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Topic: Did Your Dad Play? |
Stephen LeBlanc
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2002 1:29 pm |
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| Pop played the harmonica and I learned as a kid. It was a big day when he'd come in with a new harp to play. We'd sit around playing The Old Rugged Cross or She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain. Him being a bonafide country boy was sure to mean we played either hymms or hillbilly stuff on that harp. I sure wish I had a recording of that! |
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David Wright
From:
Pilot Point ,Tx USA.
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Posted 30 Dec 2002 3:49 pm
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My Dad played steel, as far a I can remember he played, started in the 40's and now has pretty much retired from playing..@76....
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My Web Page
Sierra Guitars
Sierra S-12 9&7
Peavey-2000-PX-300
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R. L. Jones
From:
Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2002 7:37 pm
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Qiute a story Jody ,I know somewhere in there I had to have seen your dad ,My memorie is getting so bad, but I remember lot of those people, occasions, and songs I heard and programs i saw.
All the rest of you ,I know you`re proud of your Dad. My older brother was the first one to play, guitar and sang with the Nettles brothers on Monroe La. Radio sta.
Dad was a State Policeman here in La., He was on stake out down the road where Bonnie and Clyde were killed, thank god he wasn`t at the sight. He was a W W 1 veteran, and he would have held up his end ,had he been there. But he never played a music instrument. He did sing in church
My Dad was the best man I ever knew.
R. L. |
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Bob Cox
From:
Buckeye State
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Posted 30 Dec 2002 7:53 pm
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| Dad played almost all the honkie tonks in Ohio and a few shows with Jimmie Dickins.I remember him drilling holes in ol fender necks with no pedals and hooking bi cycle spokes to pull the strings.Then he got his multichord and he was really steppin in high cotton. |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 30 Dec 2002 9:17 pm
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Looks to me like we all have had great dads &
we can be proud of them. I hope my children
remember me some way, someday.
This is a nice thread.
Thanks for starting it. |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 30 Dec 2002 9:48 pm
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Jody-I am old emough to remember Zeb Carver. Looks to me like you are a chip off the old block....Happy New Year....al  |
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Jimmie Misenheimer
From:
Bloomington, Indiana - U. S. A.
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Posted 30 Dec 2002 9:51 pm
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You're very welcome Jody. I, like SO MANY others here enjoy your posts, and replies more than you know. I must confess to everyone though, I was much more setting here feeling sorry for myself than just "doing nothing". You see, I'm losing my dad a little more each day. Alzheimers - and it's really coming on now. On a good day, and there are very few, he may know who I am.
Cancer is taking Sally, my love of 28 years, before my very eyes. Sometimes it's hard to stay "up". Sorry - here I go again.
I'll go now - screen is getting hard to see. Thanks to all for listening...
Jimmie |
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Vernon Hester
From:
Cayce,SC USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 30 Dec 2002 11:15 pm
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My Dad played his Martin and sang with a local band on our local radio station, So the Kids would gather to listen to them practice. (early 1930's)When they would take a break we would grab the instruments and have a ball, I remember the steel being an Old Kraftsman from Spiegle mail order, Then a Gibson. It was a treat when the late Ed Hines would come by, Ed was a master of the old Hawaiian tunes, We would listen for hours.
Vern |
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Matt Brydges
From:
Renfrew, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 31 Dec 2002 12:03 am
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Well, I feel very fortunate to have been surrounded by music my whole life.
My Dad also played steel, and started right around the same age as I did (just this year for me) when he got a new Fulawka S10 for Christmas in 1970. I still have the guitar and play it every day. He also played lead guitar, and fiddle - which he was most known for - along with mandolin, banjo, dobro, bass, drums and a bit of piano. He taught me pretty well everything I know about live sound and recording too, along with the basics on the steel when I was much younger.
He was also the reason I took up the steel - I always enjoyed hearing him practice and play out, and wanted to be able to make those sounds. I only wish I'd have gotten up the courage to dive right into it a few years earlier, when I could have benefited from his experience on the steel.
My mother also plays piano, teaches piano and instrumental music (woodwinds and brass), and is a church organist/choir director.
Matt[This message was edited by Matt Brydges on 31 December 2002 at 12:04 AM.] |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 31 Dec 2002 7:02 am
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No, I wish my family was musical, but they weren't.
