Born in Springfield IL. My father was a multi-instrument hillbilly music player. Wasn't called 'country' then. Family moved to St. Louis during the war to work in the defense plants. Kept playing his music and had jams in our house where my brother and I used to sit and listen, while singing once in awhile.
Dad left the home and started chasing other ladies so my mother had to find a place to keep us. We ended up in orphan homes for a few years. Then mother saved up enough money to buy a small home in South St. Louis.
Meanwhile we made friends with kids in the neighborhood who liked country music and I learned how to play guitar and mandolin from them. My first guitar was a Stella. We used to play and sing on our front porch and all the kids in the neighborhood would gather to sing or enjoy the music. I guess that was my first JAM. This wasin an era when kids grew up with music and was taught to sing in school even if they couldn't afford music lessons.
Meanwhile my music interests broadened to include Mario Lanza, symphonies, "popular" music, and blues. I left home when I was 16 and went to Springfield IL with my new Gibson Les Paul Electric (Wish I still had it). Played with my cousin and sang. Didn't keep up the payments so I lost the electric guitar.
Entered the Air Force in January 1954, after completing my technical education, I was sent to St. John's Newfoundland where I met my wife. We married in October 1956 (50 years ago) and I learned to appreciate newfoundland folk music.
Retired from the Air Force in 1980 and went back to school to get my BS in Management. Arthritis crippled my hands so I could't play stringed music any longer so my wife bought me a second hand chord organ to play with. Translated my chord knowledge and sense to the keyboard and began to play for my aging mother in a rest home which turned into a seven year long concert playing for the residents every weekend.
Started taking glucosomine and condroiten for a number of years and learned I could play the guitar again. So I now play the keyboard, guitar, mandolin, double-bass, harmonica, fiddle and have learned to appreciate bluegrass.
I am now enjoying playing music up to 5 times a week with others besides practicing alone. Praise the Lord, at 70 years I am really enjoying life with music.
Harold you got aabout 3 yrs on me as far as age but i sure can relate to the Arthuritis.. I was a teletype operayor in the Army back in the 60's could type about 45 WPM without mistakes now i am down to one finger on each hand to type and making lot's of mistakes. The one thing Arthur has not taken from me is a desire to help where i can. Congrats on the 50 yrs. my last marriage only lasted 24 yrs. Since there is always 2 sides to a story and here i can only give mine i will let it stop there. I will say, when i make a commitment it is for life. I let the lord lead me wherever he feels i should go. As a very good friend told me i am probably right where the lord wants me at this time. Doing the best i can to help others. You entertain the elderly and i commend you for that i csan recall all the hours i have spent in the orpahages helping the young folks when i was stationed in korea. It makes me fooe so good to sat lesst think i can help someone perhaps less fortunate don
Don, your attitude is wonderful and it provides encouragement to others to enjoy their music. May I suggest you start taking Osteobiflex (Glucosomine & Condroiten) every day. For a long time you won''t noticed any difference. I still have the lumpy fingers, and on cold days those lumps really hurt. But I can type, and I can play the guitar and mandolin which are really challenges to arthritis. I just came back from a country music concert where I played and sang two songs as well as accompanied the musicians with my mandolin. Most of the time I am unaware of the pain in my hands and I can do anything I set my mind to. That wasn't always true. I pray you will find more freedom in your daily life.
Well.. after reading Harold's wonderful life story.. mine is boring
Preacher's daughter - raised to believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Bible - Gave my heart to God when I was only 7 yrs old - Bluegrass gospel only sung in the home (tho' I sneaked and listened to the radio under my pillow every night.. dug my rock n roll )hehe sneaky kid! Grew up singing in church with dad, sisters - bluegrass gospel... til I got up in Church and rocked out a gospel number on the piano (eat yer heart out Jerry Lee Lewis) Only did it once.
Grew up - married high school sweetheart - worked at General Electric for a couple years - had 2 boys but divorced 7 yrs later - with 2 young sons - single motherhood is tough road. Going into sales and then became Vice President of a hearing aid company - (yes you'd know the name )- with no college education - it was a tad short of miraculous. Left management to go back into sales where the dough is.
My two sons - (very high I.Q's ) grew up to be men I'm proud of. Married again, after I'd said NEVER AGAIN for 7 years - then left job to be stay at home mommy again ..to have 3rd son - who is also showing traits of genius.. like his older brothers. God blessed me/them for their sakes - I did nothing to deserve it.
Now I'm grammy - to another little boy - 9 weeks old - whom I have the privilege of babysitting 5 days a week. He's like his daddy, my first son - smart too.. it shows already at 2 months.
Moved to a farm got bored - in the country so I volunteered at public radio in Cincinnati area - to do bluegrass/country show every Friday morning - was a popular show.. and then after 3 yrs on the air - got into webcasting and continued in the bluegrass & country genres, mostly the 'grass.
Been broadcasting now for 6 yrs - and have found my niche. Not much $ in broadcasting/webcasting - we're called the radio poor in broadcasting - - but who needs money??
When your job seems like playing for fun its not a job!
Still sing - in church, work in the ministry alongside my dad - still in the 'grass - and discovering new talent is my big thrill - that is.. along side watching all my childrenand now my grandchildren grow.
While my dream of being a 'performer' never quite materialized... you know..
ROCK STAR!!
__________________
MULDOON in the AFTERNOON Friday 1-3 PM Est Muldoon w/The Blue Moon Sat Night 9-11 pm but only -Once in a blue moon!
