As long as I can remember, I’ve been surrounded by music-I’m the little girl in the picture above. Pap is in the chair and my cousin Ricky is sitting on the edge of the porch. The setting-Sunday after church at my Granny, Gazzie’s, house.
My first musical influences came from 2 places-church-and folks sitting around making music just for the pure enjoyment of it-like in the photo above.
The Louvin Brothers were also a musical influence on my early childhood. Pap was-and is-a huge fan of theirs. They sang in the classic brother duet style. I grew up hearing about them-like they were folks who lived just down the road. Stories of how Ira used to hold Charlie between his legs and force him to sing when they were kids-of Ira’s notorious temper and how he smashed Mandolins on a regular basis-of the tragic ending of the brother duet that occurred when Ira was killed in a car accident. I’ve always felt like I knew the Louvin Brothers personally-even though I’ve never met them-but Pap did meet Charlie.
Pap and his brother took off to Nashville in the late 60’s-they wanted to make contact with someone to see if they had a chance at making music for a living. Since Charlie Louvin was a hero of theirs-that’s who they sought out for advice. He treated them right-gave them some advice-which included “Boys you can never make it in this business and cut pulpwood too-you gotta make a choice.” He even tried to get them to stay and perform on his Grand Ole Opry Show (seems they were pretty good musicians). But they didn’t. Their first excuse- they didn’t have their instruments-(who goes to Nashville and doesn’t take their guitars!!!). Charlie said they could use 2 of his. Their second excuse-they didn’t even have enough money to buy a hamburger on them.
I used to wonder-if Pap had played on the Grand Ole Opry would my life be any different-you know would it have altered the course of Pap’s life by jump starting a musical career for him and my Uncle Ray? Who knows?
The Louvin Brothers-gave so much to Country and Gospel music-they were not only tremendous musicians and vocalists-they wrote some of the best songs ever recorded. I don’t think their music gets the credit it deserves.
A couple of years ago one of their songs was given a new lease on life “How’s The World Treating You“. Allison Krauss and James Taylor did a cut of the song for an album dedicated to The Louvin Brothers-but in a weird turn of events-most of the credit is given to Krauss and Taylor for their version-while The Louvin Brother’s version is overlooked.
For this week’s Pickin’ & Grinnin’ In The Kitchen Spot-Chitter and Chatter give the old song a try-the girls were inspired by the Krauss and Taylor version-but they’ve been given a detailed lecture on The Louvin Brothers from their Momma.
Hope you enjoyed the song-so what was your first musical influence?
Tipper
My first musical influence was listening to my Grandmom humming tunes in her kitchen. I used to ask her to sing the words to the songs, but she said she didn’t have a good enough voice. Then I started searching the radio for the songs she would hum. Some of them gospel and others just ditty’s she had heard other folks play. My biggest influence I think would have been the Motown sound though. Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Elvis Presley and the like. The girls did a good job with this one. They’re getting better every time. xxoo
Wow, the girls did a great job and they are beautiful too. I see trouble ahead for the Deerhunter!
thank you for sharing with us!
my first musical memories are hymns, and country music. there are songs in my head that i don’t even know i know until they start up on a radio or tv or whatever, and lo and behold, i can sing along every single word.
the girls did a real good job! Unfortunately, we’re not a very musical family.I have some cousins who have beautiful singing voices. I loved to rock and sing to my kids when they were babies. They were too little to complain.
Hi. I followed over from another blog (Red-Dirt Woman). OMG I love the music. I live in TX now, but was raised in OK. My grandma used to sing these kinds of songs to me when I was a little girl. We’d sit on the porch swing and shell purple hulled peas and sing until it was to dark to work.
I started singing solo’s at age 9 in the little country church…I made up with enthusiasm any lack of talent..:).
The girls sound really good. They will remember doing this with the family their entire lives.
I am adding you to my list so I can check back often.
Ginger
Dee from Tennessee
Sweet harmony…and throw in the making of good memories…does it get any better?
