Today’s post was written by Paul.
Granny, Steve, and Pap
Our good friend and musical influence John Samuel Ensley passed away back in November 2023. Ever since I received the news, I wanted to upload some music in his honor, but I wanted it to be the right music.
Sam had broad musical interests, but like me, his favorite was close, two-part harmony. Outside of me and another gentleman in Kentucky named Lonnie Smith, Sam may have been the world’s biggest Louvin Brothers fan.
The video I’m sharing today features several Louvin songs.
We really miss Sam, and we are forever grateful for his support of our family’s music for many years. Sam and I met to do some music about a month before his passing. We weren’t successful in capturing any video of our playing and singing, but I do have some video of me talking with Sam that I may be able to use in March for our story song series, along with an audio recording of Sam singing a funny story song.
Today’s video was also inspired by the picture you see throughout the singing. I want to thank my cousin David Jenkins for bringing this photo of Pap, Granny, and my brother Steve to Granny. None of us had ever seen the photo. Judging by the location and Steve’s age, this photo was taken sometime between 1966 and 67. As soon as I saw the photo, I thought, “Man! that would make a great album cover!” My next thought was that I should use it to post some songs of Pap and Granny singing, since Granny seems to be one of the most popular “stars” of the Blind Pig & The Acorn, the Pressley Girls Channel, and Celebrating Appalachia! 🙂
I knew I had some cassettes of them singing back in the early 80’s, but I stumbled upon these 8 songs recorded on reel to reel. While the photo is from the 60’s, these recordings must be from about 1975 or 76. A toddler is heard at the beginning of several tracks. I first thought it could have been my sister Tipper, but then during one of the last tracks, I distinctly heard the child making the sound of a truck engine, probably not something Tipper would have done as a toddler, but something I would have done. Since I was born in ’74, these recordings are probably from a year or two later.
My family was fascinated by the fact that Pap is holding an electric guitar in the photo. I noticed that he’s playing it with his fingers and getting a C chord far down the neck. Granny quickly explained this oddity: Pap’s youngest brother, Henry, who was an amazing electric guitar player, often hung around their rented home in Murphy, and his guitar often was lying around their living room. I asked Granny if she remembered Pap ever playing the electric while they sang. She said yes, but couldn’t remember if he plugged it into an amp or just played it acoustically. Anyway, the photo is really cool, and I’m thankful cousin David found it and brought it to us.
Of course, Pap isn’t playing an electric in these recordings. There’s no mistaking the Dove. When Pap played the Dove, there was little need of a bass because he made the top strings of the Dove sound almost as heavy as a bass guitar, playing with the side of his pick, rather than the tip. Although I can’t fully explain it, the way he hit the D string always reminded me of the way he hammered a 16 penny nail, which usually on took three strikes before it was deeper than flush. The two things not only had a similar sound but the exact same surety.
The tape was broken during the last song. I spliced it, but part of the song is missing. Viewers seemed to love the songs I did with Granny, getting more comments than I could respond to, within just a couple of days. Each of the songs we did together were songs I could remember her singing with Pap when I was little. Each time when we started to sing one of them, I asked her if she sang lead or harmony when she sang them with Pap. She always said “lead,” but after trying it both ways, we always decided that it sounded better when she sang the harmony and I sang the lead.
In this video, Granny sang lead on the first song, the Don Reno song, and on “Born Again.” On the other songs, she sang harmony and Pap sang lead. I just thought someone might find that interesting.
The cool thing about a man and woman singing together, is that it’s hard to tell who is singing which part. Both singers feel almost like they’re singing lead. If this video is well received, I’ll share more song compilations of Pap and Granny. They sang together some in church and sang around the house, just for their own entertainment. Pap sometimes had Granny help him work on something that he might later sing with his brother, Ray. I thought it was interesting that Granny wrote a 3rd verse to the excellent song “Praying.” I think her verse adds resolution.
Paul
hearing Granny singing when she was younger sounds alot like Katie, or Katie sounds alot like Granny 🙂
I so enjoyed hearing your folks singing. Sounded very much like Granny and Paul singing.
I adore their harmony. What a treasure to be able to hear them singing today.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!!!
Tipper We really enjoyed hearing Pap and Granny sing! Beautiful harmony.
I also wanted to tell you I made your recipe for the Orange Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread it was delicious! My husband loved it and wants me to make another one. The hardest part was getting all the Orange zested but well worth it after all.
Thanks for your prayers!
Still praying for Granny!
