Lawrence Toebbe and Rosemary Toebbe.

With porcelain dolls, a small piano and greyhound lying in the corner, Rose Mary (Johnson) Toebbe has fostered a small museum in her living room after years of traveling. Her new husband, Lawrence, jested – also referring to himself – “Old things can
be fun.”

Rose Mary and Lawrence, 84 and 80 years old, respectively, have been married for a year and a half. Rose Mary chuckled to herself about their unique relationship, “We’re just two senior citizens getting together.”

While working at Joseph E. Seagrams and Sons, she and Lawrence both lost their previous spouses within a month of each other. Lawrence’s first wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and he saw it as his duty to take care of her until the end. In fact, Lawrence wears two wedding rings on his left hand, one for each of his loves. “The last five years, she had no clue who I was,” he explained. “All I can say is it teaches you a different kind of love to be able to take care of somebody like that.”

He said his niece used to tease him, saying, “Now Uncle Lawrence, you can’t wear that wedding ring all the time. Nobody’s even going to be interested in you!” His response was simply, “If the ring is going to keep us apart then nothing’s ever going to happen.” Rose Mary actually heard Lawrence tell this story at one of their work luncheons, and she doesn’t mind his first ring at all.

Lawrence didn’t have many opportunities to go out on the town while taking care of five children, but Rose Mary has completely changed his lifestyle. “Now she’s got me going to the opera, the ballet and Actor’s Theatre,” he said. “(Before, my family) just never did that for lack of funds or health reasons.”

Rose Mary is actively involved in the community, and Lawrence has jumped in to support her. She is the current president of Goodwill Industries Volunteer Organization (GIVS), during her 37th year as a member, and was the winner of the group’s volunteer of the year award in 2005. She also recently resigned as treasurer of the Delta Zeta Alumni for the University of Louisville chapter after 58 years, and has been the chair of the international relations group for the American Association for University Women (AAUW) for more than 30 years. Lawrence has volunteered with fundraising events like the GIVS 50/50 event, and even provided comic relief by dressing up as the Mad Hatter for the annual GIVS luncheon.

Lawrence and Rose Mary both possess a natural inclination to compromise, which has been key in blending their established routines. Even with differing faiths Rose Mary agreed to marry in Lawrence’s church, where the same priest from Lawrence’s first wedding officiated. Lawrence moved in with Rose Mary, passing along most of his furniture and belongings to his children. “There was no excuse for us not to get along. There’s almost 90 years of experience between us,” Lawrence joked.

“He can cook, and he plays the piano. He helps me out a lot,” Rose Mary said, surprised by his help. “I didn’t think he would do all that.” “We just feel so comfortable with each other,” Lawrence said. “It’s like we’ve always been married. You can say anything, and you’re not bashful about any part of the relationship.”

Making any relationship work only requires four phrases, according to Lawrence: “please,” “thank you,” “I love you” and “you look nice.” “But they have to be genuine,” Lawrence emphasized. “You can’t just say words. You have to say it and mean it.” Despite her objections, Lawrence often tells Rose Mary she looks great, even with no lipstick and her hair undone. As Lawrence affectionately called her his “sweetie” and squeezed her shoulders, Rose Mary commented, “He’s a very loving man. He really is.”

Winfrey Blackburn holding a copy of his book “Rodney the Lightning Bug and the Golden Medallion.”

Forty years ago, Winfrey Blackburn told his children stories about patience and listening through the tales of imagined characters Putney the Pumpkin and Rodney the Lightning Bug. Today these characters have come to life through Sylvia Berger’s illustrations, and their stories are sitting on the shelves of local bookstores.

“Rodney the Lightning Bug and the Golden Medallion,” published by Acclaim Press on June 1, 2012, tells a tale about how not listening can get you in trouble. The Voice-Tribune caught up with the newly-published children’s author to learn a little more about his creative process, and the message he hopes to share with kids.

What inspired you to write Rodney the Lightning Bug?

These are stories I told my own children when they were three and five years old, 40 years ago. I met the illustrator (Sylvia Berger) who was a neighbor… and asked her if she would illustrate one of the stories, and that led her to get a degree at the University of Louisville (in Fine Arts). … We hadn’t really intended to publish it, initially. We just did it for fun for our children.

