Today’s post was written by Paul.
Though I haven’t been consistent about it, I like to upload a song for Easter each year. This year, I was thinking about doing the song “I’ll Wear the Banner” with Katie or Corie, but things have been pretty busy around here lately, for everyone, and I didn’t have the time to flag one of them down to sing it with me.
I’ve always liked the song. It was on a Jim and Jesse Album in the 60’s or 70’s. After I realized that I probably wouldn’t have a chance to sing it with one of the Pressley Girls, it occurred to me that I might be able to find a recording of Pap and his brother Ray singing it.
I found it on an old cassette of a radio broadcast. Unfortunately, there’s no date written on the cassette tape, but I know from the people present at the broadcast that this was sometime in the 1980’s.
Off and on, their Words of Life Broadcast spanned about 4 decades on three different stations, though the majority of it was in the 80’s on WKRK.
Today, WKRK broadcasts on AM and FM, and the FM station is in stereo. Of course, in those days, it was mono.
Pap and Ray stood in front of a single microphone to sing and play, and the preacher (whether it was Ray, their friend Jerry Shook, their father Wade Wilson, their friend Leander Chastain, or whoever) preached into the same mic.
Jerry Shook, the preacher you hear speaking after the song ends, died in the late 80’s from brain cancer. He was only in his early 40’s. He was a Vietnam Veteran who was wounded in action, and I often wondered if his cancer was caused by Agent Orange. He was a block and brick mason. I always liked him.
Next time I see Jamie Shook (who sang with me in this year’s story song series), I will have to ask him if Jerry was related to his family. My guess is, probably.
This cassette tape has one broadcast on the A side and another broadcast (presumably done the following Sunday) on the B side. I really liked the B side broadcast and hope to upload it someday, perhaps next Easter.
It too features my great Uncle Henry Truett (heard talking in this upload, sounding remarkably like Bashful Brother Oswald), but it also features Pap’s sister, Carrie, and she sang several songs with Pap and Ray on that broadcast. On that day, my papaw, Wade Wilson, preached the sermon. It includes several songs appropriate for Easter.
This year, I just didn’t have the time to do a 30-minute upload. The quickest way to do this upload was just to film this old Tascam playing this song. Even if I had burned a CD from this cassette and then uploaded it, the quality wouldn’t have been much better.
These cassettes weren’t recorded at the station. They were recorded from the radio at home while Pap and Ray were at the station, 15 miles away, so there’s plenty of static, etc. Still, I’m happy to have these.
When I retire, Lord willing, I might create a separate YouTube channel to share these broadcasts. I think it would be neat for the sermons of local preachers, who are now dead and gone, to be on the internet for new listeners to hear all over the world. It struck me how Jerry Shook’s description of the day and time they were living in (in the 1980’s) is much truer now than it was then.
One of my favorite parts of this song is hearing Pap make a falling run on the D and A string of the Dove to walk the song back from D major to G major in the middle of the verses, while Ray sang. In those years, they often played without a bass player, but by using the side of his pick and a firm stroke, Pap could come pretty close to imitating one with the Dove.
I can tell from the incredibly high tenor that Pap sings on this song, that it would work for Katie or Corie in the same key. We may still sing it and upload it one day, because I know a third verse that Pap and Ray didn’t know. I found it on a Jim and Jesse album from 1952.
I didn’t know who wrote the song. I just knew someone wrote a good one. Jesse wrote some of their songs, so I thought it was possible that he wrote it. To me, it sounds sort of like a Hazel Houser song or a Dottie Rambo song. However, after finding an image online of an old 45 record of Jim and Jesse, it appears that it was written by a gentleman named Don McHan. He apparently was a bluegrass gospel singer way back.
I found several recordings of other people singing his songs online, but I’ve yet to hear him sing. In an ironic turn, I learned that he was the 2nd cousin to our own Ed Ammons who comments on the BPA YouTube channel regularly as “Papaw.” Don apparently sang with Ed’s uncle! It’s a small world! I’ll have to investigate more into McHan’s gospel music. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed “I’ll Wear the Banner,” and I hope you have a wonderful Easter with friends and loved ones.
Original singles released on Spotify.
Shepherd of My Soul (Album released in 2016).
