There have been a number of songs written about Maine and a few written by Maine residents. I thought I would put them all together an write a little on each one, but that is too much at once, and doesn't give each of them the blog they deserve.
I don't know much about the writer of this piece of music except that he was a resident of West Baldwin, and as it happened in that small town there were several males who shared the same first name. For privacy's sake I won't list them, but one of them was the husband of my good friend Joyce. And Joyce is the person who donated this piece of music for my collection.
OH, JUST WRITE A LINE TO YOUR MOTHER (Wherever You Are To-night) was written by Elwood S. Harris who lived in West Baldwin, Maine. West Baldwin is a small community a little north and west of Portland, Maine (which is Maine's largest city, but not it's capitol). Mr. Harris wrote his song, both words and music in 1941, the year so many of our Maine brave hearts were far from home in the service. The cover art is of a window with ruffled cottage curtains, a side table with a basket of knitting, and a vase with a bouquet of flowers. A bespectacled lady with her hair properly pulled into a very obedient bun, is sitting in a high backed rocking chart with her feet on a low stool. She has a pair of very prim pumps with an ankle strap, and her dress, with sleeves to her forearms has a "ruching" around the neck.
She is holding a page of a letter in her left hand dangling beside the chair, and in her right hand she has the envelope. She is contemplative in mood.
The cover is printed in monochromatic green. Of course, it's a bit faded now, but even in its best day it was a bit drab. Mr. Harris published it himself under the title "The Harris Publishing Co., West Baldwin, Me; and claims copyright 1941. His instructions are "MODto (with expression). And it's written in four flats. I could not find any information on Mr. Harris, but I have to assume he was an accomplished piano player. I am hoping to find someone to help me put appropriate chords for organ in it for me. On a copy, of course, as I NEVER write on original music. Writing in books and on music is practically a sin in my mind.
OH, JUST WRITE A LINE TO YOUR MOTHER, Wherever You Are To-Night
Remember your promise to Mother
That you made her when you went away.
And the letters you promised to write her
As she kissed you good bye that day.
But the time has gone by
There are tears in her eyes
You have broken your promise to write.
Oh have you forgotten your Mother
Back at Home Sweet Home tonight?
OH, JUST WRITE A LINE TO YOUR MOTHER
Where ever you are tonight
Just think how she'd love to see you
As she wonders why you never write,
For she will not always be with you
Back where the home fires burn bright.
But as long as she lives you are welcome
Back at Home Sweet Home tonight.
No matter whatever befalls you
And your promise to Mother untrue,
It will make no difference to Mother
She will be the same Mother to you.
But there'll come a time but it may be too late
For the letters you promised to write,
So just write a line to your Mother
Back at Home Sweet Home tonight.
OH, JUST WRITE A LINE TO YOUR MOTHER
etc. etc.
I feel very privileged to have so many old pieces of music. I have no idea what my kids will do with it all when I am gone, but for now it is in my care and I really do love going through it, reading the words and thinking about the time when it was written. It tells a history, just as family albums do, and old diaries.
If you like reading these blogs, post a comment or just drop me a line at janice.major@iCloud. com and put "music" in the subject line. If you're looking for a piece of music, try me. And whatever you do, don't throw away old printed music! I heard some one was buying up old sheet music to make wrapping paper for gifts. I was horrified! Some of the old covers are so beautiful. Some indicate the dress mode of the times, and some have photos of long gone soloists, and some have pictures of whole bands. Sometimes there are artist credits, sometimes not. There is no signature on this particular piece, maybe the talented Mr. Harris drew it himself.
With respect for the composer and thanks to my friend Joyce for donating it,
Janice Major
Scarborugh, Maine
Friday, June 20, 2014
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Here it is, the middle of June already. We were supposed to have a big yard sale today to dispose of a lot of sheet music and old books we no longer were using but the weather forecast was for 'pop-up showers' so we cancelled - and wouldn't you know, it was pretty nice all day and didn't even drizzle in this part of the state. And that's they way life is, sometimes we make the right decisions and sometimes we don't. "Tomorrow", as Scarlett famously said, "is another day."
I came across a piece of sheet music in very good condition which was written 100 years ago, yes in 1914, called A HUNDRED YEARS FROM . I wish I had the capability of copying the cover page for you to see as it is a drawing of some of the "miracles" of that age: a zeppelin, some single engine prop planes, and a little bearded elfin character in the corner holding a spyglass peering skyward. You can, if you care to, put the title in your search engine and find pictures of it.
The song was written by Caddigan, Brennan and Story. Inside it says, " All rights for Mechanical Instruments reserved. International Copyright secured. Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada in the year MCMX1V by O. E. Story at the Dept. Of Agriculture. It was also copyrighted in Boston Mass by Mr. Story.
Back to the cover, in a circular inset there is a picture of a pixieish looking chap with a crown on his head, and it says "Featured by Tom Linden and Jungle Girls". I was unable to find any information about Mr. Linden or Jungle Girls, but he may have been the cover artist.
JACK CADDIGAN was one of seven children born to Irish parents who were both Irish and immigrated from Canada to Boston's heavily populated South End. Originally he was an apprentice plumber, and then joined Boston Edison Co., successfully rising to the esteemed position of Assistant Vice-President in charge of advertising. He married Mary Manning and they raised seven children.
His song writing career was mostly between 1914 and 1918 and quite naturally, were about the war.
"The Rose of No Man's Land", "We're All GOing Calling on the Kaiser" and "Salvation Lassie of Mine" to name a few. He wrote rhyming, rhythmic, songs. SOme were sentimental, some novelties. Some waltzes, some ballads. He collaborated with Chick Story and James A. Brennan who wrote much of his music, and some with Jimmy McHugh. In his later live he directed minstrel shows and revues for civic groups.
JAMES A. BRENNAN a Boston Mass native who attended Mass Normal Arts School and became a camouflage artist fort the U. S. Shipping Board during WWI. He was a songwriter for lyricists, notable Jack Caddigan. One of his more popular songs was "Little Red School House" which he wrote with Al Wilsonin 1922, originally sung by the American Quartet, and eventually sung by Brenda Lee (at age 10 with Red Foley) and Perry Como (at age 16).
OLIVER "Chick" STORY was also a Massachusetts native. His father owned a grocery store and apparently it was a prosperous business. He was an only child, never married and lived with his father Chelsea. After his father's death he moved back to East Boston where they had previously lived. He was a Harvard graduate and remained an active alumnus, became involved in politics, and became as Mason.
While at Harvard Story wrote several pieces of music, and collaborated with Peter (Happy) O'Neil for dozens of songs. They formed a publishing company together. O'Neil died at age 28 and Story opened his own company issuing more than 50 titles including many of his own. In1913 he began collaborating with Jack Caddigan . He was an accomplished piano player and vocalist, and formed a couple of different groups: The Chick Story Trio and Chick Story Serenaders. After closing his publishing firm he joined the offices of Feist Music. Even after his publishing days ended, he continued to list himself in directories as a musician and performed in amateur theatricals, clubs and restaurants performing "songs of yesteryear."
