|
I was barely out of my teens when I was out on the road selling my Daddy's home made remedy. We had bought the car, a two door Chevrolet, for $260.00. It was almost as old as we were. Irene was just seventeen, long blond hair and pretty as a picture, we were married just a few months before.
That old car, a bit of furniture, some personal belongings in storage, and a spotted dog was about all we had except for each other. At the time it seemed enough. We didn't have a home, lived in small hotels, sometimes with relatives and for awhile in a borrowed tent. Irene did most of the driving, up and down those winding side roads and through the small towns and villages.
We finally settled down, bought a little farm and raised horses, cows, dogs and three great kids. Billy, Patti and Jim, they became big in music.
We sang and played honkytonks, fairs, theaters and TV. Billy wrote and recorded some hit tunes along with Patti, Jim and the band, he could sure bend the strings on that old guitar.
There were disappointments too. Like when I wrote the song "IF YOU SHOULD SEE HER". I pitched it on Music Row in Nashville and they liked it so well they stole it from me. After a few changes it became a #1 hit, and the title song on a platinum album, but for me just another lesson in life.
There were sad times too. We lost our Billy to cancer a few years ago, but his songs and the wonderful memories will always be with us.
These days I'm still writing and singing my music, thankful for the blessings and the nice folks I meet along the way. We all miss Billy, not only for his great talent but for the love and the sunshine he seemed to bring into our lives
We just recorded "THE LIFE & SONGS OF STEPHEN FOSTER", America's first great songwriter, it is on C-Disk and cassette. I tell the compelling story of his short life, ( he died at 37 years old with but 38 cents to his name) back in the time of Lincoln, Jesse James and the civil war.
We sing and play 10 of his best songs -"Oh Susanah", "Swannee River", "Camptown Races", "Beautiful dreamer" "Jeanie", "My Old Kentucky Home", and several more that have all become folk standards around the world. It's entertaining, educational and I'm proud of it.
|
|
|
