Henry Pugh Gets His Day |
MAY/JUNE 2017 |
Kim Traff
Henry Pugh has been playing music for as long as he can remember. He started playing music at 5 years old in the church and played in his first band with grown musicians when he was 12. Now, in his late 70s, Henry still plays four nights a week, on average. That usually entails a three-night stint playing for his many fans at Sous La Terre, and another playing at private events or at other music venues in town. In person, Henry is an imposingly tall man (6’5”) with huge hands that seem to envelop yours when you give him a handshake. Yet his daunting physicality holds within it a huge heart, a warm charisma and a smile that immediately makes even strangers feel at home. He is one of Montgomery’s undeniable musical legends so it was fitting that Mayor Todd Strange declared April 19, Henry Pugh, Jr. Day.