SO - ON WITH MY TITLE SONG OF TODAY;
A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW (written and published in 1914)
Everyone today is going crazy
Everyone today is going mad.
Each one is trying to do something decidedly new
Just to get the rest in bad.
Every day they change the style of dancing,
Every day they change the style of dress,
Oh, Boys, what is it come to
That's a problem we will have to guess.
I wonder what kind of a life they'll lead
A hundred years from now?
I wonder what's going to be the speed
A hundred years from now.
The girlies are setting a pace today
That's turning the locks of gold to grey.
We're living a life of constant alteration
I wonder if they'll have a tango dance
A hundred years from now.
I wonder if they'll wear short pants
A hundred years from now.
There's no solution
It's all evolution,
I sonder and wonder and wonder how much
The girls are going to wear
A hundred years from now.
Picture this town that once was just a pasture
Picture the girls who roamed it years ago-
They were the wonderful kind you know,
The kind I've in mind,
The sort of girl the world calls slow.
Think of a girl today out in a meadow
Raking the hay a la de da collette
No chance not in a thousand years
The girls today are all for Cabaret.
I wonder …………….A hundred years from now.
I wonder what he would think if he came back for just one day, to his Boston haunts.
I wonder "A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW" in 2114.
For your entertainment and enlightenment, with thanks to Wikipedia and the wonderful composers and lyricists of long ago, and with thanks to the person who took care to preserve this old music.
janice.major@iCloud.com
I came across a piece of sheet music in very good condition which was written 100 years ago, yes in 1914, called A HUNDRED YEARS FROM . I wish I had the capability of copying the cover page for you to see as it is a drawing of some of the "miracles" of that age: a zeppelin, some single engine prop planes, and a little bearded elfin character in the corner holding a spyglass peering skyward. You can, if you care to, put the title in your search engine and find pictures of it.
The song was written by Caddigan, Brennan and Story. Inside it says, " All rights for Mechanical Instruments reserved. International Copyright secured. Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada in the year MCMX1V by O. E. Story at the Dept. Of Agriculture. It was also copyrighted in Boston Mass by Mr. Story.
Back to the cover, in a circular inset there is a picture of a pixieish looking chap with a crown on his head, and it says "Featured by Tom Linden and Jungle Girls". I was unable to find any information about Mr. Linden or Jungle Girls, but he may have been the cover artist.
JACK CADDIGAN was one of seven children born to Irish parents who were both Irish and immigrated from Canada to Boston's heavily populated South End. Originally he was an apprentice plumber, and then joined Boston Edison Co., successfully rising to the esteemed position of Assistant Vice-President in charge of advertising. He married Mary Manning and they raised seven children.
His song writing career was mostly between 1914 and 1918 and quite naturally, were about the war.
"The Rose of No Man's Land", "We're All GOing Calling on the Kaiser" and "Salvation Lassie of Mine" to name a few. He wrote rhyming, rhythmic, songs. SOme were sentimental, some novelties. Some waltzes, some ballads. He collaborated with Chick Story and James A. Brennan who wrote much of his music, and some with Jimmy McHugh. In his later live he directed minstrel shows and revues for civic groups.
JAMES A. BRENNAN a Boston Mass native who attended Mass Normal Arts School and became a camouflage artist fort the U. S. Shipping Board during WWI. He was a songwriter for lyricists, notable Jack Caddigan. One of his more popular songs was "Little Red School House" which he wrote with Al Wilsonin 1922, originally sung by the American Quartet, and eventually sung by Brenda Lee (at age 10 with Red Foley) and Perry Como (at age 16).
OLIVER "Chick" STORY was also a Massachusetts native. His father owned a grocery store and apparently it was a prosperous business. He was an only child, never married and lived with his father Chelsea. After his father's death he moved back to East Boston where they had previously lived. He was a Harvard graduate and remained an active alumnus, became involved in politics, and became as Mason.
While at Harvard Story wrote several pieces of music, and collaborated with Peter (Happy) O'Neil for dozens of songs. They formed a publishing company together. O'Neil died at age 28 and Story opened his own company issuing more than 50 titles including many of his own. In1913 he began collaborating with Jack Caddigan . He was an accomplished piano player and vocalist, and formed a couple of different groups: The Chick Story Trio and Chick Story Serenaders. After closing his publishing firm he joined the offices of Feist Music. Even after his publishing days ended, he continued to list himself in directories as a musician and performed in amateur theatricals, clubs and restaurants performing "songs of yesteryear."
SO - ON WITH MY TITLE SONG OF TODAY;
A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW (written and published in 1914)
Everyone today is going crazy
Everyone today is going mad.
Each one is trying to do something decidedly new
Just to get the rest in bad.
Every day they change the style of dancing,
Every day they change the style of dress,
Oh, Boys, what is it come to
That's a problem we will have to guess.
I wonder what kind of a life they'll lead
A hundred years from now?
I wonder what's going to be the speed
A hundred years from now.
The girlies are setting a pace today
That's turning the locks of gold to grey.
We're living a life of constant alteration
I wonder if they'll have a tango dance
A hundred years from now.
I wonder if they'll wear short pants
A hundred years from now.
There's no solution
It's all evolution,
I sonder and wonder and wonder how much
The girls are going to wear
A hundred years from now.
Picture this town that once was just a pasture
Picture the girls who roamed it years ago-
They were the wonderful kind you know,
The kind I've in mind,
The sort of girl the world calls slow.
Think of a girl today out in a meadow
Raking the hay a la de da collette
No chance not in a thousand years
The girls today are all for Cabaret.
I wonder …………….A hundred years from now.
I wonder what he would think if he came back for just one day, to his Boston haunts.
I wonder "A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW" in 2114.
For your entertainment and enlightenment, with thanks to Wikipedia and the wonderful composers and lyricists of long ago, and with thanks to the person who took care to preserve this old music.
janice.major@iCloud.com
Saturday, June 7, 2014
DAISIES DON'T TELL
What an amazing amount of music has been written and printed. Going back through the years I find the not only are the words simpler and more innocent, but the music is less complicated, more predictable in structure. You can anticipate where the tune is going, and while I cannot play without written music, I am not surprised most of the time with the path and pattern. I wish I could play the left hand as written but I have to rely on "fake" music, or music with the chords indicated above the melody. That's fine. I didn't begin this journey until rather late and am happy with what i can do. Well, no, I'm not. I just said I wished I could play the music and written, and that's the truth. But I know I don't have time enough to accomplish that so I am satisfied, if not happy. As my son said recently, contentment or satisfaction is a nice state of being but "happy" is for special events. I took some liberty with his words, but that's the gist of them.
The song this week is a little on the naughty side, and doesn't make a lot of sense.
While the words claim Harry got sued for "breach of promise" there is no expansion on that subject. The song was written in 1912 and the music composer was the publisher. It took two men to write the lyrics, Alfred Bryan and Sam M. Lewis.