Paul
I hope you enjoyed Paul’s post and the song as much as I do! While I loved the song, it was really wonderful to her Jerry Shook and Uncle Henry Truett’s voices.
In those days Jerry Shook was a big part of our lives. If I remember right Pap first met him at Tri-County Community College when they were both students under the GI Bill.
I can echo Paul’s statement—I always liked Jerry. He had an energy about him that was recognizable to even a skinny little girl. He was forever teasing me about courting even though he knew I was way too young to court.
One of the first times Granny and Pap left me and Paul at home by ourselves (Steve was the oldest and he was likely at work) was during a revival. I don’t recall why Granny and Pap were going to be late getting home nor even why we weren’t made to go with them. Maybe one of us wasn’t feeling well.
Paul is four years younger than me and he was always a little rambunctious. We all teased him about being like animal on the muppets. I don’t remember what Paul had done but I do remember I finally got a hold of him and told him I was going to hold him in place till Pap and Granny got home.
Since they were going to be late they had Jerry stop by our house to check on us as he headed back to Hiawassee GA where he lived.
I can still remember the look on his face when he came through the door into the living room and saw me holding Paul down. He laughed then he told us we better straighten up because our parents would soon be home. Thankfully Paul listened to him and I could finally turn him loose 🙂
Wishing each of you a blessed Easter. He is risen!
Tipper
Yes it was a very enjoyable story by Paul Tipper and the song was also very enjoyable. I love the song titled “The Old Rugged Cross”
Thanks for Sharing Tipper Happy Easter to yall.
Just a quick word concerning your recordings – be sure they exist in multiple media. Anything on tape will eventually go bad, so recording to CD, a hard drive, AND the cloud is a good thing. And of course, keeping multiple tape copies is good too. You’ll never regret having taken the time to make backups…
JD-that is great advice. We’ve learned that the hard way:)
Wonderful song, wonderful singers. What a blessing to have such a talented family. I hope your family had a pleasant Easter, I know with the events your family has had to face recently it’s been a very hard time. We are all praying for strength for you all. Love and blessings to the family.
Happy Resurrection Sunday to you all! Loved hearing the old radio recording. Reminds me of Saturday visits to granny Margie and pawpaw Juniors house when I was a kid. Granny always had a radio station playing that played bluegrass and gospel. Might have been the same station if it would pick up in Clayton GA
I like your songs. I’m looking for one if I could find it. Beyond this veil of tears. Is it on sheet music or a hymnal?
Hi, Rowland.
Our dad, Jerry Marshall Wilson (aka Pap), wrote Beyond this Vale of Tears. Unfortunately, we don’t have it on sheet music. However, I hear there are apps available now that will write sheet music for you simply by letting your device “hear” the song being played. Never tried it and wouldn’t know if what it wrote was accurate (because I cannot read music), but it might be worth looking into. Good luck. 🙂
totally awesome you are lucky to have these old memories and music to go over and hope you do find time for uploading these old dies ontoa channel so we can all hear themm have a totally good easter to all of your families
The song is beautiful! Thank you for sharing. Happy Easter to you Tipper and all of your family and also to the Blind Pig gang! Have a wonderful Easter Sunday everyone!!
I am not at all surprised but I often marvel at how marvelously the Lord does. As was said of him while He was physically here, He has done all things well. While technology is misused of course, yet it also serves as a conduit for the truth and that truth can be found if someone is looking. Whatever comes and whatever goes and however long time endures, the tomb is empty.
Thanks for the post Paul. I am not at all musical but I recognize sincerity and truth in people and I am so glad to know it will be here until the last.
In case you didn’t read my comment on Paul’s YouTube video I’ll repeat it here.
Don McHan’s mother Emily Davis McHan was my father’s aunt. Don’s father Emlis McHan sang with my Daddy and Uncle Wayne regularly but they never did anything professionally.
Don and his wife Shirley moved to Nashville where he tried to make a living as a musician and songwriter. Shirley worked as a nurse and was, I think, their main support while he pursued his dreams. They moved back to Lauada where he built a studio but had little success. Eventually he and Shirley divorced and he became a preacher. They are both dead now.
While I’m thinking about it, do you remember a George Leonard McHan that taught school in Murphy in the 1990s and early 2000s? He also coached basketball if I’m not horridly wrong. He might have coached other sports too. He would have been Don’s brother.
