Getting down with Country Music

I don't know what you will be doing on Wednesday night, but I will be reveling in the Country Music Association Awards Show. Actually, I will be reliving episodes throughout my life when Country Music was right up front.

When I was a young (12-13) person, a man came to the Odd Fellows Hall once a month to show movies. Sometimes, he ran a talent show. Aha! I remember cranking up my courage and singing "Don't Fence Me In"...but I didn't win.

On Saturday nights, we tuned in to the Grand Ole Opry to hear many old favorites... Johnny Cash, Minnie Pearl, etc. Country and Gospel Music were the foundation of my musical education.

When my dad agreed to repair the car of an Oklahoma farmer in exchange for the piano he had coming on the train in his carload of furniture, it meant the end of my using the porch railing as my "piano" to which I sang familiar church tunes at the top of my voice. Aunt Lizzie, who lived next door, had taken me into her living room, plunked me down on her piano stool, and started teaching me some of the basic keys on her piano.

Dad financed piano lessons from Aunt Jessie (50 cents a week), then later from the Music Teacher at our local high school. When I learned to play well enough to accompany church services, I quit taking lessons...just kept learning on my own. My favorites were always hymns and country songs.

It was a great day when visiting my folks one summer, I was included in a bus trip to Nashville, Tennessee. We toured some of the country stars homes, visited the old Reiman Theatre, had breakfast in the Grand Hotel solarium, and attended a production of The Grand Ole Opry where a girl from our home town, Jeannie Seeley, sang. Over the years, I returned to Nashville two more times just to revel in the music.

My favorite singers include Tennessee Ernie Ford, Ray Stevens, Charlie Pride, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Ernest Tubbs, Tammy Wynette, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, Patsy Cline, and others....but....no one ever sang a country or gospel song with as much poignancy as Elvis Presley. No one.

My older son, Ben, had his favorite, too...Freddy Fender singing "I'll Be There 'Til The Last Teardrop Falls"...I believe he is, in his angel form.

I really love Country Music.

Comments

[Gayle Brewster]

Hi Bea ~ it's me again! Gayle. I love reading your blogs! We have so much in common, especially when it comes to country & gospel songs. And, of course Elvis! You are so right! No one could sing a gospel song like Elvis. You remember my Mother? She also loved Elvis & his gospel music. She left all his tapes, etc for me! So, now I can enjoy all those wonderful tunes, with my own Elvis tapes. My husband & I went to Graceland & Nashville. We just loved it!