“Good Morning America” Wakes Up Stockbridge
James Taylor and Yo-Yo Ma playing on the porch of the Red Lion Inn
Has anyone noticed how James Taylor more and more resembles one of the characters you see in Norman Rockwell’s paintings? Certainly, this morning’s scene on Main Street in Stockbridge was small-town Americana at its star-struck best when Good Morning America arrived via train and visited the Red Lion from 8 - 9 AM. It wasn’t an ordinary morning with local residents James Taylor and Yo-Yo Ma performing on the porch with television cameras recording them, but it wasn’t contrived either. It felt like a neighborhood block party, but just a little more glamorous than the kind Norman Rockwell knew when he lived and worked in Stockbridge.
Good Morning America anchors Robin Roberts, Diane Sawyer, and Chris Cuomo arrive on the sidewalk in front of the Red Lion Inn. They all looked great and they all wore blue jeans.
The Red Lion’s Brian Butterworth with Canyon Ranch’s Sarah Blexrud; the Red Lion’s Carol Baumann with cheerleaders from Westfield State College.
Stephanie Gittleman of West Stockbridge; Accidentally lucky tourists William Cwiek and Carolyn Sibley who stayed over Sunday night at the Red Lion.
Security was light and friendly and many lucky fans got to stand only a few feet away from Taylor and Ma.
“Sweet Baby James” and George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun” were among the songs peformed by Taylor and Ma.
The ABC News anchors seemed to enjoy the musical performance as much as anyone else in the crowd.
Writer and blogger Gina Hyams with Sheriff Garrey; Stockbridge pillars Phil Deely and HilaryDeely had “VIP seats” on the porch.
The Red Lion Porch (aka the Fitzpatrick Music Shed.)