Joanna
Thank you for sharing Pap and Granny singing. I can hear the joy in their voices. It’s also a wonderful picture of your family. I can see the family resemblances and can hear how much Katie’s singing is similar to her grandmother. Thank you for sharing your family. Have a wonderful day!
Many thanks, Paul. Mate, this is great, music for the soul, your Pap and Mom do excellent versions of these classics and their own. I am mainly tone deaf, but I think I hear a little Carter like in the presentations? Also enjoy the duets with you and Granny. 🙂 Love to see more. God Bless Y’all over there.
Love the harmony and tempo!
Extremely “well received”, Paul! Oh my, this is priceless. Pap’s and Granny’s voices blend perfectly and the recording is so clear. Thank you for sharing this!
Goodness gracious sakes alive! This stuff is great and needs to be on a CD! I know I’d buy it.
It’s hard to beat men at their own game, but in “Satan’s Jeweled Crown” Granny and Pap give
the Louvins some serious competition.
Morning, Tipper! Oh my gosh!!!! Listening to Granny sing made me smile real big listening to Pap and her singing. You could tell they loved each other and their Lord. Their voices blended together just perfect. Pap kind of sang his a bit quieter so Granny was more in the foreground. I am just totally and completely blown away! Please thank Paul for sharing the love and talent of two very, very special people. May God bless you, your family, and all your followers!
I had read and listened to the songs earlier when Paul put it out on YouTube. Just loved them and the babies in the background were so sweet.
As we know, Granny has a beautiful voice.
The picture is lovely as well.
Thank you all for sharing!
Absolutely beautiful! Keep em coming.
Loved this!!!!!!
We really enjoyed Pap and Granny’s singing on these songs. What beautiful harmony. And what a treasure this is for your family. ❤️
Great music !
Paul,
Thank you for sharing your wonderful parents singing those beautiful gospel songs!! They sang beautifully. I continue praying for your mom everyday. God bless you and your whole family. Hilary H.
Paul, The Lord sure BLESSED us ALL with your and your family’s TALENT: YOU ALL to sing and play and record and US because we get to hear you. I especially enjoyed listening to that precious harmony of Pap and Granny! Also, it was great hearing some hymns for the first time.
Congrats on your retirement, and I know you enjoyed your party. Do some things you have been wanting to do, plus PLEASE CONTINUE entertaining us here.
May God bless the entire family MORE!
Thank you for sharing – simply beautiful! Granny is for sure a star and I love when you post her singing. I hear so much of Katie in her singing ! Blessings to your family Paul and keep the songs coming.
Perfect way to start my Sunday morning. Just beautiful. Your blogs & vlogs are so special food, stories, music it feels my soul with joy. Thanks for sharing. A special hug to Granny she’s a treasure in every way bless her.
Big Hugs & God Bless
This was so enjoyable to listen to. Thank you so much!
Paul, wanted to also say, could you and Granny please sing a lot more songs and make a cd for all of us to listen to. That would be so enjoyable. May the Lord God keep a watch over you and your entire family. AMEN
I love this! Thank you, Paul. God bless.
I remember my granny and grandpa singing in church together. Seems they were standing behind the pulpit and I don’t remember any music. They were a beautiful couple and I always admired them dressed up for church. Granny had such pretty little hats with net veils. Thanks for bringing this special memory to mind this morning.
Thank you Paul for sharing the messages these songs bring. We believers need to be reminded of the sacrifice our Savior made. Your posting these vocal messages blessed me today. In a country that negates the worth of faith and family this post provides HOPE that God built a firm foundation and we can hold to His unchanging hand. Your post soothed my soul Thank you and may you enjoy a contented retirement .
That made me cry…both of them had such amazing voices…that was so precious! There is just a purity in their voices. They really mean what they say as they sing. It’s true worship. In Spirit and in truth John 4:24.
Something that I have really begun to realize (maybe I’m wrong) in the Appalachian Culture is why gospel is so much more purer and heartfelt is that many from extreme poverty, faith was the only true valuable thing they could cling to. So they really sang from the heart. In spirit and in truth John 4:24. It’s all about the condition and position of the heart.
Thank you so much for sharing it.
When I was young. 9 or 10 my mom (adopted) would stand me by the piano and try to teach me to sing. But if I missed a note or she thought I wasn’t paying attention she’d smack me. In Church too Mom used to make me sing the the loudest. Or it would be a smacking It embarrassed me. I sort of rebelled against music
My parents gave me a guitar but mom told me I could only play Christian music on it so I never really did anything with it out of rebellion. Not that I wanted to play nasty songs or anything. I was a Johnny Cash Fanatic back then and and wanted to be a country singer. So just dropped music altogether. It was rebellion. I regret it, not something I’m proud of. Looking back now my heart was never in a position of worshiping God in Spirit and in truth. That’s why I eventually rebelled.