Happy Easter All!
Ed-thank you! I don’t remember the teacher but maybe someone else does 🙂
George McHan played bluegrass banjo. Don played guitar and bass.
A younger brother Eugene was with the Fontana Ramblers for a while. Have you ever heard of them?
Hi, Ed.
No, I haven’t. Can any of their music be heard online?
He is risen!! Thank you Paul for the beautiful song. I tried to comment before I left for church and it said I had already commented. Not sure how they thought it was a duplicate but I will try again:)
Love the beautiful heartfelt singing. Thank you for sharing.
Happy Easter to one and all.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful recording of the Wilson Brothers and Paster Shook! I enjoyed it very much! Paul wrote an exceptional description that was very interesting to read, and Tipper, you followed it with more enjoyable insight to your family and Pastor Shook. I thought as I read it how sad the minutes and days pass so fast from which we have so many wonderful memories of the people, the places and the events of. But someday soon, we will once again be with those special friends and family – and we will never have to say goodbye to them again. And today celebrates the reason why we will never have to be away from our families in heaven again, we will have them near us for eternity then – for today represents the day that He arose from death! What wonderful news Mary brought back to the disciples on that bleak day about two thousand years ago – “the tomb is empty!” Oh the wonder! The mystery! The joy! He paid for my sins. He is alive! I gladly give Him my heart, my life, my all!
Donna. : )
I loved the song and think the words at the end are some of the truest words about what is going on in America today. To me much of America has turned her back on God. Happy Easter to all. Another song I have always liked and especially at Easter is ‘Walking My Lord Up Calvary’s Hill”. I liked to hear Wilmer Lee and Stoney Cooper sing it.
He is risen indeed!
Heavenly Father, we lift up all in all places in this world up to You and ask for You to call upon each of their hearts to come to You in repentance and seek forgiveness of their sins. You are able to save all who come to You for You know all people’s motives and thoughts.
Allow them to come to see who You are and draw them near to be forgiven. Amen.
Thank you both so much for this post.
It touched my heart.
Happy Easter to all, everyone have a Blessed day.
Thanks so much for sharing. Strange you should mention Agent Orange that was so poopooed by our Government. My Brother-in-Law’s eldest son went to the current area that our young men are still losing their lives, and as a result of their burnings of material over there, he was one of the victims of cancer…30 years of age with a 2 year old son. God help our young men in service to our country and which not many appreciate. Happy Easter to you and yours, He is Risen.
I so enjoyed the song, Paul, thank you for sharing. The message was the truth for today too! Pray you all have a wonderful Happy Easter! He is risen!!!
I enjoyed listening to those men on that old broadcast. Thanks for sharing it with us. He is risen indeed!
Music is the universal language of people everywhere and Easter music always tugs at my heart. Why do we only hear this glorious music on Easter Sunday? I can identify songs from old with certain times or events in my past life, sometimes happy, sometimes not so much. Thanks for Paul’s thoughts today and your’s as well. Happy Easter, He is risen!
Thank you for sharing this. Love the song! Happy Easter Paul and your entire family. Hope y’all enjoy family today!
I loved the song. Thanks, Paul for uploading it and telling us the history of the song as you know it. The message at the end is as true today as it was back when it was recorded. This was a very sweet Easter message on The Blind Pig and The Acorn. Thank you, Tipper. Without this day celebrating our Lord’s defeat of the grave we would have no purpose of life. God is good all the time!!!
Bill, a lot of the members know I am having a hard time dealing with depression and anxiety since my wife’s death. To me she died exactly 2 years ago today, not on the 15th as her death certificate states. One of the things that helps me is knowing that through Jesus resurrection and the fact she was a born again Christian and of me being a Christian, I will once again be with her one day.. Without Jesus birth at Christmas and His resurrection at Easter there would be no hope.
Beautiful song! God has surely blessed your family with great talent. Happy Easter to you all! He is risen indeed!
Tipper, Hope you and your family have a wonderful Easter! I love to hear stories about your family. You have definitely been blessed with a Godly family.
Beautiful song on this Resurrection Day! HAPPY EASTER ♡
Uplifting post filled with truth this Easter morning.
Happy Easter!!!
The song was great, thank you.
Happy Easter to you and all the Blind Pig gang