Best-selling and award winning master storyteller Randy Willis—books about adventure, family, and faith.
I first met John Rodriguez at Garner State Park in the mid-1960s. I'd been told he could sing, so I asked him to sing a song when we were introduced. He almost always had his guitar with him. As I sat atop a concrete picnic table, he sang passionately Marty Robbins' hit "You Gave Me a Mountain."
In his personal narrative, Randy Willis reflects on his encounters with Johnny Rodriguez, a significant figure in country music, and their shared experiences in places like Garner State Park and New Orleans during the 1970s. Willis recounts their friendship, music performances, and memorable moments, including meeting Dolly Parton as they celebrated Johnny’s chart successes. He also conveys a sense of nostalgia regarding their musical journeys, while exploring themes of friendship, creativity, and the cultural backdrop of Louisiana. Additionally, he emphasizes the impact of community and philanthropy through initiatives like the Johnny Rodriguez Life Enrichment Center.
Master storyteller Randy Willis—books about adventure, family, and faith. Randy Willis draws on his family heritage of explorers, settlers, soldiers, cowboys, and pastors. He upholds the tradition of loving the outdoors. He shares this love in the adventures he creates for readers of his novels. He is the author of two biographies and his new memoir, To the Best of My Recollection. Randy Willis has written many books, including Destiny, Three Winds Blowing, and Beckoning Candle. He also wrote Twice a Slave, Texas Wind, Louisiana Wind, and The Apostle to the Opelousas. He also wrote The Story of Joseph Willis and To the Best of My Recollection, and many articles.