William "Bill" Rehrig never forgot his roots.

The Parryville native who went to Nashville and became affiliated with such major country music stars as the late Eddie Rabbitt, the late Jerry Reed, Dolly Parton and Tanya Tucker, often returned home to visit family members and perform with local bands.Rehrig, 75, of Franklin, Tennessee, died suddenly on July 17.A memorial service will be held this evening in Tennessee.At 4 p.m. Sunday, a Celebration of Life will be held at the West End Fire Company No. 2, 855 Princeton Ave., Palmerton.Rehrig, a 1956 graduate of Lehighton High School, was taught music as a toddler by his father and could play the button accordion by age 6.He said in an interview several years ago of his father, "He couldn't let his sons grow up not knowing how to play the music he loved so much."It was his first wife, the late Elaine (Babinchak) Rehrig, a Bowmanstown native, who convinced him to go to Nashville to pursue a music career.Pursuing the dreamWhen Elaine brought up the idea that he should follow his dream, he initially pooh-poohed her, saying that "only one in a million make it big in Nashville."He agreed to go, however he said it would be a vacation.It was by coincidence that after three days, he met Tanya Tucker's father. She was only 15 at the time, but already her career was taking off with a hit song, "Delta Dawn."Her father hired him immediately because he had a teaching degree from Kutztown State College and could help tutor her.He put together Tucker's first band.After working for a year with Tucker, he auditioned for Dolly Parton. Of 25 people who tried out for a guitarist spot in her band, Rehrig landed the job. He became lead guitarist and band leader.After 2 1/2 years, Parton switched managers and disbanded her band. She remained friends with Bill and Elaine.He then phoned Jerry Reed, a country singer with several hit records including "When You're Hot, You're Hot," who had tried to recruit Rehrig from Parton's band previously.Reed hired him immediately.The piano player of the late Conway Twitty hooked Rehrig up with Eddie Rabbitt in 1978. He switched bands and joined Rabbitt.In 1981, Rehrig returned home, but Rabbitt left the door open for him to come back any time he wanted.On the road againRehrig bought a home in Allentown and lived there for a couple years before rejoining Rabbitt as his fiddle player and road manager.Often during Rabbitt's concerts, Rehrig would be singled out to perform solos. At one show in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times did a review of a Rabbitt concert and gave several gleaming paragraphs to Rehrig's segment.He remained with Rabbitt until the singer died on May 7, 1998.Rehrig's wife, Elaine, died in 1993.Dustin Rehrig of Walnutport, Bill's nephew, said Bill always prioritized his family."He had a hard time getting over Elaine," he said. "Part of him died with her. Then when Eddie died; well, Eddie was his best friend."While Rabbitt was in the hospital dying of cancer, he introduced his nurse to Rehrig.The nurse, the former Holly Holm, became Rehrig's second wife.Once he was with Parton when she took a vacation in the Poconos. At 11 o'clock on a Saturday night, Rehrig brought Parton grocery shopping to the former Lehighton A & P.Rehrig told the Times News in an interview, "A lot of heads turned, but nobody asked if it was really Dolly."A big influenceDustin Rehrig said Bill took his music seriously.Dustin, who is head of the popular local country band "Twitty Fever," said, "He's the sole reason all the Rehrigs got into music."Bill Rehrig had served in the Army. Dustin said, "When he came home from the Army, he gave all of us instruments and said 'learn to play. You're going to stay out of trouble.'"He was such a terrific man," Dustin said. "He was passionate about his music and his family."Randy Cramer of Kresgeville, lead vocalist of The Cramer Brothers band, also discussed Rehrig's influence.Cramer first met Rehrig when he worked with Parton. Besides playing for Parton, he kept his local ties playing with the band "717."After Rehrig moved back to Allentown, Cramer went to his home for fiddle lessons."To me, that was like going to college," Cramer said. "He was my mentor. The knowledge he had of music was unbelievable."Cramer recalls getting together with Rehrig on trips to Nashville. When they went to the Grand Ole Opry, everybody seemed to know Rehrig."Everybody would walk up to him and say, 'Hi Bill. How've you been,'" he said.Cramer said, "Music is my love and I'm just so in shock. I can't say enough good about Billy."When Rehrig would return to the area, whichhe did frequently, he often played with Twitty Fever. He also periodically joined the Cramers on stage.Tuesday night, Twitty Fever will be playing atthe Schuylkill CountyFair.Dustin Rehrig said it's going to be a difficult night for him.Tuesday would have been Rehrig's 76th birthday.