Mr. Bryan was born in 1871 and died in 1958. He worked as an arranger in New York, and wrote for several Broadway shows in the 1900s. In the '20s he moved to Hollywood to write lyrics for screen musicals. Among is hits which are more familiar than "Daisy" are: Peg o' My Heart, Come Josephine in My Flying Machine, I Didn't Raise My Boy To Be a Soldier (which sold 650,000 copies during the first three months and describes the American public's anti-war sentiments); We'll Be Together When the Clouds Roll By and Who Paid The Rent For Mrs. Rip Van Winkle?
Mr. Lewis, whose real name was Levine, was born in 1885 and died in 1959. His musical career began by singing in cafes in New York, and began writing songs in 1912. He collaborated with some of the well known songwriters of the time (many of those names appear on numerous sheet music copies over and over): Harry Warren, Walter Donaldson, Victor Young, Peter DeRose to name a few. He wrote for some Broadway productions and screen musicals. He was a charter member of ASCAP.
Some of his songs: Dinah, For All We Know, Gloomy Sunday (English version)
Has Anybody Seen My Gal, I'm Sitting On Top Of The World, Laugh, Clown, Laugh.
Some people buy sheet music to use the covers for wrapping paper. I am offended by that careless destruction of the really lovely artwork and interesting pictures of the celebrities. "Daisy" has (what else) a random bunch of yellow eyed daisies, really very attractive. In the corner there is an inset picture of Reine Davies, the vocalist who became known as "The New American Beauty" in the early 1900s. Her friends called her "The True Blue Girl". She was the oldest girl in the Douras family and when driving through Brooklyn one day saw the office sign of Valentine Davies, liked the name, adopted it. Her sisters followed by taking the name also. Marion Davies was one of her younger sisters.
Reine married twice: to George Lederer with whom she had a son, writer/director Charles Lederer; and a daughter,Josephine Rose. After her divorce in 1912 she married Goerge Regas, an actor. Reine died in 1938 in her swimming pool of a heart attack. Both children are also deceased.
She is featured on many sheet music covers, always in elaborate dress of the times, wonderful fancy hats setting of her truly beautiful face. Some of her songs were Meet Me Tonight IN Dreamland, The Reine Waltz, When I Kissed Your Tears Away, Leaf By Leaf the Roses Fall to name a few.
Many of the songs named above are still available to listen to on the internet.
"Always Take A Girl Named Daisy (Cause Daisies Won't Tell).
Handsome Harry, handsome Harry Thomas, He was sued yes, sued for breach of promise.
He took Mary walking through the dell,and said, "Now don't you dare to tell,
Mary went right home and told her mother,
Ma told P and Pa then told her brother.
Brother told the preacher and the preacher went and tolled the wedding bell ---
Never take a walk with Mary, Never take a walk with Sue
Never take a walk with Maud or Carrie,
That's the kind of girl you'll have to marry.
If you take a girl out walking,
Down a little shady dell
Always take a girl named Daisy
'Cause Daisies don't tell.
Harry's married life was pure and simple,
Till he met a girlie with a dimple.
She said "Dear, I'm not acquainted here, I just came down from Beaver Fall,
Harry went and said, why silk and satin
To this girl would be like Greek and Latin,
Harry felt like fainting when he missed his little dollar Ingersol -
Never take a walk with Mary --etc. etc.
You can hear a recording of this typical vaudeville song on the internet. It's from an old cylinder machine so it's a little gritty. But it was quite an invention all the same.
You might also come across a visual and recording of an opera production done in 1903. It's not great, but near the end there is a picture of the equipment and the man recording the production. Even if you don't think the sound is great, I think you will agree that 1) it was a marvelous feat of technology and 2) it's amazing it is still in tact and playable.
Wouldn't it be great to find a few people who would put together a musical program singing and playing these long forgotten songs! Now where can I find a tenor, a baritone, a contralto and bluesy alto who would love to work for a song? Just another cockeyed notion.
Next weekend is the annual community yard sale event in which the Maine Music For LIFE Players is participating. Some of the 700 pieces of music I have been housing is going to go out for sale. But I am keeping those with special meaning, and those with beautiful covers - whether I can play them or not.
jan major
janice.major@iCloud.com (please put MUSIC in the subject line.
Ack: Bing Search
wikipedia
The song this week is a little on the naughty side, and doesn't make a lot of sense.
While the words claim Harry got sued for "breach of promise" there is no expansion on that subject. The song was written in 1912 and the music composer was the publisher. It took two men to write the lyrics, Alfred Bryan and Sam M. Lewis.
Mr. Bryan was born in 1871 and died in 1958. He worked as an arranger in New York, and wrote for several Broadway shows in the 1900s. In the '20s he moved to Hollywood to write lyrics for screen musicals. Among is hits which are more familiar than "Daisy" are: Peg o' My Heart, Come Josephine in My Flying Machine, I Didn't Raise My Boy To Be a Soldier (which sold 650,000 copies during the first three months and describes the American public's anti-war sentiments); We'll Be Together When the Clouds Roll By and Who Paid The Rent For Mrs. Rip Van Winkle?
Mr. Lewis, whose real name was Levine, was born in 1885 and died in 1959. His musical career began by singing in cafes in New York, and began writing songs in 1912. He collaborated with some of the well known songwriters of the time (many of those names appear on numerous sheet music copies over and over): Harry Warren, Walter Donaldson, Victor Young, Peter DeRose to name a few. He wrote for some Broadway productions and screen musicals. He was a charter member of ASCAP.
Some of his songs: Dinah, For All We Know, Gloomy Sunday (English version)
Has Anybody Seen My Gal, I'm Sitting On Top Of The World, Laugh, Clown, Laugh.
Some people buy sheet music to use the covers for wrapping paper. I am offended by that careless destruction of the really lovely artwork and interesting pictures of the celebrities. "Daisy" has (what else) a random bunch of yellow eyed daisies, really very attractive. In the corner there is an inset picture of Reine Davies, the vocalist who became known as "The New American Beauty" in the early 1900s. Her friends called her "The True Blue Girl". She was the oldest girl in the Douras family and when driving through Brooklyn one day saw the office sign of Valentine Davies, liked the name, adopted it. Her sisters followed by taking the name also. Marion Davies was one of her younger sisters.
Reine married twice: to George Lederer with whom she had a son, writer/director Charles Lederer; and a daughter,Josephine Rose. After her divorce in 1912 she married Goerge Regas, an actor. Reine died in 1938 in her swimming pool of a heart attack. Both children are also deceased.
She is featured on many sheet music covers, always in elaborate dress of the times, wonderful fancy hats setting of her truly beautiful face. Some of her songs were Meet Me Tonight IN Dreamland, The Reine Waltz, When I Kissed Your Tears Away, Leaf By Leaf the Roses Fall to name a few.
Many of the songs named above are still available to listen to on the internet.
"Always Take A Girl Named Daisy (Cause Daisies Won't Tell).
Handsome Harry, handsome Harry Thomas, He was sued yes, sued for breach of promise.
