdin sang gospel music, bluegrass, folk-rock and country. He had a rich baritone, and once was described by Tammy Wynette as "the only other singer who can hold a candle to George Jones."

Known as "The Voice," Gosdin once said he used life experiences in his music. "Out of everything bad, something good will come if you look hard enough -- and I got 10 hits out of my last divorce," he said after the breakup of his second marriage in 1989.

Gosdin wrote or co-wrote many of his recordings. In the late 1960s, he also wrote "Someone to Turn To," which was recorded by the Byrds for the soundtrack of the movie "Easy Rider."
Gosdin was born Aug. 5, 1934, in Woodland, Ala., one of nine children who grew up on a farm. He learned to play guitar and sang on the Gosdin family gospel music radio show in Birmingham, Ala.

He moved with his brother Rex to Southern California in 1961. While working as a welder in Long Beach, Vern Gosdin joined his brother and banjo player Don Parmley in a bluegrass group called the Golden State Boys. When Chris Hillman joined the band, they renamed themselves the Hillmen. Hillman later left to form the seminal folk-rock band the Byrds, and the true-to-country Gosdin Brothers appeared as an opening act on tour.

The Gosdin Brothers had a minor country hit with "Hangin' On," but broke up in the late 1960s. Gosdin moved to Atlanta and opened a glass and mirror business, but he returned to music in the mid-1970s.

You may view Verne's official obituary and sign the funeral home register book by clicking on this link: Funeral Home Guestbook For Mr. Verne Gosdin

I have a great collection of Verne's sounds, and I would like to share this one with you as we remember "The Voice" today. "Is it raining at your house?"



Be Blessed.
~Percy
www.PercyPringle.com

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

"Playboy" Buddy Rose passes away...

Sadly I must report that former Pringle Dynasty member "Playboy Buddy Rose" (real name - Paul Perschmann) was found dead by his wife on Tuesday afternoon, April 28th.

I first met and managed Buddy in the Florida Championship Wrestling territory in 1985. The photo above is myself, Buddy, and "Ravishing" Rick Rude, taken during those days.

Like myself, Buddy always battled a weight problem, and had been dealing with diabetic issues in recent years.

Buddy originally broke into the business in the old Verne Gagne AWA, having been trained by Gagne and famed shooter Billy Robinson. He went on to become a true star heel for Don Owens' Portland Wrestling. Roddy Piper credited Buddy in his 2002 autobiography for helping put him on the map in the Portland area, providing him a forum to develop his interview skills and become a true main eventer. Piper said in the book that Buddy invited him to come work the territory. Piper initially turned him down as he had been working regularly in Los Angeles, then reconsidered and took the job, setting him off to stardom.

Several wrestling internet news websites are reporting this morning that Buddy worked for the WWF at different points in his career. He was pushed as a top heel at one point in the late 1970s, including a series of matches against then-WWF champion Bob Backlund. Rose also wrestled on the first Wrestlemania event as the masked Executioner, losing to Tito Santana in the opening contest. Buddy's final run with WWF was as an undercard comedy heel who was out of shape, setting the stage for the infamous "Blowaway Diet" vignettes. During that run, he mostly worked comedic opening matches on house show, playing off his weight by doing jumping jacks and other exercises while on offense. The vignettes were so silly they ended up becoming memorable among fans.

He also held the AWA World Tag Team championships with Doug Somers in 1986, defeating Scott Hall and the late Curt Hennig. They later dropped the belts to the then-Midnight Rockers, Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty. Buddy was once married to another former Pringle Dynasty mainstay, "Maniac" Matt Borne's sister. I understand that Buddy's last match took place at the first WrestleReunion convention event in Tampa, Florida in January 2005.

I last heard from Buddy shortly after my wife Dianna passed away. I always enjoyed his friendship, and especially his many stories from his years in our industry. I pray that my friend will rest in peace in the arms of our Saving Lord.



Be Blessed.
~Percy
www.PercyPringle.com

Sunday, April 26, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SON "KANE"

I would like to wish my "son" Kane
a very Happy Birthday today!
Be Blessed.
~Percy
www.PercyPringle.com



Saturday, April 25, 2009

12-weeks today...

Twelve weeks tonight my Dianna passed away. I have been going through hundreds of photos that we saved over the last 30+ years, preparing a slide show with music in her memory for her birthday coming up on May 10th. She would have been 48 years old. These are just a few that I am posting here.
It's been tough doing this, but I think it has done me a lot of good; and I know her family and friends will appreciate the finished product that we can save forever.

I am working today, but I plan on stopping by the cemetery on the way to 5:00 pm Mass later this evening. If everything works out, I hope to spend some time with my two grand-daughters tonight. At a local independent wrestling show of all places! LOL I don't go to many too much anymore, but I am going tonight just to see my girls. My youngest son Daniel is wrestling on the show.
Have a great weekend my friends.
Be Blessed.
~Percy

Thursday, April 23, 2009

FACEBOOK and TWITTER...

Good morning my friends.

I just wanted to briefly make my position official concerning FACEBOOK and TWITTER.

