HOW AND WHEN DID YOU AND TOY MEET?  DID HIS MUSIC HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH    IT?

Toy and I met in May 1969.  Tommy and I had been friends for years.  All I
knew about Toy was that he was Tommy's older brother and he was in Vietnam.
Toy asked me out after Tommy suggested Toy give me a call.  We dated a few
months and married on September 12, 1969.  When I met Toy he had not been
home from Vietnam long.  During the summer we dated, he was in a band  - The
Toy Factory... and it was our entire relationship.

WHAT WERE HIS EARLY INFLUENCES?

One of his musician friends could tell you off the top off his head.  We
were so young and Toy just always played guitar.  Absolutely loved the
guitar.  His influences never crossed my mind.  We were too busy trying to
work and pay bills.  When I think about it, the guitar was sort of an
extension of Toy.  Now I realize I not only married Toy, I also married his
guitar.  And I would not change anything for the world.

DO YOU KNOW THE STORY BEHIND WHY HE PLAYED WITH JUST HIS THUMB?

There is no real story as to why he played with his thumb.  He just did.  He
always had.  Always.

DID HE EVER TAKE THE FAMILY ON THE ROAD?

Cassady was born in 1972 and Geneal in 1977.  We took the girls on short
trips.  Especially Cassady.  By the time Geneal was born the travel was
hectic and too much for 2 children.  Not to mention too much for me to
handle 2 young daughters on the road.  I was happy and content to stay home
with the girls.  They had their school and school related activities.  As
far as we all were concerned Toy went to work like other fathers, the fact
that he was a musician was only a description of his job.

HOW'D HE LIKE THE EUROPEAN TOUR?

It was great.  I met Toy in Paris, half way through the tour.  It was
wonderful and an opportunity I know I will not have again.  But after a
short while I was homesick, tired of living out of a suitcase and had truly
realized that life on the road was not as glamorous as I had thought!
Especially after that tour I was extremely content to stay home.  It was fun
though.  I enjoyed traveling with Grinderswitch... great guys!  I will
always consider them to be friends of mine... and Toy's.

WHAT DID HE DO WHEN HE WASN'T ON THE ROAD OR RECORDING?

When Toy was not traveling he enjoyed fishing, reading, and basically
spending time with the family.  When we had the Arabian horses we often
attended horse shows.  Or he and the girls would "camp out" in the front
yard!!!  Sometimes venturing all the way to the creek.  Actually normal
boring family things.  If a friend of his was performing close by we would
sometimes go see them and he often took the girls.  I remember he and the
girls went to see Alabama.  The weekend before Toy's death he took us to see
Travis Tritt because he was impressed with what a nice kid Travis was.
Charlie Daniels I have not mentioned, because Charlie is more and was more
than a friend to Toy and now to me.  He was and is more like family...
closer than family to me.

WAS TOY AMAZED AT THE BAND'S SUCCESS AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HE TOUCHED WITH HIS MUSIC?

Toy was so happy playing we never discussed the success of the band.  And I
do not believe Toy ever truly understood how many people he touched.  A
regret of mine.  It all went by so quickly.  But not in reality when you add
up the number of years.  Until Toy's death I must have taken for granted his
talent.  Then with the outpouring of phone calls, flowers, telegrams, from
all over the world... then it must have started to sink in.  Now 5 years
later and still the interest shown in Toy - is very heartwarming for me.

WHAT WAS YOU'RE FAVORITE ALBUM AND SONG?

I have too many favorites - many favorites for many reasons!

HE LEFT MTB IN 1984.  WHY?

He left MTB in 1984 because it was "just time" to move on.  Since Tommy's
death (in April 1980) he was there in body only.  In hindsight, Toy kept an
awful lot inside of him.  I cannot imagine the pain he was in after his
brothersí deaths (Tim Caldwell, the youngest of the three Caldwell brothers, died one
month before Tommy).  My father also died that year (on Tim's birthday) and
Toy had been extremely close to my Daddy.  Toy put up a good front for the others.  But now I know he had to be torn apart inside.