He took Mary walking through the dell,and said, "Now don't you dare to tell,
Mary went right home and told her mother,
Ma told P and Pa then told her brother.
Brother told the preacher and the preacher went and tolled the wedding bell ---
Never take a walk with Mary, Never take a walk with Sue
Never take a walk with Maud or Carrie,
That's the kind of girl you'll have to marry.
If you take a girl out walking,
Down a little shady dell
Always take a girl named Daisy
'Cause Daisies don't tell.
Harry's married life was pure and simple,
Till he met a girlie with a dimple.
She said "Dear, I'm not acquainted here, I just came down from Beaver Fall,
Harry went and said, why silk and satin
To this girl would be like Greek and Latin,
Harry felt like fainting when he missed his little dollar Ingersol -
Never take a walk with Mary --etc. etc.
You can hear a recording of this typical vaudeville song on the internet. It's from an old cylinder machine so it's a little gritty. But it was quite an invention all the same.
You might also come across a visual and recording of an opera production done in 1903. It's not great, but near the end there is a picture of the equipment and the man recording the production. Even if you don't think the sound is great, I think you will agree that 1) it was a marvelous feat of technology and 2) it's amazing it is still in tact and playable.
Wouldn't it be great to find a few people who would put together a musical program singing and playing these long forgotten songs! Now where can I find a tenor, a baritone, a contralto and bluesy alto who would love to work for a song? Just another cockeyed notion.
Next weekend is the annual community yard sale event in which the Maine Music For LIFE Players is participating. Some of the 700 pieces of music I have been housing is going to go out for sale. But I am keeping those with special meaning, and those with beautiful covers - whether I can play them or not.
jan major
janice.major@iCloud.com (please put MUSIC in the subject line.
Ack: Bing Search
wikipedia
Sunday, June 1, 2014
One of the nice things about sheet music is it usually has a verse, sometimes two, as well as he melody/refrain we are all familiar with. Today I was looking at a song called THE GIRL IN THE LITTLE GREEN HAT. The credits are given to Jack Scholl, Bradford Browne, and Max Rich and Bibo-Lang, Inc. published it. I found very little information about any of these writer/composers.
JACK SCHOLL was born in 1903 and died in 1988. He collaborated with Eubie Blake, a wonder pianist. Another of Scholl's songs might be familiar to you, "Throw Another Log On The Fire."
MAX RICH was born in 1897 and died in 1970
BRADFORD BROWNE - his bio was nonexistent.
Apparently the song, The Girl In The Little Green Hat was part of the production of "Mrs. Henderson Presents" which featured Judi Dench .
THE GIRL IN THE LITLE GREEN HAT
Listen to the breezes in the tresses,
Harken to the grass upon the lawn,
Listen to the mices in the pantry,
Harken to the breaking of the dawn.
Ooh! Ooh! Heavens above! Aah! Aah! I'm in love.
Harken to the breaking of the dawn.
There's a lake in the park,
There's a house by the lake,
There's a girl in the house in the park by the lake;
And the girl in the house by the lake in the park,
Is THE GIRL IN THE LITTLE GREEN HAT.
And tonight after eight, that's when I've got a date
When the moon's riding high and the stars light the sky,
With the girl in the house by the lake in the park,
THE GIRL IN THE LITTLE GREEN HAT.
There's no water in the lake, there's no roof upon the house,
No tresses in the park at all
But she'll wait beside the lake,
I'll be welcome at her house
I'll meet her by the garden wall.
There's a ship on the lake
There's a sailor on the shore
There's a girl in his arms,she's the girl I adore,
So goodbye to the house by the lake in the park
And THE GIRL IN THE LITLE GREEN HAT.
There's a storm on the lake,
There's a ship in the storm
There's a girl on the ship in the storm on the lake
And the girl on the lake on the ship in the storm is
THE GIRL IN THE LITTLE GREEN HAT
As the ship starts to dip, she is losing her grip,
Ev'ry dip makes her tip, not the girl but the ship,
But the girl on the ship has the pip from the trip
THE GIRL IN THE LITTLE GREEN HAT.
She's been sailing quite enough, she's been clinging to the rail,
She's dying to be home once more,
'Cause the lake is rather rough, And the girls is rather pale,
She's glad to ger her feet on shore.
Ah, she gave up the ship
And the captain and his men
For a round ticket trip to my arms once again.
Now I'm back in the park at the house by the lake,
with THE GIRL WITH THE LITTLE GREEN HAT.
A lot of the music in the thirties was "fox trot-y" . (A lot more was 3/4 time)
I hope you'll go to your search engine and listen to this bouncy tune. The words are kind of silly, but we had been through WWI and the depression, were not yet envisioning WWII.
Scholl and Schenck (pronounced Shank" were engaged to perform for Florenz Ziegfeld and Charles B. Dillingham when their original entertainment, a "trained but temperamental" chimpanzee failed to show up. Following that they were featured in Zeigfeld shows. They were well know and successful recording artists with such songs as "Hawaiian Sunshine", "Yaddie Kaddie Kiddie Koo", For Me And My Gal" and "Dance And Grow Thin". The wrote and performed a lot of their own music including "Mulberry Rose", "The Red Headed Gal", Promise Me Everything, Never Get Anything".
After Schenck died Sholl worked solo in vaudeville and radio; was on Broadway in a musical comedy with W. C. Fields. He did some movie work, and eventually starred in "Gus Van's Garden Party" which was a ten minute comedy He was president of the American Guild of Variety Artists.
Gus Van died injuries after being struck by a car.
JACK SCHOLL was born in 1903 and died in 1988. He collaborated with Eubie Blake, a wonder pianist. Another of Scholl's songs might be familiar to you, "Throw Another Log On The Fire."
MAX RICH was born in 1897 and died in 1970
BRADFORD BROWNE - his bio was nonexistent.
Apparently the song, The Girl In The Little Green Hat was part of the production of "Mrs. Henderson Presents" which featured Judi Dench .
THE GIRL IN THE LITLE GREEN HAT
Listen to the breezes in the tresses,
Harken to the grass upon the lawn,
Listen to the mices in the pantry,
Harken to the breaking of the dawn.
Ooh! Ooh! Heavens above! Aah! Aah! I'm in love.
Harken to the breaking of the dawn.
There's a lake in the park,
There's a house by the lake,
There's a girl in the house in the park by the lake;
And the girl in the house by the lake in the park,
Is THE GIRL IN THE LITTLE GREEN HAT.
And tonight after eight, that's when I've got a date
When the moon's riding high and the stars light the sky,
With the girl in the house by the lake in the park,
THE GIRL IN THE LITTLE GREEN HAT.
There's no water in the lake, there's no roof upon the house,
No tresses in the park at all
But she'll wait beside the lake,
I'll be welcome at her house
I'll meet her by the garden wall.
There's a ship on the lake
There's a sailor on the shore
There's a girl in his arms,she's the girl I adore,
So goodbye to the house by the lake in the park
And THE GIRL IN THE LITLE GREEN HAT.
