CLOSE HARMONY LIVED OUT

Thus I learned to play, by ear, gospel piano, and it became my life to play and sing with the "big boys and girls" even at the grand old age of seven/eight years old. One of my favorite uncles had a wonderful tenor voice and over the years he taught and nudged me along to learn. I distinctly recall, as though it were yesterday, his holding me on his lap on the back porch of the "big house" and teaching me a newly published song "Where the Roses Never Fade." This was to be the last song I would learn from him. The time was during World War II and he left soon after that to go off to war and was killed shortly after. Gospel music remains a part of my life today and nothing gives me joy that is more pure. I've never done anything that remotely approaches professionalism, but oh, the joy I've found in playing and singing Southern Gospel with my mother, my sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and my friends.

HARMONIOUS MUSIC FOR HARMONIOUS FAMILY

My grandmother's side of the family were all musicians and singers. Sons, daughters, aunts, uncles and cousins all sang and made beautiful music on guitars, mandolins, banjos, piano. Any time the family came together there was a gospel music fest. Such beautiful harmony you've never heard and we children carried on the tradition. We would go to bed and "make harmony" late into the night. My uncles thought I could do anything they wanted me to and they would sit me down to the old pump organ and sing a tune and I would pick out the notes. This is how I learned to play – listen to them sing, pick up the harmony. Of course all this "practicing" elicited many an "Es – get off that organ!" yell from Grandpa when he'd had all he could stand. But when the family got together and made harmony, Grandpa sat close by, rocking in his chair and patting his foot.

CUTAWAY - Life's Interruptions

Hi. I hope you've missed updates on BLOGGING WITH ESTELLE. I've been away for a few days recovering from the flu and doing some research on how to make this forum more accessible to more people. If you've been involved in the news over the last several months, you've surely become aware of the stories of the lives of parents and children gone awry. As I continue sharing our family stories I will be searching out and offering tools to rebuild and restore family relationships. I trust you will help me spread this message of hope and commitment.