LOSING TWO BROTHERS WITHIN A YEAR MUST HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING FOR HIM AND THE FAMILY.  WHAT DID HE DO TO COPE WITH SUCH A LOSS?

He relied in his faith in God to get him through; otherwise he would have...
you know I donít know what Toy would have done.  He kept up a good front,
but inside, well I cannot imagine what he was feeling.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS THE BEST OF TIMES FOR TOY WITH THE BAND?

Without a doubt when he was on stage with Tommy Caldwell.  He had many fun
times with the band and the road crew.  The road crew was very important to
Toy.  He also had great fun with Charlie Daniels.  He loved all of his
musician friends.  All the years playing with Tommy... those were his
happiest times.

AFTER LEAVING MTB TOY RECORDED SOME SONGS (WITH PRODUCER PAUL HORNSBY) THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN RELEASED.  RONNIE GODFREY, ALONG WITH FRANKLIN WILKE, PLAYED ON THEM.  ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO RELEASE THOSE?

I think the world of Paul, but I can only pray that there are no plans to release the material done with Wilkie and Godfrey.  

I LOVE TOYíS STUDIO CD (ORIGINALLY RELEASED ON THE CABIN FEVER LABEL IN 1992, LATER RE-RELEASED AS ìSON OF THE SOUTH ON CHARLIE DANIELS BLUE HAT LABEL).  WAS HE PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS?

Yes, Toy was pleased with his solo effort.  He enjoyed playing with the Toy
Caldwell band.  He had a great deal of fun on the road with those guys.

ARE THERE ANY UNRELEASED SONGS FROM THE CABIN FEVER ERA, AND IF SO, ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO RELEASE THEM IN THE FUTURE?

I have no plans to release any of Toy's songs at this time.

HOW DID TOY LIKE MAKING THE VIDEOS FOR HIS SOLO CD?

Toy enjoyed making the videos.  It went along with the job... he did not
complain about anything to do with music.

I SAW A HOME VIDEO OF TOY FILMED AT AL'S PUMPHOUSE AND HE SEEMED TO REALLY ENJOY HIMSELF. DID HE MIND PLAYING AT SMALLER VENUES AFTER HE HAD BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO PLAYING IN FRONT OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FANS?  BY THE LOOKS OF IT, HE WAS HAVING JUST AS MUCH FUN AT THE SMALL CLUBS.

You are right.  Toy enjoyed playing in front of one or 100,000.  Toy didnít
care where he played, as long as he was playing.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE LIVE (CANíT YOU SEE) CD?

That CD was done without my knowledge and it is of poor quality.  Itís nothing more than a soundboard tape done in a night club.  This is nothing more than a ìbootlegî tape - a way for someone to make a quick buck on something I do not and do not want released.  I have learned people will do anything for a dollar, even using my name to ìthank the peopleî for their support.  Frankly I am tired of the books, the illegal tapes, CD.  However I do appreciate the fans and their questions and interests.  Very much I appreciate them.  Since Toyís death I have had a rude awakening to just how greedy people can be.  Frankly it disgusts me.

I HEARD THERE WAS TALK OF A REUNION WITH MTB (WHEN BOTH TOY AND MTB WERE ON THE CABIN FEVER LABEL). HOW CLOSE DID THIS COME TO HAPPENING?  DO YOU THINK IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED EVENTUALLY?

I briefly remember something about a MTB reunion.  Can't say if it would have
happened eventually... I believe things happen for a reason.  Therefore, I
believe it was not meant to be.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE MTB OF TODAY?

In my opinion, and that is all it is, my opinion - MTB died in 1980.  This ìnewî MTB I donít ever think about until someone mentions it.  The music stays alive because it is good music.  There is no way Doug or anyone else could be so powerful to keep these songs alive in peoples memories and hearts.  These songs stand on their own merit.  The MTB that I recognize was a great band in its time.  For anyone to assume they are keeping the music alive is only trying to fool themselves or othersÖ or they have long since lost sight of their egos and reality!

Thank you and all the fans who Toy sincerely cared about.  Never forget that.  

Sincerley,
Abbie Caldwell

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