There's a storm on the lake,
There's a ship in the storm
There's a girl on the ship in the storm on the lake
And the girl on the lake on the ship in the storm is
THE GIRL IN THE LITTLE GREEN HAT
As the ship starts to dip, she is losing her grip,
Ev'ry dip makes her tip, not the girl but the ship,
But the girl on the ship has the pip from the trip
THE GIRL IN THE LITTLE GREEN HAT.
She's been sailing quite enough, she's been clinging to the rail,
She's dying to be home once more,
'Cause the lake is rather rough, And the girls is rather pale,
She's glad to ger her feet on shore.
Ah, she gave up the ship
And the captain and his men
For a round ticket trip to my arms once again.
Now I'm back in the park at the house by the lake,
with THE GIRL WITH THE LITTLE GREEN HAT.
A lot of the music in the thirties was "fox trot-y" . (A lot more was 3/4 time)
I hope you'll go to your search engine and listen to this bouncy tune. The words are kind of silly, but we had been through WWI and the depression, were not yet envisioning WWII.
Scholl and Schenck (pronounced Shank" were engaged to perform for Florenz Ziegfeld and Charles B. Dillingham when their original entertainment, a "trained but temperamental" chimpanzee failed to show up. Following that they were featured in Zeigfeld shows. They were well know and successful recording artists with such songs as "Hawaiian Sunshine", "Yaddie Kaddie Kiddie Koo", For Me And My Gal" and "Dance And Grow Thin". The wrote and performed a lot of their own music including "Mulberry Rose", "The Red Headed Gal", Promise Me Everything, Never Get Anything".
After Schenck died Sholl worked solo in vaudeville and radio; was on Broadway in a musical comedy with W. C. Fields. He did some movie work, and eventually starred in "Gus Van's Garden Party" which was a ten minute comedy He was president of the American Guild of Variety Artists.
Gus Van died injuries after being struck by a car.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED
What wonderful music they used to write, those old lyricists and melody makers.
People who knit have skeins of yarn in boxes, bags, closets and even whole rooms full. People who collect stamps carefully wear gloves and keep them in little plastic covers lest any dust or human contaminants find them. People who collect coins do the same, with tweezers, in fact. There are collectors who collect all different things; and there are collectors who collect all things. Those poor people find them selves buried in oddments that eventually become trash. I am not quite that afflicted, but I admit to being a collector. I have collected butter knives; small china animals, coins and currency. My focus is on music now, of course, and I have just been blessed (or cursed) with a whole new stash. And this is how it came about: A man went to a flea market and saw a big lot of music which he bought for his wife, a piano teacher. She went through it and took out what she could use. put an ad in a wonderful little booklet published every month with stuff people want to get rid of. I happened on that booklet, and I then drove to Woolwich, Maine, about an hour away, and took it off their hands. It had been stored in a shed all winter and some of it was damp and moldy and beyond rescue. Most was at least slightly tainted with the mold, but I am working to abate that. So for the next few weeks and maybe months I will be doing some "blogs" about some of music of another age, vocalists, composers, instrumentalists and lyricists. I'm having such fun I just have to share.
TITLE: FARE-THEE - WELL TO HARLEM, music by Bernie Hanighen, lyrics by Johnny Mercer, "featured" by Leon Belasco.
BERNIE HANIGHEN was born in 1908 and died in 1976. His first hit was "When A Man Loves A Woman" which he wrote with Gordon Jenkins, the lyrics are by Johnny Mercer. He continued to write, sometimes with Mercer, sometimes with "Cootie" Williams or Thelonious Monk. His music written with Monk was reasonably successful. Hanighen wrote for Broadway shows. Being a supporter of Billie Holiday, he put together some material for her (most of the best material was being given to the white vocalists at that time) and eventually wrote a song with Paul Coates titled "If the Moon Turns Green" in 1952 which was a success.
JOHNNY MERCER was truly a wordsmith in the music world. His name appears on the covers of more songs than I would have ever imagined. I am of the opinion that to get him to write lyrics for your composition would have been a "big deal." Mercer was born in 1909, in Georgia and died in Los Angeles in 1976, of a brain cancer. He started out as a singer for Paul Whiteman and began writing songs for movies around 1935. He had a few parts in musicals but his fame is really his ability to write the words to fit the music. His biography is lengthy and interesting but I will only use the bare facts for economy of space. He co-founded Capitol Records, sold it, paid off his father's debts from a Florida real estate bust, and founded Cowboy Records in 1942. Some of his familiar tunes are Skylark, One For My Baby, "Days of Wine and Roses" and "Charade". You will note
Fare-Thee-Well to Harlem is not among his "best known" songs. (Which is precisely why I chose it. Anyone can talk about the best known music of the ages, I want to talk about the ones of which we might never have heard.)
LEON BELASCO was born in Odessa, Ukraine in 1902 and died in 1988. His birth name was Leonid Simeonovich Berladsky. He attended St. Joseph College inYokohama, Japan; trained as a musician in Japan and Manchuria and for several years was first violinist with the Tokyo Symphony. His family moved to Hollywood and he found work occasionally in films including the silent film "The Best People". He continued to play violin, and formed a band which performed in hotels around New York City. The Andrews Sisters were introduced through his band. Returning to Hollywood on an engagement break, he got a part in "Broadway Serenade" and "Topper Takes a Trip" and subsequently appeared in 13 other films including the Marx Brothers last film together, "Love Happy" in 1949. His Russian language got him a job as dialect director in the 1966 comedy "The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming." He got comic roles as a befuddled character, was in a cold war espionage film, and a thief in Man Called X. (I loved that program with Herbert Marshall). In "My Sister Eileen" he was Appopopious the landlord. He appeared in Man from U.N.C.LE., Beverly Hillbillies, Trapper John, My Three Sons, I Love Love Lucy and many other sitcoms. If you watched any of them and you can recall the foreign-appearing dark man playing a small role, you maybe saying, "Oh, I remember him! He was so funny."
He died in Orange, CA and according to his wishes was cremated and his ashes were scattered.
FARE-THEE-WELL TO HARLEM
Mister Jackson you sho'look cute, - You must have on your trav'lin' suit.
It looks as if you're really gonna go somewhere.
Mister Budly, yo' spoke a book. Yo' just got time for one more look,
'Cause Mister Jackson is leaving you for fair - for fair - for --
Fare-thee-well to Harlem! Fare-thee-well to night life!
Goin' back where I can lead the right life.
Fare-thee-well to Harlem.
Things is tight in Harlem.
I know how to fix it,
Step aside, I'm gonna Mason Dix it.
Fare-thee-well to Harlem!
Lately here my soul is reaching' for the Bible's kinldy teaching.
Wants To hear the Rev'ren' preachin'
"Love each other!" Wants to hear the organ playin'
Wants to hear the folks a-prayin' "
There's a voice within me saying'
"Ease off, brother!"
So, Fare-thee-well to Harlem
All this sin is "fright-eous!"
Goin' back where every body's right-eous.
Fare-thee well to Harlem!
