Tommy Everett Is Sweet Music to Suwanee

If you are into music, sports or the Internet, it's hard to miss Tommy Everett in the Suwanee area.

He might be welcoming visitors or running the sound system at the Everett Music Barn, a renowned bluegrass music performing site that has hosted some nationally known performers.

He might be getting the City of Sugar Hill golf course in shape for its next big tournament.

Or he might be musing or posting videos on Facebook about the barn, family matters, or events in his home city of Buford.

Everett and family members recently breathed a sigh of relief when some area residents stepped in and bought the family property in March. The death of Roger Everett in October 2010 brought an end to weekly bluegrass performances at the barn that dated to the 1970s. The barn was built by hand with material from a destroyed apartment building in Norcross.

The weekly performances resumed in April, with a new sound system and Everett in his customary role of point person. He has been running the sound system since 1978.

"There is comfort in knowing that it (the barn and performances) will be there awhile," Everett said recently. "The last 10 years, when people started dying off, everybody was wondering what happened next."

He also goes around during the week for maintenance purposes -- mowing the lawn, blowing leaves, etc.

There's also his job -- assistant superintendent of the golf course. Yes, he's a golfer with a 14-handicap.

His gregarious nature and love for the barn and home area really come out on Facebook.

Some postings were about:

• his wife Julie making him a "sammich" after he mowed the lawn.
• a tree that was uprooted recently near his home; he called it "one of the oldest trees in Buford."

His many Facebook followers always compliment his urgings to be positive to others. He responded: "I have been to the bowels of hell ... i know there will be no Tears in heaven when i get there."

Asked if he ever sleeps, Everett laughed and said, "Not much."