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QUARTERLY VOL. III 2025 Hello Okefenokee Joe Friends, Welcome to the third edition of our quarterly newsletter! The Swamp Store is back for a limited-time sale—50% off! Quantities are limited, so don’t miss your chance to own Joe’s books, DVD's, music CD's, and his very first album, My Life in the Okefenokee. Thanks again for being part of the Okefenokee Joe family—we appreciate your support and can’t wait to share more with you soon! Swamp wishes, The Okefenokee Joe Team
info@okefenokeejoe.com
 The Thunderbird belt buckles of Dick Flood and his Pathfinders 1966
Left to right: Randy "Limber Pick" Charles: Lead Guitar, Harmonica & vocals,
"Laughing" Larry Handly: Drums & Vocals, Dick Flood: Band Leader & Vocalist,
"Wild' .. Billy Benton: Bass & Vocals
Picture courtesy of the Flood family collection
THE THUNDERBIRD
When I was a kid about eleven years old I adopted the Thunderbird as my totem or better said emblem. And all my adult years I have worn the same solid gold medallion with a Thunderbird engraved upon it. It is the Native American international tribal symbol for happiness and peace. And I long ago added "With Honor". No I have no Indian blood and I do not play Indian. But I learned a lot about our Native American people when I was a kid at a summer camp in the mountains of Pennsylvania. That knowledge, belief and understanding has stuck with me all of my life and has greatly influenced who I am, what I have done with my life, and how I think today. THE WILBURN BROTHERS AND
"TROUBLE'S BACK IN TOWN"
(Excerpt - Chapter 23 - My Walk Among The Stars)  I first met Teddy and Doyle Wilburn when they spent a week as guests on the Jimmy Dean CBS morning Show. Billy and I got to know them both pretty well. We had been doing some of their songs on the show such as "You're Not Play Love", "A Great Big Love", "It's Another World", "You'll Never Get a Better Chance Than This", "Making Plans" and more. And the brothers most certainly appreciated that. They were both very humble and real all around good country boys. The kind that would give you the shirt off their backs so to speak. Or the bed that they slept in. That's right! On several occasions when Billy and I were in Nashville to record we were invited to stay at their home. It sure saved us on a hotel bill. One time the brothers were out of town and Billy and I actually slept in their beds, and ate at their places at the table. Man talk about hospitality. That's country! I will always remember the day I showed the brothers my song "Trouble's Back in Town". It was in the spring of 1962 and I had been pitching my songs for quite a while. I had pretty much learned how to accept the downright disappointment of rejection. I also knew the thrill of getting a song placed with an artist. But I had never in my life seen a reaction such as the Wilburn Brothers displayed upon hearing me sing "Trouble's Back in Town" for the first time! Both of them in unison almost shouted, "Sing it again!" So I did. And believe it or not they were already singing it with me. Teddy and Doyle both had learned almost all the words to the song after hearing it only once! That's how much they loved "Trouble's Back in Town"! The rest of that story has become a part of Country Music history. Teddy and Doyle's two older brothers Lester and Leslie took care of the business end of the Wilhelm Talent Agency and their publishing company Surefire Music. I did not know either of them well but I do know that they too were fine people.
Then when the Wilburn Brothers began starring in their own syndicated television show they used my song "Trouble's Back in Town" for their theme song. Each week they had several guests on their show and I often wondered why they did not invite me to be a guest. After all I had written their biggest hit song. And with my career sagging like it was I certainly would have appreciated the boost my appearance on their popular show might bring. It was years before the brothers finally did offer me a guest spot on their TV show. And I was grateful to finally get the chance. With both of them joining in I sang their theme song "Trouble's Back in Town". I am quite sure I sang another song that day but for the life of me I do not remember what song it was. My appearance on their show was almost like a farewell to arms. It was not too long after that that I actually would pack up and leave Nashville for good. One year the brothers offered me a desk and phone at their office so that I could help them book their shows. In turn I was allowed to use their facilities to book my Dick Flood Show as well. And I was grateful for that. And for a year or so I was successful in getting them quite a few shows as well as booking my own shows. Later for a very short while my Pathfinders and I became the back up band for the Wilburn Brothers road show. I, of course, fronted for them.
TROUBLE’S BACK IN TOWN
Words & Music By Dick Flood
Look who’s comin’ down the street
Big brown eyes and smile so sweet
UH oh Trouble’s back in town I feel a sad old memory
Comin’ back to torture me
Uh Oh Trouble’s back in town Funny she still looks the same
Time has brought so little change
Why did she turn up again
Just when my heart was on the mend Wish I didn’t love her so
Better hide until she goes
Uh Oh Trouble’s back in town
© Surefire Music 1962
Recorded by The Wilburn Brothers on Decca
# 1 Country song of the year 1962
Read more about Okefenokee Joe in his autobiography journey as a country artist in ‘My Walk Among The Stars’. Available on sale at the Swamp Store. Dick Flood aka Okefenokee Joe, made hit songs, like ‘Trouble’s Back In Town', as a country artist in the 50's & 60's. In honoring his enduring legacy as a distinguished country music legend, we invite you to visit dickflood.com and pay tribute to his remarkable journey through a collection of music and cherished memories showcased on the Dick Flood Fan Club page. Join the Dick Flood Fan Club on dickflood.com to honor his musical legacy. Stream unreleased songs for free and share with friends.
 Okefenokee Joe aka Dick Flood 1932 - 2023
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