It has been said that music, specifically lyrics, reflect the times. I leave it to you to draw your conclusions about Harlem, circa 1934.
Submitted for your enjoyment
Jan Major
jmajor2@maine.rr.com
Comments appreciated.
People who knit have skeins of yarn in boxes, bags, closets and even whole rooms full. People who collect stamps carefully wear gloves and keep them in little plastic covers lest any dust or human contaminants find them. People who collect coins do the same, with tweezers, in fact. There are collectors who collect all different things; and there are collectors who collect all things. Those poor people find them selves buried in oddments that eventually become trash. I am not quite that afflicted, but I admit to being a collector. I have collected butter knives; small china animals, coins and currency. My focus is on music now, of course, and I have just been blessed (or cursed) with a whole new stash. And this is how it came about: A man went to a flea market and saw a big lot of music which he bought for his wife, a piano teacher. She went through it and took out what she could use. put an ad in a wonderful little booklet published every month with stuff people want to get rid of. I happened on that booklet, and I then drove to Woolwich, Maine, about an hour away, and took it off their hands. It had been stored in a shed all winter and some of it was damp and moldy and beyond rescue. Most was at least slightly tainted with the mold, but I am working to abate that. So for the next few weeks and maybe months I will be doing some "blogs" about some of music of another age, vocalists, composers, instrumentalists and lyricists. I'm having such fun I just have to share.
TITLE: FARE-THEE - WELL TO HARLEM, music by Bernie Hanighen, lyrics by Johnny Mercer, "featured" by Leon Belasco.
BERNIE HANIGHEN was born in 1908 and died in 1976. His first hit was "When A Man Loves A Woman" which he wrote with Gordon Jenkins, the lyrics are by Johnny Mercer. He continued to write, sometimes with Mercer, sometimes with "Cootie" Williams or Thelonious Monk. His music written with Monk was reasonably successful. Hanighen wrote for Broadway shows. Being a supporter of Billie Holiday, he put together some material for her (most of the best material was being given to the white vocalists at that time) and eventually wrote a song with Paul Coates titled "If the Moon Turns Green" in 1952 which was a success.
JOHNNY MERCER was truly a wordsmith in the music world. His name appears on the covers of more songs than I would have ever imagined. I am of the opinion that to get him to write lyrics for your composition would have been a "big deal." Mercer was born in 1909, in Georgia and died in Los Angeles in 1976, of a brain cancer. He started out as a singer for Paul Whiteman and began writing songs for movies around 1935. He had a few parts in musicals but his fame is really his ability to write the words to fit the music. His biography is lengthy and interesting but I will only use the bare facts for economy of space. He co-founded Capitol Records, sold it, paid off his father's debts from a Florida real estate bust, and founded Cowboy Records in 1942. Some of his familiar tunes are Skylark, One For My Baby, "Days of Wine and Roses" and "Charade". You will note
Fare-Thee-Well to Harlem is not among his "best known" songs. (Which is precisely why I chose it. Anyone can talk about the best known music of the ages, I want to talk about the ones of which we might never have heard.)
LEON BELASCO was born in Odessa, Ukraine in 1902 and died in 1988. His birth name was Leonid Simeonovich Berladsky. He attended St. Joseph College inYokohama, Japan; trained as a musician in Japan and Manchuria and for several years was first violinist with the Tokyo Symphony. His family moved to Hollywood and he found work occasionally in films including the silent film "The Best People". He continued to play violin, and formed a band which performed in hotels around New York City. The Andrews Sisters were introduced through his band. Returning to Hollywood on an engagement break, he got a part in "Broadway Serenade" and "Topper Takes a Trip" and subsequently appeared in 13 other films including the Marx Brothers last film together, "Love Happy" in 1949. His Russian language got him a job as dialect director in the 1966 comedy "The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming." He got comic roles as a befuddled character, was in a cold war espionage film, and a thief in Man Called X. (I loved that program with Herbert Marshall). In "My Sister Eileen" he was Appopopious the landlord. He appeared in Man from U.N.C.LE., Beverly Hillbillies, Trapper John, My Three Sons, I Love Love Lucy and many other sitcoms. If you watched any of them and you can recall the foreign-appearing dark man playing a small role, you maybe saying, "Oh, I remember him! He was so funny."
He died in Orange, CA and according to his wishes was cremated and his ashes were scattered.
FARE-THEE-WELL TO HARLEM
Mister Jackson you sho'look cute, - You must have on your trav'lin' suit.
It looks as if you're really gonna go somewhere.
Mister Budly, yo' spoke a book. Yo' just got time for one more look,
'Cause Mister Jackson is leaving you for fair - for fair - for --
Fare-thee-well to Harlem! Fare-thee-well to night life!
Goin' back where I can lead the right life.
Fare-thee-well to Harlem.
Things is tight in Harlem.
I know how to fix it,
Step aside, I'm gonna Mason Dix it.
Fare-thee-well to Harlem!
Lately here my soul is reaching' for the Bible's kinldy teaching.
Wants To hear the Rev'ren' preachin'
"Love each other!" Wants to hear the organ playin'
Wants to hear the folks a-prayin' "
There's a voice within me saying'
"Ease off, brother!"
So, Fare-thee-well to Harlem
All this sin is "fright-eous!"
Goin' back where every body's right-eous.
Fare-thee well to Harlem!
It has been said that music, specifically lyrics, reflect the times. I leave it to you to draw your conclusions about Harlem, circa 1934.
Submitted for your enjoyment
Jan Major
jmajor2@maine.rr.com
Comments appreciated.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Let it SNOW
I was working it another direction for a blog and allowed myself to make it so complicated I have sidelined it for another time. Since it is winter, and SNOW is the topic of the times - yes, Portland, Maine got a record 39.1" (but they knew exactly what needed to be done, and did it!), I am looking at CLARENCE EUGENE SNOW, aka: Hank, born in Brooklynn, NS, Canada in May of 1914.
Hank was the 5th of 6 children in the family. The first two babies died while still in infancy. These were hard times for the Snow family. Father George was a lumber mill worker, frequently absent from the home. Mother, Marie Alice took in laundry and did cleaning for wealthier families.
She was an accomplished piano player and singer who performed in local theaters during silent films and at minstrel shows. The Snow family was separated when the parents divorced. The Overseer of the Poor in his or her wisdom deemed the children should be taken from Marie. One of the girls moved in with an aunt, the two other girls were sent to separate foster homes, and Clarence went to live with his father's mother, where he was admonished to "never speak his mother's name again."
Grandma was an abusive woman both physically and psychologically, and attempted to have him sent to reform school. Maria was living in Liverpool (Canada not England) so Clarence began to sneak visits with her and eventually moved in with her.
Now, Marie remarried a local fisherman. He was jealous of Clarence and thus began the beatings and abuse again. Clarence was now known as Jack, a frail, 80- pound 12-year old whose bully step-father once raged at him, "Why in hell don't you get out and find a job somewhere?"