We owned a bar/hotel and lived upstairs. No live bands, but a major jukebox with Buck Owens, Charlie Pride, etc. I wonder why I never became a Bass Player. I'd often go to sleep listening to those bass lines leaking thru the floor.
My mom insisted I start Guitar lesson, in the summer between 6th and 7th grade.
I'm forever grateful for that. |
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Jason Stillwell
From:
Caddo, OK, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2002 7:27 am
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| My dad's a fiddle player who also plays a little guitar. He showed me my first guitar chords when I was about five or six. I think he's sat down behind my steel one time. |
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2002 8:01 am
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My dad was a sax player who cut his musical career short to join the Marines about a year before Pearl Harbor. (My aunt claims that a judge gave him the option of military service or jail time; he always told the story differently.) He made a career of it and retired as a major, but never played sax after 1940. He died from leukemia in 1961.
My mother, who played violin and piano, encouraged us all to take music lessons. I just wish she had said "no" when I wanted to stop taking piano at 12 ... because I didn't try learning another instrument for the next 35 years. [This message was edited by Russ Young on 31 December 2002 at 08:03 AM.] |
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David Spires
From:
Millersport, OH
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Posted 31 Dec 2002 9:10 am
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Dad actually started music lessons on steel (before making guitar his primary instrument), then moved to the E-Harp, finally to E9th/C6th. He's still been my only "offical" teacher. I've been lucky to have his musical influence in my life.
:-)
David Spires |
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Danny Naccarato
From:
Burleson, Texas
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Posted 31 Dec 2002 12:20 pm
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My dad had a band in the upstate NY area (Kingston) from the 40's thru the 60's. When I was a baby, they used to put me to "bed" in his guitar case backstage..... He was nearly the only steel teacher in those parts for years. Started me on Spanish Guitar at 5 in '61. My sister Cindy started on steel a year after me. I have lots of pictures showing her and I with various Fenders thruout the 60's. What I wouldn't give for them now (he was a Fender dealer).
My Mom and her 2 sisters did radio during the 40's as the Downes Sisters. Similiar to the McGuire Sisters, Andrews Sisters, etc.
Dad got away from the performing part of the biz in the late 60's, but continued to teach until his retirement in '86. I remember during the height of the Beatle craze in the late 60's he had over 100 students. Just himself teaching from after school until late at night, then back under the cars until the early hours of the AM (his other occupation was an Auto Mechanic) and weekends. Still found time to give his 4 kids lessons every Sunday evening. Self employed, all at our house. 7th grade education. Once a year we would make a trip to PA and get a lesson on a Sunday afternoon from Eddie Alkire (Dad was teaching his E-harp method also).
Sure do miss him as he passed in '90, before he got to see me accomplish some things that I have been fortunate to do. That's another story......
It's pretty neat as I've heard from some of his long ago students thru the Forum.
[This message was edited by Danny Naccarato on 31 December 2002 at 12:23 PM.] |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 31 Dec 2002 4:12 pm
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Danny
I sold your dad Fender products,what a small
world. I thought of him many times in the past. He was always nice to me, I wondered what happened to him.
Sorry to hear of his passing..
Andy Nelson and myself would call on your dad
and Andy played great guitar..we always had a good time.
Ever need to e mail me please do.. I'll e mail you.
Happy New Year
Jody PS do you remember Hilton Music or Hermies Music? Art Hilton knew your dad too.[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 01 January 2003 at 10:06 AM.] |
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Fred Layman
From:
Springfield, Missouri USA
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Posted 31 Dec 2002 7:04 pm
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David S., you left out some important information that I think forumites would like to know. Report the "name" stars and celebrties Chuck played for.
My dad played acoustic and was a fan of Jimmy Rogers. But his younger brother, my uncle, was a lap steel and dobro player. The first steel guitar I ever saw was one he bought after coming home from WWII. Roy Wiggins was his idol and he knew most of what Roy recorded with Eddie Arnold and George Morgan. His children were all musicans and I spent many pleasant hours at their home playing steel with the family. |
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Skip T
From:
Lubbock , Tx. U S A
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Posted 1 Jan 2003 7:59 am
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In 1957 my Dad asked me if I wanted to take guitar lessons (he never played anything but the RADIO  ) I told him I wanted to learn to play that "sit down guitar" I saw on the TV show, which must have been the "OLD" Grand Ole Opry ? He signed me up to take "lap steel" lessons. I still have my "like new" SUPRO 6 string and amp ! After about 2 yrs (I was 13), I quit playing and put it in the closet.  He told me, "someday you will regret your decision son", and he WAS RIGHT !
