The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG–This weekend, Burgers, Bands, and Brews features alternative country band Frog Hollow Band and some family lore. Band member Ty Lane plans on playing his grandfather Norval's Gibson ES-125 on a few numbers.

The distinctive sunburst, hollow-body electric guitar holds a special place in Lane's family history. Norvel most likely purchased it in the late 50s and performed with it through the following decades.

The guitar was played by Lane's aunt Leah in a band with Norval and Ty's father, Kit. Known as The Lanes, they played country standards in Spring Valley, Oregon, in the '70s.

Family lore puts Norval and his ES-125 on stage with country great Johnny Cash sometime in the mid-60s.

"He played it one night backing up Johnny Cash in the Dalles, Oregon (rumor has it)," said Lane. As the story goes, Cash was on tour in Oregon and needed to find a backup band for a performance. Norvel played the Gibson as part of the band that came to the rescue.

After Norval died in 2014 at 81, Lane's grandmother gave him the guitar. It had seen better days, and after years on the wall as a family heirloom, Lane decided it was time to take it down.

For years, the musician had heard about guitar tech Joe Patrick, owner of Orchard Street Studios in Waitsburg. Lane decided to see what Patrick could do with Norval's Gibson, which was then barely playable.

"Ty brought the vintage Gibson 125 to me with the hope he could one day honor his grandfather's legacy by performing with it on stage. It had a long history of constant touring and little maintenance, and though it looked cool, Ty didn't like how it played or sounded," said Patrick.

After Patrick delivered the guitar, he received the following text from Ty, "Played the guitar well past midnight. Couldn't put it down!

I switched to a lighter pick and was able to enjoy never before heard tones through my Marshal Origin50 amp!"

Burgers, Bands, and Brews is on Saturday, May 20, at the Waitsburg Fairgrounds. The Waitsburg Lions Club hosts the fundraiser and Chapter BE P.E.O. with music by The Frog Hollow Band and Stumped.

Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com. For guests 20 years and under: $10 for one burger dinner. For 21 and over: $20 for one burger dinner and admission to the Band & Beer Garden. Brews are extra. You must have valid I.D. to enter.