I have accounts on both. I have been on FACEBOOK about a month, and I am really enjoying it compared to my brief stay on MYSPACE a couple of years ago. Let me stress that I am not on FACEBOOK to see how many friends I can accumulate; unfortunately I have to ignore anywhere from 20 - 50 friend requests daily. Believe me I am humbled by these requests, but I have designed my FACEBOOK account strictly for my family, personal friends, and my associates within professional wrestling and death care. If I have turned your friend request down, I ask your consideration.TWITTER is a horse of a different color for me. I have heard so much about it recently, so I just started an account this week to see what it is all about. I haven't figured out what the big hoopla is so far. So right now, I don't have any restrictions on my TWITTER account.

If I have offended anyone, I am sincerely sorry; and I appreciate your continued support. I will do my best to update my BLOG here on a regular basis.


Be Blessed.
~Percy

Click for Mobile, Alabama Forecast

Monday, April 20, 2009

Remembering "Ravishing" Rick Rude

I have lost so many friends from our industry through the years. Sometimes my BLOG reads like the obituary section of the local newspaper. The anniversary that we acknowledge today remembers one of the best friends I had in pro wrestling, "Ravishing" Rick Rude.

Rick passed away on this date at his home in 1999. Ten years ago... it just doesn't seem possible.

I first met Rick when I became his manager in 1985 in the Championship Wrestling From Florida territory. We hit it off immediately both in and out of the ring. Just short of a year, we left Florida and moved on to Dallas, Texas to the Von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling.

My family remained at home in Mobile because school was still in and we didn't want to move my son in the middle of a school year. So Rick and I rented a condo together in central Dallas, and lived together for several months until the summer, when my family joined me. I kept the condo and Rick moved into another one in the same complex; we remained neighbors as well as business associates.

The time came for Rick to move on, he tried to talk me into going to WCW with him but I carefully weighed my options and stayed in Dallas. In 1990, Rick was instumental in me getting a position within The World Wrestling Federation.

He was a fantastic athlete, and a wonderful friend and family man. I still miss him dearly. I am certain that Dianna has bumped into him in the great beyond and they have shared so many memories of our times together.

We will never forget...



Be Blessed.
~Percy
www.PercyPringle.com

Monday, April 13, 2009

EASTER MONDAY - Back To Work

Here's hoping you all had a very blessed and enjoyable Easter!

I went to early mass yesterday morning, then picked up my parents, oldest grand-daughter Grace, and we drove over to the Florida panhandle (only 75 miles) to visit youngest son Daniel, his lady Jami, and youngest grand-daughter Danielle. We had a great time, and Grace furnished the entertainment all the way over and back. Gosh... I wish I had that energy, especially on a Monday morning.

We have a bit of rain around today, but that's fine; it will be just what the new sod on Dianna's gravesite needs.

Short and sweet this morning. Sometimes no news is good news.

Be blessed and have a great week!

~Percy

www.PercyPringle.com


Sunday, April 12, 2009

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Thanks... Chiseled In Stone...

A good Holy Saturday to you all! Thank you all so much for the thoughtful birthday wishes! I worked almost all day, directing the largest funeral I have ever had at my funeral home in the early afternoon. Then my friend "Rocket" who is a local independent wrestler and owns a tattoo shop, gave me a new tattoo. It was my 7th. Many of you probably don't know that I even had any, but hey you don't run with The Undertaker all those years and escape getting any ink. My sons had one designed in memory of Dianne for us when she died, they got theirs right away but I delayed getting mine until yesterday, so now we all match (tattoo-wise that is). Then we all went out to a local watering hole had a few and sang some Karaoke. I sang "Yardsale" by Sammy Kershaw, then cousin Marcel and myself did Possum's "He stopped loving her today". I think I made Dianna smile, and myself too for a change.

This afternoon we are having a small family gathering at my oldest sons house. By the way, today he and his wife Beth gave birth to our first grandchild in 2003, his name was Troy Mitchell. He passed away within 24 hours. But we all know that he is in the arms of his Grandma Dianna. I am going to put some flowers on his gravesite in a bit, something Dianne always made sure was taken care of several times a year.

Dianne's (Our) headstone was set on Thursday. Several of you have asked to see photos, so heres a few if you are interested. You can click on them to make them larger.





"You don't know about lonely,
Or how long nights can be,
Till you lived through the story
That's still livin' in me,
And you don't know about sadness
'til you faced life alone,
You don't know about lonely
'til it's chiseled in stone."
She loved Dolphins and playing BINGO, which explains the designs.

My place is already set, all they have to do is put the date when I make my departure. My emblems is a Morticians Logo and two wrestlers. Fitting... huh?

This photo shows the relationship between our gravesites and my brothers. That's "Bubba" to Dianna's left (our right when looking at the picture). I think most of you know "Bubba" died in 2006, also from cancer.

A larger photo of the section of the cemetery where our property is located. The yellow arrow in the left is our spaces, and on the right is brother "Bubba".

Well I think that will do it for today.

Be Blessed.

~Percy







Friday, April 10, 2009

It's my birthday...