You recently held a reading at Barnes and Noble. What was that like?

We (showed) the children about six or eight versions of Rodney that other artists submitted to me when I was trying to develop the way Rodney looked so they can see that it’s a process. … We (shared) some pages that were illustrated and then redone. The point of that is to show them “try, try again.” You don’t always get everything the first time.

What theme do you want to resonate with readers?

In my mind, all children are underdogs. They can’t talk as well, they can’t run as fast, they’re not as tall. You just kind of come into life behind the eight ball, having to learn all these things. I think children relate to an underdog that wins in the end.

“Rodney the Lightning Bug and the Golden Medallion” is available at Barnes and Noble, Carmichael’s Bookstores and the Kentucky Museum of Arts and Crafts. 

Winfrey Blackburn grew up in Frankfort, Kentucky in a family that never hesitated to embellish a tall tale. He has practiced law in Louisville since 1965 and has authored “Putney: A Little Pumpkin With Big Ideas” and co-authored “The Kentucky Houses of Stratton Hammond” and “Country Houses of Louisville 1899 to 1939” with R. Scott Gill. 

Sylvia Berger is a constant doodler. She received her undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from the University of Louisville in 1983 and received the Winthrop Allen award for outstanding work as a graduating senior. Her paintings are shown in the Louisville area, but she now has turned her hand to illustrating children’s books. She illustrated “Putney: A Little Pumpkin With Big Ideas” and is currently working on her third book.

Her lyrics may be familiar, but there is a unique soul behind the words. With eyes closed and hands in loose fists, she harnesses an energy that synthesizes into a symphony.

Singing since the age of four, Bartlett has always found a way to include music in her life. For eight years she worked at a hotel front desk during the day to support herself, pursuing her singing career at night. After snatching opportunities to tour in Europe three times and open for artists such as Frank Sinatra and Sheryl Crow at the Louisville Palace, Bartlett has fully committed to music as both her livelihood and passion.

The singer’s hard work and dedication has paid off. Thanks to an anonymous fan, Bartlett will be performing during the Kentucky State Fair at Cardinal Stadium Aug. 17, opening for R&B singer and producer Keith Sweat.

After seeing Bartlett perform the late Etta James’ “At Last” and Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” on WHAS11’s “Great Day Live” last February, a viewer sent in the video to Sweat’s team. The Kentucky State Fair board, soon after, asked if Bartlett would be his opening act. She was thrilled, having had no idea the performance on WHAS11 would do more than promote a masquerade ball at the Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center.

“I was speechless. I thought, ‘Wow, they picked me? They want me? They like my voice? What is it?’” Bartlett still has no idea who propelled her to this opportunity, but she hopes to find out exactly who it was in order to show them her gratitude.

Right now, however, the singer is “all work,” staying focused on the task at hand – entertaining and preparing the audience. “I’ve been racking my head thinking (about) what are going to be the right songs to get (the audience) ready for Keith Sweat because that’s my job,” she said. Bartlett is expecting a blended crowd of younger and older generations, and plans to focus on classic R&B tunes that will inspire the audience to sing along, such as Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.”

A varied audience is likely at the concert, as Sweat has taken on multiple musical endeavors. He is most known for his ‘80s and ‘90s hits like 1987’s “I Want Her” and 1996’s “Twisted.” Sweat also has been discovering bands and producing singles for years, working with such groups as Silk and LSG with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill, which released their self-titled debut Levert.Sweat.Gill with the 1997 hit “My Body.”

Once the concert is over, Bartlett hopes she will be considered for future performances at the fairground or asked to open for other artists around the country. Even though she has warmed up crowds for international artists, she has yet to meet many of them personally. The singer is not only looking forward to the meet and greet with Sweat and fans before the show, but will also be giving it “the ol’ college try” to get Sweat to accompany her to Jeff Ruby’s on West Main Street, where she regularly performs, afterward.

Raised in Louisville, she believes she’s been blessed by the opportunities that people and businesses in the community have granted her. “I have (been) pretty fortunate to live here and work as much as I have. With me being here, sometimes I’ve been in the right place at the right time to where people may not have heard me if I were anywhere else,” she said.