Jack's mother ordered a Hawaiian steel guitar which she saw in a magazine, which came with 12 free lessons and some 78rpm gramophone records. This was HER prized possession, and Jack was not allowed to touch it. But when the time came that she finally allowed him to use it, she was awed by the way he took to it, and mastered it. She even allowed him to play for her to sing along. Once word got around about his music, he was busy nearly every night playing somewhere.
Going on 13, Jack ran away from home and joined a fishing schooner crew as a flunky. No wages, just living aboard and serving. He was allowed to cut cod tongues, and fish from the deck. Those fish and tongues he could sell on shore for himself. He earned $58 with which he purchased a guitar and a chord book and began to practice. He had heard Veron Dalhart and Carson Robinson on the radio while on shipboard and recalled later, "These songs gave me a great lift." He admitted trying to sound just like them.
In August of 1930 the schooner he was sailing on encountered a "ferocious" storm and got blown off course toward the Sable Island - "Graveyard of the Atlantic". Snow wrote "....the Good Lord reached out His Hand and changed the wind. Saved by the Grace of God!" Snow later learned six other ships had been lost that day and 132 men had drowned. Thus ended his seafaring career.
Snow went back to live with his mother and stepfather, contributing to the family expenses by peddling fish and taking work as available driving a horse and buggy to and from the train station, unloading ships of coal and ice, raking scallops, hauling loads of dried cod into a warehouse for processing and shipping. And reuniting with his father, he cut pulpwood and firewood on his farm in the town of Pleasantville NS.
Snow saw a catalog guitar for $12.95 which he longed to buy, but figured he could only get about $5 for his old one, which left him $7.95 short of the price. Along came a storeowner with a brand new car. He offered Snow $2 per wheel to paint yellow pinstripes on the wooden spokes of the wheels. (Pretty fancy!) Now Snow ordered the new guitar and with Jimmie Rodgers chord progressions for his goal, he began playing and singing in an old fish house where fishermen stored their gear.
From there to a charity minstrel show in Bridgewater where he appeared with his face blackened with polish, eyes and mouth ringed with white, he played and sang "I Went To See My Gal Last
Night" which was such a hit he got a standing ovation.
In 1935 he married Minnie Blanch Aalders and together they had one son, Jimmy Rodgers Snow*. In 1936 after appearing on Halifax radio station CHNS, he signed with RCA Victor in Montreal, and was with them for 45 years. While doing a weekly CBC program, he became known as Hank, the Yodeling Ranger. He toured Canada until the late '40s when American radio stations began to play his recordings on country music shows. In 1945 Nashville called and the Snows moved. Hank began performing as "Hank Snow, the Singing Ranger and was invited to perform at Grand Ole Opry in 1950. Seven songs hit the country charts, the first in 1950 was "I'm Moving On", followed by "The Golden Rocket" and The Rhumba Boogie". Then came "I've Been Everywhere" which became a signature song. (that song was originally written by Austaian Geoff Mack, rewritten with American place names.)
In 1954 Hank Snow persuaded Grand Ole Opry officials to allow young Elvis Presley be his opening act, and introduced Presley to Tom Parker. Snow and Parker formed a management team called Hank Snow Attractions and Presley was signed on. Later, many years after the partnership broke up, Hank Snow said, "I have worked with several managers over the years and have had respect for them all except one. Tom Parker was the most egotistical, obnoxious human being
I've ever had dealings with." Snow refused to accord Parker the title Colonel.
Hank Snow performed in glitzy suits studded with sequins, in all sorts of places, and became a naturalized American Citizen in 1958, but he never forgot his Canadian beginning. In 1968 he recorded an album, "My Nova Scotia Home". And that same year he performed for George Wallace's political campaign.
An unschooled but talented song writer, Hank Snow was elected to Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was voted Canada's top music performer ten times. In 1979 he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, The Nova Scotia Music Hall of Fame, and also the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985.
He published his autobiography in 1994 and later opened The Hank Snow Country Music Centre next to his ancestral home in Liverpool NS. A victim of child abuse, he established the Hank Snow International Foundation for Prevention of Child Abuse.
In one of my several searches for information I found a small picture of the schooner Bluenose, which says Snow painted it on cardboard and won 1st prize at the Lunenberg Fisheries Exhibition. I couldn't find any other reference to his artistic ability.
Hank Snow died of heart failure in December 1999 at his Rainbow ranch in Madison TN, and is buried at Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville, TN. Minnie died in May of 2003 in Madison, and is also buried at Spring Hill.
Hank Snow's song "Hello Love" was sung by Garrison Keillor to open each broadcast of his Prairie Home Companion radio show. It was Snow's seventh and final #1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles in 1974. At nearly 60 years of age, Snow was the oldest artist at that time, to have a top song on the chart. That record was broken by Kenny Rogers after 26 years with "Buy Me A
Rose".
Hank Snow is an example of making a good life from a difficult beginning. It must have seemed to him at times in his early years that nothing would ever be right. He claims his mother was his constant support and encouraged him in his music, but a mother who allows a step-father to abuse her son doesn't seem very supportive to me. Among his other attributes he was obviously a forgiving and charitable man.
*Jimmie Snow, who preached in a Nashville church to the country stars, resigned as pastor of the church and went on the road to preach in 2000. He has done an album of gospel music with Grand Ole Opry members.
Janice.major@iCloud.com
Comments and corrections welcomed.
Ref: Wikipedia
The Encyclopedia of Country Music (Charles)
In 1954 Hank Snow persuaded Grand Ole Opry officials to allow young Elvis Presley be his opening act, and introduced Presley to Tom Parker. Snow and Parker formed a management team called Hank Snow Attractions and Presley was signed on. Later, many years after the partnership broke up, Hank Snow said, "I have worked with several managers over the years and have had respect for them all except one. Tom Parker was the most egotistical, obnoxious human being
I've ever had dealings with." Snow refused to accord Parker the title Colonel.
Hank Snow performed in glitzy suits studded with sequins, in all sorts of places, and became a naturalized American Citizen in 1958, but he never forgot his Canadian beginning. In 1968 he recorded an album, "My Nova Scotia Home". And that same year he performed for George Wallace's political campaign.
An unschooled but talented song writer, Hank Snow was elected to Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was voted Canada's top music performer ten times. In 1979 he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, The Nova Scotia Music Hall of Fame, and also the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985.
He published his autobiography in 1994 and later opened The Hank Snow Country Music Centre next to his ancestral home in Liverpool NS. A victim of child abuse, he established the Hank Snow International Foundation for Prevention of Child Abuse.
In one of my several searches for information I found a small picture of the schooner Bluenose, which says Snow painted it on cardboard and won 1st prize at the Lunenberg Fisheries Exhibition. I couldn't find any other reference to his artistic ability.
Hank Snow died of heart failure in December 1999 at his Rainbow ranch in Madison TN, and is buried at Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville, TN. Minnie died in May of 2003 in Madison, and is also buried at Spring Hill.