Good singing! I was influenced by my Uncle who was a Apostalic preacher. He could play anything that had strings just about. He taught my Dad and brother. But mostly influenced by church. I grew up listening to the Louvin Brothers. Daddy nd I have sang “He Can Be Found” in church and some of their songs. I never tire of reading your blog. It’s so home. I just hope you don’t get tired of my comments. God bless ya’ll.
I think that church was one of my first musical influences, as well as my dad. He played his guitar (still does) all the time and taught us old songs.
Chitter and Chatter sounds great! I know you’re all proud of them.
I guess the first music I was introduced to would have to be old country gospel in church with my Granny. We also listened to local country music tv shows, Grand Ole Opry, and gospel music tv shows back in the 50’s and 60’s. And, I think everyone will agree the rock and roll of that era was the best.
The girls sound great. How about you and the girls sing for us sometime in the kitchen. I think everyone would love to hear you sing.
Dad played guitar and sang, Mom and Grandma sang in the choir, Granddad played harmonica, Great Uncle played guitar and sang to me, first husband had a local country band, brother had an enormous album collection…
definitely have the music bug in my family. The girls are definitely growing up. Amazing the changes that take place so fast. I just love listening to them sing.
The girls sound so good! I can see a future of creating music in their lives, too!
My first musical influences were church and my sisters who were teenagers when I was little. They loved rock and roll my favorite song was The Everly Brothers’ “Wake Up Little Susie” (big surprise!). But side B was my real favorite and I used to sing it all the time–“Bird Dog”. Hey bird dog, get away from my chick. Hey bird dog, you better get away quick!
Don and Phil were good Kentucky boys, too!
i love music~its always been a big part of my life and i learnt the violin and penny whistle when i was younger but gave both up. now i am a month away from buying my first bodhran and so excited!!!
my great granddad johney gaul was born in wales to irish parents and i have heard tales of my great gran having to track him down in the pubs of portsmouth where he played his squeeze box. when he left for his second stint in france in WW1 he sat on the railway station playing and sang ‘when i leave this world behind’…he died a month before the end of the war and is buried in france
The girls sounded great! They are starting to look like young women now, and not the little girls they were when I first saw them on here.
I didn’t grow up in a musical family, though I wish I had!
Absolutely fantastic. They will certainly turn heads if they aren’t already.
No music background here. Except that I was made to take piano lessons when I was little. It just wasn’t for me. Sometimes I sat and cried for the whole 30 minutes.
Coach D
That picture of you is so adorable, how great that you have it.
HOly cow!! They are great!
I enjoyed the girls singing.
I enjoyed that. That region is special for being unique yet being closely connected to the larger world of music.
I am so sad, it told me there was an error, and it wouldn’t let me watch it. I really wanted to hear the girls sing. 🙁
The girls are adorable. They have inherited their talent. I enjoyed listening to their song.
My first music influence was from my Grandpa and uncles. Grandpa played the banjo and my uncles played guitars, banjos, dulcimers and harmonicas. I loved the time I spent with them.
I took violin lessons for awhile. I love playing, but no one in their right mind is going to ask me to perform.
Tipper: I must say the girls sounded pretty good in the kitchen spot.
I think my early musical influence was church singing. The second growing up in the late 50’s was Rock & Roll and now country music is my joy. I love to sing but only for myself. Some talents are given and some are not.
Tipper, how precious your video is. Those little darlings have great voices! And what a wonderful story. Your life is filled with great memories and you’re making new ones. Take care.
Tipper,
I certainly enjoyed the song as sung by Chitter & Chatter. The girls have inherited the love of music and they are good singers. Tell them to keep singing. Maybe they have a music career in their future.
Glad you enjoyed the memories of the farm.
Blessings,
Mary
The world is treating me real good!
I just got Hughes net satellite and can finally, yes finally!! listen to your videos(and see them too) How is that for getting treated good??
I am so thankful.
The girls are just as cute as can be and sing like angels.
My music came from church also. I learned to play a few songs by ear(on the piano) when I was a girl, but if I sing out loud, you’d better have ear plugs handy.
Have a great day.
Pam