About 35 yrs later I found a pedal steel, some TAB and at least learned enough by then to play "solo" at his funeral. I know it made him proud. Now I have a 6 yr old Grandson that I am "trying" to keep interested in steel. One can only make the instrument available with encouragement. Skip |
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Jimmie Misenheimer
From:
Bloomington, Indiana - U. S. A.
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Posted 1 Jan 2003 8:19 am
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Dad always said, "Boy - You're gonna' ruin your health tryin' to work all day, an' layin' around them "juke-joints" all night playin that lap organ!"
Oh yeah - I finally gave up the "nightshift". For the first time in 32 years, I didn't even work last night...
Jimmie
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 1 Jan 2003 8:46 am
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My Mom's side was the musical side of the family. My grandfather, uncle played mandolin (as I do too). I wish I had a third of my mom's musical talent. She plays piano in a kind of un-hip, syncopated show tune style BUT she can can play pratically ANY pop tune by ear, in any key - complete with bass runs, flourishes, octacve runs and other cool techinical tricks. Though completely self-taught. Mom joined two other trained, professional pianists last year for a two hour concert at her apartment building. She took requests from the audience, improvised them all and got rave reviews.
She sang on radio in Philly & NY in the late 40's. My favorite photo of her shows her at the mic leaning on a grand piano wearing a black dress and pearls. The piano player has a pencil mustace and a carnation. The kicker is there's a woman
scowling in the background through the control room glass. [This message was edited by Andy Volk on 01 January 2003 at 08:47 AM.] [This message was edited by Andy Volk on 01 January 2003 at 08:51 AM.] |
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B. Greg Jones
From:
Middleport, Ohio USA
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Posted 1 Jan 2003 9:23 am
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My Dad has played guitar for as long as I can remember. Also fiddle, mandolin, and now steel guitar and dobro.
I started messing with a few chords around the age of 6. Learning on a 1959 Gretsch Anniv. guitar, which he still has. Dad never pushed or made me play but always encouraged it. He and Mom always made sure that I had good equiptment to play on, hauled the band all over the place cause I wasn't old enough to drive. They played the roles of bouncers, roadies, loan officers, etc. I do remember watching Dad play one nite "live" on T.V. with that Gretsch. It was a PBS show called R.F.D. He had a friend that played fiddle, whom as since passed on. I was very proud that nite.
I'll tell this little story about my Dad. He bought a new Grammer flat top in 1973. He would play fiddle and I would play the guitar. Every now and then my mind would drift or I would make a mistake and he would get my attention by whacking me on the head with the fiddle bow!!! It didn't hurt real bad, but got my attention. He always loved the steel guitar, still does. I guess I have him to thank as I have made my living playing steel for quite a few years now.
And speaking of steel, Dad will be starting his ventre on the instrument soon. I am building him a S-10 ZB Custom, out of all New Old Stock parts. He is already playing lap steel and Dobro nd gets better everytime I hear him play. He will fit right in on the pedal steel. His love for the instrument will keep him driven.
Great thread!!!! Like to read more of this stuff. And Jody, I ALWAYS look forward to readig your posts.
Greg |
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Tony Farr
From:
Madison, Tennessee, USA (deceased)
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Posted 1 Jan 2003 9:45 am
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| My Dad played clarinet and saxophone when he wasn't cutting hair in his barber shop in New Orleans. I started out playing drums in school then rythum then steel. The whole family was musicial. |
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Jody Carver
From:
KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED
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Posted 1 Jan 2003 10:12 am
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Jimmy
I just looked at what you wrote.Im in the same boat as you.All I can say is try your best to hang in there,I know its easy to say
but thats what Im doing.
This has been a great thread and thanks to you Jimmy for starting it.
My prayers are with your dad and Susan and yourself,,HANG IN THERE BUDDY
Jody |
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Jimmie Misenheimer
From:
Bloomington, Indiana - U. S. A.
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Posted 1 Jan 2003 12:21 pm
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Thank you Jody - you're very kind.
Jimmie |
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Paul Graupp
From:
Macon Ga USA
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Posted 1 Jan 2003 12:43 pm
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Both my parents played; Mom the piano and my Dad; as I wrote in another thread which I can't relocate; played the Zither.
Regards, Paul |
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