Guitarist Richard Streander

Bartlett has been honored with local recognition, such as the 2010 “Sylvester Weaver Award” for those who “preserve, promote and perpetuate the blues,” and was a finalist for the 2010 “Best of Louisville Awards” for Louisville Magazine. She recently wrote the score for the film, “Gift of Love,” in which she played piano and sang lyrics written by Travis Myles.

Bartlett currently performs for restaurants, pep rallies and private parties in Louisville, singing frequently at Volare Italian Ristorante and Jeff Ruby’s. Bartlett has asked her fans to wear red to the Friday show, partly in support of her beloved Louisville Cardinals, but mainly to unify the audience.

Bartlett’s draw to singing is not the chance to showcase her talent, but rather to foster a connection with others. It’s the emphasis she puts on emotion in each performance that may have prompted that anonymous audience member to propel her to the stage this Friday.

“When I sing I’m hoping the audience feels what I’m feeling. I truly love singing,” she said, drawing out the emphasis on “love.” “I get people to say, ‘Wow you’re really into it.’ Well, you know I’m going out here to put my all into it,” she explained. “I want them to feel me.”

Robbie Bartlett will be performing at the Kentucky State Fair in Cardinal Stadium Aug. 17 at 8 p.m before Keith Sweat. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert is free with admission to the fair. Bartlett will also be singing at Jeff Ruby’s after her performance at 9 p.m. Her music and schedule can be found at www.robbiebartlett.com.

Photos by CHRIS HUMPHREYS | The Voice-Tribune

With 71,000 attendees each day, the 41st annual CMA Music Fest showcased performances by country music superstars like Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton, among others. Ron and Mel interviewed more than 70 artists during the festival, catching up with bigger stars they’ve met before like Miranda Lambert, but mostly focusing on the up-and-coming artists of the genre.

From chatting with One Tree Hill star Jana Kramer about her Top 20 single “Why Ya Wanna” to discussing upcoming Louisville performances with Justin Moore, Mel spiced up interviews with laughter and even strange locations.

A bathtub display was set up at their interview location in Music Row LIVE! by their broadcast sponsor Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting. Naturally, Mel hopped right into the bathtub with the men of Love and Theft, who are currently on tour with Brad Paisley.

“When I was in the bathtub this morning, I wasn’t thinking I was gonna get to be in another bathtub with three other people today,” Eric Gunderson told Mel during the interview. The other half of the duo, Stephen Barker Liles, quipped back, “Just keep your hands to yourself bro.”

Ron and Mel Fisher.

Aside from acting out imaginary rowing and brainstorming an album about whirlpools and showers, Mel had a chance to speak to American Idol’s Season 10 runner-up Lauren Alaina. Alaina actually got a little embarrassed when discussing her new upcoming single written by Carrie Underwood, titled “18 Inches”, describing the distance from your head to your heart.

“I’m glad it went that direction,” Mel said about the title’s significance. “It could have gone horrifically wrong.” “It could have gone south,” Alaina responded without realizing, and then hid her face in her hands while laughing.

Making even a busier weekend for Nashville, the Country Music Television (CMT) Awards were held on June 6, the night before the festival started. Ron and Mel attended Artist Luke Bryan’s fan club party on Friday, celebrating his CMT Music Award for Best Male Video.

“Luke Bryan is always nice. He’s always cordial,” Ron said. Bryan admitted that he was slightly hungover from the previous night, but Mel assured him that winning an award called for celebration.

While musicians were celebrating awards, performing concerts and signing autographs, Ron and Mel labored through their hectic schedule. First they would talk to artists during the day and then go back to the hotel to load videos, edit audio, prepare for the next day’s remote broadcasts, load content for the website, and of course, update social media. “There is no vacation whatsoever in this. When we are there, it is pretty much work from the get go,” Ron explained.

Even though Ron and Mel were often running on an hour of sleep, they managed to see new and classical performances, including the “Bluegrass Generations” concert. The show featured a range of modern and established artists, including Ricky Skaggs, Dailey + Vincent, The Roys, Teddy Gentry from Alabama, Rhonda Vincent and Jimmy Fortune.

For more photos and interviews with CMA Music Festival performers from Ron and Mel, visit www.whas.com/pages/RonandMel.html.