Yep... it is indeed my birthday. The BIG 55 too! I have already received so many calls and emails this morning, and I thank each and everyone of you for them. They all have the same theme... Dianne would want me to enjoy this day as best as I can, and that I will do my best to do. Notwithstanding the fact that it is Good Friday and remembering the solemnity of this day at the same time.

I started my day with Dianna, as I took flowers to her gravesite on the way to work. Her (our) grave marker was put in place yesterday, and eveything was so beautiful. I will share some pictures that I took later this weekend.

If everything goes as planned, some friends are taking me out tonight for a cocktail or ten.

I wish you all the very best.

Be Blessed.
~Percy
www.PercyPringle.com

Click for Mobile, Alabama Forecast

Monday, April 06, 2009

Holy Week... Upcoming Birthday... Wrestlemania ramblings...

Yes it is Holy Week, and indeed the week that changed the world. We are in the final days of Lent, looking forward to a beautiful Easter this Sunday.

This Friday (April 10th - Good Friday) will be my 55th birthday. I have really been having a hard time enjoying get-togethers, etc., since I lost Dianna 9-weeks ago. My family is having a birthday party for me on Saturday, believe me I have tried eveything to get out of it, but my sister told me Dianna was planning it a few months ago (and that I believe). So guess what... I am having a birthday party. I did insist that it not be held at my house if we wanted to celebrate. I promise I will do my best to have a good time.

I received an early birthday present on Saturday. I got home from work Saturday afternoon and discovered that my entire front yard had been cleaned, flower beds rearranged, everything was beautiful. My oldest son Michael, and his wife Beth were responsible for it all; and I love them for it! Now... if I could get my youngest son to clean the backyard.... HINT...HINT...HINT... LOL.

I enjoyed watching Wrestlemania last night, and I must say most of the matches were very entertaining. In my opinion, 'Taker and HBK stole the show, but I guess I may be a bit prejudice, and that I have the right to be. Being the male chauvinist pig that I am, I have never been a big fan of women's wrestling, and I was not looking forward to the Diva Battle Royal; however, Santina saved the day for me.

Sorry for being so brief, but I am at work and I do have things to do. I wish you all a very blessed Holy Week.

Take care,
~Percy
www.PercyPringle.com

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Woooaaahhh.... IT'S WRESTLEMANIA !

Indeed it is the "Grand-Daddy Of Them All". Today is the day that pro wrestling fans around the world have been anxiously waiting, WRESTLEMANIA -XXV in Houston, Texas.

The photo above is from my very first (and Undertaker as well) WRESTLEMANIA, in 1991 in Los Angeles, CA, we are posing with Regis Philbin who was interviewing us before our match with Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Since that time I have truly lost count of how many I was associated with, but I do have so many memories of the the great times that we had.

I wished that things would have worked out for me this time, but it was just too short of a notice, and I couldn't put my other endeavors on hold for a few days to go to Houston. I still chuckle at the thought of WWE not being able to contact me, the wrestling internet is... for lack of a better word, simply amazing. I will tell you that my website normally gets 1500 - 2000 hits a day; since the "WWE can't find Paul Bearer" thing popped up, hits have averaged 12,000 - 15,000 everyday this week. In all honesty, I would have enjoyed going; but I will watch it tonight just like many of you, in the company of good friends.

I wish you all a very pleasant Sunday afternoon, and I hope you enjoy the best professional wrestling has to offer in this evenings event.

Be Blessed.
~Percy
www.PercyPringle.com

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Standing on the soapbox...


Gosh I hate it when I get like this, I really do. So... bear with me.

The wrestling internet is such an amazing beast. A "major" pro wrestling news website reported that WWE was trying to get in touch with Paul Bearer, but couldn't find a current telephone number for him. A "minor" wrestling website (I am certain there were more than one) picked up and ran with the story too.

First of all... please... put on your thinking caps for a second. Do you actually believe that WWE does not know how to contact me? Secondly, suspend your disbelief and if that were indeed factual, would they leak that to the pro wrestling internet superhighway?

Wait... **I'm counting to ten** I rufuse to get my blood pressure up over this minor thing. It is just unbelieveable that there are folks out there that are actually playing 'Dog The Bounty Hunter' and are trying to track me down for WWE. I know they may mean well, but I am getting emails, and hearing that there are posts on message boards to tell me that WWE is looking for me! Sweet Jesus!

If you would read my BLOG post above this one, you would have found the answer. I once was lost but now I am found. Sounds like a gospel song, doesn't it? Amen! Hey... I didn't even know I was lost. I hope they still have my mailing address, because it is royality time!

Once again. Just to clarify things, I WAS contacted by WWE to appear in Houston this weekend in conjunction with WM-25. Unfortunately, as much as I would have enjoyed (and needed) the trip, I had previous personal and business plans for the weekend and had to decline the thoughtful invitation. I WILL NOT be in Houston this weekend.

Be that as it may... it is still raining around here. But the forcasts say that it will end soon.
Have a wonderful Thursday!

Be Blessed.
~Percy

Click for Mobile, Alabama Forecast