Hank Snow's song "Hello Love" was sung by Garrison Keillor to open each broadcast of his Prairie Home Companion radio show. It was Snow's seventh and final #1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles in 1974. At nearly 60 years of age, Snow was the oldest artist at that time, to have a top song on the chart. That record was broken by Kenny Rogers after 26 years with "Buy Me A
Rose".
Hank Snow is an example of making a good life from a difficult beginning. It must have seemed to him at times in his early years that nothing would ever be right. He claims his mother was his constant support and encouraged him in his music, but a mother who allows a step-father to abuse her son doesn't seem very supportive to me. Among his other attributes he was obviously a forgiving and charitable man.
*Jimmie Snow, who preached in a Nashville church to the country stars, resigned as pastor of the church and went on the road to preach in 2000. He has done an album of gospel music with Grand Ole Opry members.
Janice.major@iCloud.com
Comments and corrections welcomed.
Ref: Wikipedia
The Encyclopedia of Country Music (Charles)
Friday, January 18, 2013
GUY HOVIS," Ralna's Ex"
It's a little hard for me to not take sides in a divorce. Try as I will not to, I often find myself assigning guilt. In the case of Ralna English an GUY HOVIS, they really did a great job keeping their personal life out of the public domain. They each chose not to speak ill of the other, to their credit, whether for the sake of their only daughter, or for their public personnae, or their job as the ideal couple on Lawrence Welk's Show I couldn't decide. It doesn't really matter and it's none of my business.
Guy was born in Tupelo Mississippi in September of 1941. His father was one of the original Mississippi State Highway Patrol members and his mother was a secretary, mom, and according to Guy, "the best cook in the world." That's a nice tribute to be sure. He began, like so many successful musicians, singing in church at age five. And from then on he was asked to sing at weddings, parties, clubs and school productions. After high school he enrolled at Mississippi State University, choosing accounting for his career path. He also became a member of the R.O.T.C., making a commitment to serve a "hitch" eventually. But, with a degree in hand he went to work for a prestigious accounting firm until duty called.
With a rank of Lieutenant he served as an instructor in the Artillery Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The Viet Nam war was heating up and Hovis was sent to paratrooper school at Fort Benning Georgia. At some point he entered a talent show and won, and as a result became a performer and officer in charge of a six-week tour of U.S. Army bases, an assignment he really enjoyed.
But, on mustering out, he re-entered college to study for his CPA exam. After one semester he left to reconsider his choice of career and headed for Hollywood. A friend told him to try to get into the nightclub "The Horn" where young aspiring musicians were known to get started. Guy got a real break when he was asked to appear on Art Linkletter's House Party. Although the time line is a little unclear to me, it was during this period that Guy and Ralna English met and married, and also that Guy and David Blaylock formed a duo called - not much imagination here - Guy and David.
Ralna became a regular on the Lawrence Welk Show and when Guy and David parted ways, she was instrumental in getting Guy into the Welk stable of vocalists. As a husband and wife team, I believe they became the darlings of the Welk fans. We all love a good romance.
WE ARE NOW UP TO THE '70s. In 1977 Julia Hovis was born to everyone's delight. In 1982 the
Welk Show was cancelled, but the cast continued to do live performances until 1988. I read the Hovis couple was in trouble, but Lawrence was against couple breaking up, so they continued together until 1984 when they officially divorced.
In 1989 Guy returned to Mississippi to work for his long time friend, Trent Lott as State Office Director. He remained in that post until 2007. In 2005 Guy sang "Let the Eagle Soar", for George W. Bush's second inaugural. The song was written by John Ashcroft, U. S,. Attorney General,
Guy married Sarah Lundy and they have three children and three grandchildren. They reside in Mississippi. He still performs at the Welk Resort in Branson, and he and Ralna still do live performances (recently at the University of New Hampshire).
Guy Hovis starred in "Mississippi Rising" a fund raising effort after hurricane Katrina. He has earned many awards for his charitable works for the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes and Childhelp, USA. His work with the veterans and their families in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have been widely acknowledged.
Ever the romantic I am among those who believe in forever after. But divorce happens. Much of America will always think of Guy when they hear Ralna; and Ralna when Guy's name comes up.
This blogger wishes all long and musical lives.
janice.major@iCloud.com
ref: Wikipedia
Offiicial Hovis website
Mississippi Musicians
Guy was born in Tupelo Mississippi in September of 1941. His father was one of the original Mississippi State Highway Patrol members and his mother was a secretary, mom, and according to Guy, "the best cook in the world." That's a nice tribute to be sure. He began, like so many successful musicians, singing in church at age five. And from then on he was asked to sing at weddings, parties, clubs and school productions. After high school he enrolled at Mississippi State University, choosing accounting for his career path. He also became a member of the R.O.T.C., making a commitment to serve a "hitch" eventually. But, with a degree in hand he went to work for a prestigious accounting firm until duty called.
With a rank of Lieutenant he served as an instructor in the Artillery Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The Viet Nam war was heating up and Hovis was sent to paratrooper school at Fort Benning Georgia. At some point he entered a talent show and won, and as a result became a performer and officer in charge of a six-week tour of U.S. Army bases, an assignment he really enjoyed.
But, on mustering out, he re-entered college to study for his CPA exam. After one semester he left to reconsider his choice of career and headed for Hollywood. A friend told him to try to get into the nightclub "The Horn" where young aspiring musicians were known to get started. Guy got a real break when he was asked to appear on Art Linkletter's House Party. Although the time line is a little unclear to me, it was during this period that Guy and Ralna English met and married, and also that Guy and David Blaylock formed a duo called - not much imagination here - Guy and David.
Ralna became a regular on the Lawrence Welk Show and when Guy and David parted ways, she was instrumental in getting Guy into the Welk stable of vocalists. As a husband and wife team, I believe they became the darlings of the Welk fans. We all love a good romance.
WE ARE NOW UP TO THE '70s. In 1977 Julia Hovis was born to everyone's delight. In 1982 the
Welk Show was cancelled, but the cast continued to do live performances until 1988. I read the Hovis couple was in trouble, but Lawrence was against couple breaking up, so they continued together until 1984 when they officially divorced.
In 1989 Guy returned to Mississippi to work for his long time friend, Trent Lott as State Office Director. He remained in that post until 2007. In 2005 Guy sang "Let the Eagle Soar", for George W. Bush's second inaugural. The song was written by John Ashcroft, U. S,. Attorney General,
Guy married Sarah Lundy and they have three children and three grandchildren. They reside in Mississippi. He still performs at the Welk Resort in Branson, and he and Ralna still do live performances (recently at the University of New Hampshire).
Guy Hovis starred in "Mississippi Rising" a fund raising effort after hurricane Katrina. He has earned many awards for his charitable works for the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes and Childhelp, USA. His work with the veterans and their families in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have been widely acknowledged.
Ever the romantic I am among those who believe in forever after. But divorce happens. Much of America will always think of Guy when they hear Ralna; and Ralna when Guy's name comes up.
This blogger wishes all long and musical lives.
janice.major@iCloud.com
ref: Wikipedia
Offiicial Hovis website
Mississippi Musicians
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