Seven Spanish Angels in Montgomery, Alabama

I've been hinting at it for some time ever since I got back from Alabama... the video I've worked hard to make into a movie for my journal. 

Without further adieu, here they are, singing Seven Spanish Angels.....

              Dave and Teresa!   

                      

How they met:

Dave and Teresa met at a bluegrass festival, through a mutual friend, in Fort Deposit, Alabama, although Teresa is sure that she probably encountered him originally at Old Alabama Town (where I met them in July). 

There was an acoustic jam session at Old Town every 2nd and 4th Saturday in those days before they met. 

Says Teresa of their meeting, "I never missed a jam session.  Dave only came once in a blue moon.  ... If he came into a room at the jam session, I left and if I came into a room, Dave left.  He thought I sang awful and I thought he had a huge ego.  He heard me singing "Seven Spanish Angels" one time and walked out in disgust."

But fate would have them be together. Their turning point came when Dave performed at a concert at Old Alabama town, when he chased Teresa down at intermission and talked to her.

Says Teresa about that pursuit, "I blew him off but he came to Old Alabama Town where I was working at the time and told me he needed a part-time job 4 days a week.  .... I have a kind heart and got him a job there where he grew on me. We became very close friends." 

Gradually, they fell in love at Old Alabama Town. They ran off to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to be married in the mountains. They honeymooned at Dollywood!

Teresa found a new job soon after, but her working hours were too long. As  newly-weds they were miserable.  The rigorous work schedule cut into their family time (eventually they had three kids).

Teresa had dreams of owning their own business so she could be with her husband and three young children. Now they are back at Old Town, the place where they first fell in love. 

Teresa said, "We knew that Tourists had no where to get refreshment conveniently while touring Old Town from having both been block guides at Old Town.  I thought it would be the perfect place for a coffee house." 

But she had to convince Dave of the dream coffee house location.  With no business plan or money (but for the Grace of God) they opened up the coffee house in November, 2006. 

"We feel like we have come home because Dave had left Old Town that January to take care of our baby full time when my maternity leave was over at Cracker Barrel."

I asked them what drives and motivates them each day:

"We are so grateful when we get to meet new visitors to our area, and love to make new friends . We are glad we can offer refreshments to them,"  she responded.

Their wanting to be together as a family also drives them. A nursery was added in the back near the kitchen so their youngest could be with them all day.

"Dave and I have quite an age difference between us and we don't want to miss another moment together.  Now we have all of each other we can take.

"We sing together as "Dave and Teresa" usually but Dave has a band named "The Blue Valley Boys"  that has been together since 1945.  Dave joined them in 1979 (I was only 8 years old!!!)  The original band members have passed on and left Dave their namesake." 

They play live bluegrass music nearly every Saturday at their Coffee House. 

In her email that she sent me in response to my questions about their life, Teresa wrote:

"It was a pleasure to meet ya'll last week and thank you for your thoughtfulness and sending the pictures.  We don't mind you using them.  Dave and I have actually had quite a few pictures snapped of us over the years due to singing together.  It is amazing how people from all over the world like country and bluegrass and we are thrilled to share it.  If you have any more questions we will be glad to answer for you.  Have a wonderful week,

Dave and Teresa"  

 

You can visit with Dave and Teresa and their family at Nellie Cameron's Coffee House 317 N. Hull Street in Old Alabama Town, Montgomery.

 

Tags: Old Alabama Town, Blue Valley Boys, Dave and Teresa, Nellie Cameron's Coffee House, historic downtown Montgomery Alabama, bluegrass music, Seven Spanish Angels, blogplug

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