Gracie, (My Mom is known as Gracie too), When I learned how to play and found people liked to hear me sing, I used to dream about being a teen idol. It's taken a long time but now my Mom is in a Rest Home I go there and play every week for two hours for the residents. I finally got my wish since I have a lot of fans who love to hear me sing. (Of course not much happens there on a Saturday Night and they don't really have much of a choice!) but I am enjoying it and I love to get them singing the old pop, country and even some bluegrass music.
I too spent a lot of time singing in choirs. Even in high school, we had Christian music at Christmas and Easter and we went to area churches and sang in four part harmony. Not much of that going on today.
Thanks for the reply... I really enjoyed meeting you on line. Just a reminder, I'm President of your fan club.....
Well.. after reading Harold's wonderful life story.. mine is boring
Preacher's daughter - raised to believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Bible - Gave my heart to God when I was only 7 yrs old - Bluegrass gospel only sung in the home (tho' I sneaked and listened to the radio under my pillow every night.. dug my rock n roll )hehe sneaky kid! Grew up singing in church with dad, sisters - bluegrass gospel... til I got up in Church and rocked out a gospel number on the piano (eat yer heart out Jerry Lee Lewis) Only did it once.
.While my dream of being a 'performer' never quite materialized... you know..
ROCK STAR!!
Rockin' in church.... That reminds me of something. About 15 years ago I was down in the western North Carolina mountains at a small general store. The owner, a very young 80 yr. old lady, told a story about the church across the street. Seems that the country singer, Ronnie Milsap, grew up right in that holler and use to play rock and roll on the church piano for some young mountain gal there. Of course, they always did it in private. Thought I'd share that with you.
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'To play good bluegrass, it takes more than just being lonesome or feeling lonesome, it's completely insufficient unless you're born lonesome.'
Hey Harold, I am only three years behind you and I am in Eastland, Tx. Your story stirred a lot of memories in my heart. My Mama gave me my first French Harp, (harmonica) when I was 7 and taught me the only two songs she knew. I have been playing them since. I fell away from the Lord in the 70s and became a "hippie" and started on guitar. When I came back to the Lord...thanks to Billy Graham....and Jesus.....I came out of the Folk music era and started playing gospel mostly. I have thought about getting some folks together and playing for the nursing home here in Eastland, but so far, no one wants to commit. I just love to Praise the Lord in music. Thanks for sharing your story with us.......Mac (gospicker)
Hey Harold, I am only three years behind you and I am in Eastland, Tx. Your story stirred a lot of memories in my heart. My Mama gave me my first French Harp, (harmonica) when I was 7 and taught me the only two songs she knew. I have been playing them since. I fell away from the Lord in the 70s and became a "hippie" and started on guitar. When I came back to the Lord...thanks to Billy Graham....and Jesus.....I came out of the Folk music era and started playing gospel mostly. I have thought about getting some folks together and playing for the nursing home here in Eastland, but so far, no one wants to commit. I just love to Praise the Lord in music. Thanks for sharing your story with us.......Mac (gospicker)
I started playing there for my mother, but using a keyboard because my arthritis bothered me too much for stringed instruments at that time. Others joined my mothr and me and before long I had scheduled performances every week for anyone who wanted to listen. I still use a keyboard for those performances because it is easier to play old familiar Christian tunes and old favorites of all kinds dating back as far as 70 years. While doing that was invited to join the "Mostly Gospel Blues Band" that started playing at the same home and another once a month at each place. I play guitar, mandolin, and sing for them.
Using a product called osteo-biflex I gained sufficient finger dexterity to play my old instruments and now play bluegrass, and country as well as gospel in several venues around Central Texas. I invited several people to join me playing in the home but it nevers seemed to work out. So it is just a quiet spot in my week, with my mother and friends. After seven years, it has become a special time and blessing in my life. God bless you Mac, go and enjoy yourself, don't wait on others to find the enjoyment I have found.
P.S. Some others have formed extemporaneous bands at rest homes and I have joined them when time permits. So it has worked for others.
Don, your attitude is wonderful and it provides encouragement to others to enjoy their music. May I suggest you start taking Osteobiflex (Glucosomine & Condroiten) every day. For a long time you won''t noticed any difference. I still have the lumpy fingers, and on cold days those lumps really hurt. But I can type, and I can play the guitar and mandolin which are really challenges to arthritis. I just came back from a country music concert where I played and sang two songs as well as accompanied the musicians with my mandolin. Most of the time I am unaware of the pain in my hands and I can do anything I set my mind to. That wasn't always true. I pray you will find more freedom in your daily life.
Preacher's daughter - raised to believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Bible - Gave my heart to God when I was only 7 yrs old - Bluegrass gospel only sung in the home (tho' I sneaked and listened to the radio under my pillow every night.. dug my rock n roll )hehe sneaky kid! 
Grew up singing in church with dad, sisters - bluegrass gospel... til I got up in Church and rocked out a gospel number on the piano (eat yer heart out Jerry Lee Lewis) Only did it once. 
- worked at General Electric for a couple years - had 2 boys but divorced 7 yrs later - 
with 2 young sons - single motherhood is tough road. Going into sales and then became Vice President of a hearing aid company - (yes you'd know the name )- with no college education - it was a tad short of miraculous. Left management to go back into sales where the dough is. 
after I'd said NEVER AGAIN for 7 years - then left job to be stay at home mommy again ..to have 3rd son - who is also showing traits of genius.. like his older brothers. God blessed me/them for their sakes - I did nothing to deserve it.
got bored - in the country so I volunteered at public radio in Cincinnati area - to do bluegrass/country show every Friday morning - was a popular show.. and then after 3 yrs on the air - got into webcasting
and continued in the bluegrass & country genres, mostly the 'grass. 
ROCK STAR!! 