But as I’ve really progressed in my personal relationship with God He brought me back to music and it was really a personal thing between me and Him, until I met my Wife on the mission field. She plays the guitar worships wherever we go.
We lost our first child in 2019. Angelito. Pastors, family friends called us and were telling us how it’s okay to be mad at God. I quickly realized first it wasn’t God’s fault. We live in an imperfect fallen world of Sin. Miscarriages are apart of that curse because man chose to rebellion over Holiness. We were in the hospital the we lost Angelito and it hit me. I told my wife no Matt how hard it seem right now we have to worship God. And we did in the hospital that day. We got home that night and were literally laughing and joking.
The days following we continued to worship every time we were suddenly hit with sadness. And God would literally replace our sadness with joy to the point we couldn’t feel any sadness. 4 months Franchesca was pregnant again. Our daughter Hannah is 2 now and already loves to sing. She sings to herself and anyone who’s around. She’s just a little bundle of joy.
Thank you Mrs. Pressley and Paul for sharing this beautiful moment more valuable than any gold.
I apologize I messed up the time. My wife and I were married Dec. 2019. We were in quarantine in Argentina in 2020 when we lost Angelito, but 4 months later Franchesca got pregnant with our daughter and Hannah was Born March 3 2021.
It was a really crazy year
God bless you, Wyatt.
The understanding you share in the 7th paragraph about the loss of your first daughter is very deep and will serve you and your family very well throughout your life. It’s easy for me to say, having never lost a child, but you are absolutely on the right path with your understanding and faith. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and faith.
Paul, these songs are absolutely beautiful, I loved every one of the songs, I could sit and listen to Granny and pap sing all day long. Thank you so much for sharing them. The songs are so very clear. Paul, please try to make a cd of all these songs of Granny and your dad pap. These songs sung by Granny and Pap touched my heart so deeply. God bless you and your whole family.
This has to be my favorite musical selection ever released on the blind pig! Granny certainly is a star in my eyes, and ears!! Her and pap sound perfect together…love hearing her sing with you too Paul. God bless y’all and I hope the Lord sees fit to give granny many more happy years with her family ❤️
Oh my goodness…. That was beautiful. Granny and Pap sounded wonderful together
Beautiful and amazing accomplishments of a dear family growing and providing for themselves and their family. Their talents are beyond measure. They will always be here, down through the years for future generations, because of these recordings. I thank you all for touching our lives with those talents and giving us so much comfort, in songs of life and the Lord. Y’all are so generous to us.
Beautiful songs. We sang a couple of them in church. They sang so beautiful together. Love the sound of their voices together. Makes me think of my husband’s mom and dad singing in church together. He would have a song to sing and he would say, honey you want to help me on this one. of course she would. Her voice won’t let her sang hardly now. she misses that.
Gigi,
I’m sorry to hear that your mother-in-law can no longer sing. We all reach a point in life where we lose things we once could do with ease. My uncle Henry (the one I mentioned in this post) can no longer play a guitar any longer nor even securely hold it due to a stroke. As Wyatt said in his post, it’s all a result of the fallen world in which we live, but thanks to our Savior, we can be happy and thankful while those gifts last in this life and look forward to even greater gifts in the life to come.
Absolutely beautiful! I’ve been hoping that we’d get to hear more of Granny and Pap’s singing. The harmony is just amazing. I hope you can share more of them singing together. What a treasure! Thank you, Paul and I love the picture also.
Thank you, Tipper. Your Mom and Dad made some beautiful music. Reminds me of those fourth, special Saturdays every month where church would have “Singings,” and groups from all around would come, share their music. Your Mom still has a beautiful voice, but it was a lot stronger back then.
Anytime you post info about your family, it brings a soft feeling to us because we grew up in that era, my Hubby and I. We are almost the same age as Grammy. He also has an ear for tones or tunes as he has and plays the Steel Guitar. Actually he has one of a rather famous, in his time, Hal Rugg and Jimmy Day. Both are now deceased, but Hal’s playing can still be heard when you play Loretta Lynn and others. Prayers for Granny and you guys…ps going thru my seeds again today as Sunday is NOT a work day…His Granny use to say, if you work on Sunday, the Lord will get ya.
