What Happened To Rafe? | E.E. RAYMOND

What Happened to Rafe?

Do you ever find yourself running across a song, a video, a poem, a story, that leaves you wondering?

After finding a song on YouTube, I got to wondering. What happened to the person who was singing?

My search led me to a very poignant conclusion. We need to follow what our heart tells us. Success is our own definition, not what others think our success should be.

So, what DID happen to Rafe?

Remember the Andy Griffith show? Always a lot of fun, and full of surprises.

One of those surprises was when Rafe Hollister sang “That Lonesome Road”.

Rafe Hollister was played by Jack Prince, who appeared on Broadway in the 1950s in main and understudy/replacement roles in at least three musicals: “Guys and Dolls” (1950-1953), as “Nicely Nicely Johnson”, “Lil’ Abner” (1956-1958) as “Marryin’ Sam”, and “Destry Rides Again” (1959-1960) as Tom Destry’s sidekick “Wash”.

He met Andy Griffith during the filming of “Destry Rides Again”, where he sang two songs.

Andy remembered Jack, and had him on his show with a couple of minor roles. Jack’s best known and remembered role was ‘Rafe Hollister’. Jack Prince’s love, and calling, was singing. Andy Griffith asked him to take on a larger role in the TV series, but Jack felt it would hinder the successful career he already had.

Think about this for a moment. What many of us would consider a golden opportunity. A large role in a TV series. More exposure.

But Jack Prince was content with his singing career. He was touching the lives of people already. Why trade what made him happy with an option of an unknown?

Food for thought.

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