Lansing Gaylord Brisbin III, 62, son of Lansing G. Brisbin Jr. and Joan Metzger Brisbin, died Sunday, March 15, 2015 at his home in Foley after a long and courageous battle with declining health due to a debilitating spinal injury.
Gaylord was born Nov. 18, 1952 in Huntington, W.Va., baptized and confirmed at Trinity Episcopal Church and attended Miller and Cammack schools.
He graduated from Saint Andrews School in Sewanee, Tenn., where he played varsity tennis, and attended New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, N.M. and Marshall University in Huntington.
He was a PFC in the U.S. Army, serving in Frankfurt, Germany and Huntsville, Ala.
With initial help from Joe Dobbs, and after many hours of practice, Gaylord became an accomplished fiddler. After his discharge in 1978, he moved to south Alabama, where be became widely known for his bluegrass music, playing the fiddle, guitar and mandolin. He was a two-time Alabama State Fiddle Champion.
Gaylord played fiddle with the popular group “Bubba N Them” for nearly 24 years at the Original Point Restaurant. He formed the “Skunk Posey” group and performed at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, the USS Alabama for the Junior Miss pageant, the Indy 500 and for many other occasions. He also taught music to many of the Gulf Shores area boys and girls.
Gaylord was an excellent competitive tennis player. He coached the Foley High School team and taught many young people until he became injured.
In addition to his parents, Gaylord is survived by his siblings, Alana Brisbin Parker (Joseph) of Snow Hill, Md., Rebekah Brisbin Casey (Michael) of Naples, Fla. and Richard J. Brisbin (Vicky) of Coral Springs, Fla.; his nephews, LCDR Joseph E. Parker (Jacque) and Jacob J. Parker (Linsey); his niece, Katherine G. Brisbin; his aunt, Phebe Brisbin Gillespie; and numerous cousins.
A musical memorial celebration of Gaylord’s life will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2015, from 2 to 6 p.m., at the Original Point Restaurant in Perdido Key, Fla., where Gaylord was a fixture for many years playing with “Bubba N Them.”
If you so choose, a contribution may be made in his memory to the Foundation for Bluegrass Music, 608 W. Iris Dr., Nashville, TN 37204, or a charity of your choice.