God bless you Paul, God bless your family when I listen to Granny and pap sing, I could hear Katie and Corey, God bless you fr, God bless Granny with healing and health in Jesus name
Outstanding! I truly enjoyed this post today before going to church. Pap & Granny sang so beautifully together. I would love to see you put together their songs on a CD to sell for the world to enjoy. I hear Katie & Corie’s voices in Granny’s as these songs are sung. Thank you, Paul for the wonderful post & music today.
Precious! My husband and I have sung together at memorial services including my mother’s. Our favorite for such occasions is “It Is Well With My Soul” to the accompaniment of the guitar his parents bought for him for his eighteenth birthday.
I played it last night from YouTube and throughly enjoyed it! I’m up to listen to lots more of them sing! Happy Sunday morning.
Really beautiful. The history is so interesting.
i loved hearing “He set me free” this morning…thank you for sharing and i agree with the others i love these older songs especially the more upbeat ones,,,
So beautiful!!!
I love these songs. It does my old heart good to hear songs of my you, thank you so much for sharing! God bless you and yours!❤❤
Thank you for sharing this! God bless you all.
I agree, Paul. The switching between lead and harmony is interesting. To me, it is an illustration of marriage Couples sort themselves by their strengths, interests and the needs of the times. But the sorting is a give and take. The joining of two into one is kinda like fitting two puzzle pieces together, a bit ‘puzzling’ at first but snug in time. And, as has been mentioned, it would be interesting to do just an audio test with Katie, Cory and Granny each singing the same song solo to see if folks could correctly identify each. I think Granny sorta sounds like each or they both sound much like her?
Ron,
Interesting post and idea. I don’t know if we can do that sort of test, but since everyone hears a resemblance in their voices, there must surely be a big one. I was just thinking that what might please a lot of viewers is for Katie and Corie to sing a song with Granny! I’m going to pitch the idea to them soon. 🙂
Rarely will the old man come asking “WHOS THAT?” Well he came shuffling in QuickTime to see who was doing the beautiful singing! I showed him Granny, Pap and little Paul or Steve and informed him that’s the gal in NC’s mother and daddy and another feller. He hung on listening to every note which is not the usual. I must say I enjoyed this singing very, very much myself!!! Thank you, Paul for this trip in the WAY BACK MACHINE! I might add I hear Granny’s beautiful tones in Chitter’s and Chatter’s singing. Talk about time making a change in us all!!! I liked the near last song best though-the old sinner got saved!!! ‘Bout made me leak from the eyes. Granny is the PRECIOUS TREASURE! We love her and y’all are lucky to have her knitting and loving ya. You’re greatly blessed! Hug and make over her for me and her many fans!!! The best day of my life was the day I gave up and let JESUS take the wheel! Never a moment of regret over getting saved- just regretting not doing it sooner!!!
Amen !
So wonderful! Paul thank you for so carefully preserving and sharing your family’s musical heritage!
I love those wonderful old gospel tunes and your parents sang them beautifully.
Paul, loved hearing Granny and Pap sing!!! I have to leave to get to early service and Sunday School but I will listen to the rest when I get back home. Granny is a “Star.”
Oh my goodness! I just spent the most beautiful Lord’s Day morning with Pap and Granny! Thank you so much Paul for sharing their voices with us. What a blessing!
This is the kind of music that was played and sang in community churches when I was a youngster…and today it still is. Here in the Tennessee valley, we’re fortunate to have talented men Tony Thomas, David West and John Alvis playing, singing and keeping this music very much alive. We all live in the Museum of Appalachia’s back door!
Thanks for sharing your post. Blessings to all the family.
Our local library offers a wide range of educational and entertainment programs. They just added a sit-in session for folks who like to gather to play string music–acoustic only and, by rule, no drums. The first session had a crowd of musicians and listeners. I’m sure they will schedule more such events. People with varying levels of skill played guitars, mandolins, banjos, fiddles and bass guitar. Chord progressions were projected on a screen for each song. It all sounded great. A lady led the session at the mike. My wife and I enjoyed it. I might introduce that group to my banjo-ukelele one of these days, if I’m not to deaf to tune it now.
I have now listened to today’s video and the other older video I mentioned in my first comment. I enjoyed both of them. I bet if y’all would beg her, Granny would be willing to give lessons. I read the comments from the post “On Heaven’s Bright Shore” and laughed at Regina’s comment about her mother saying “the only thing I can pick is my nose.” I tell everyone “I can’t play a radio without getting static.” I do enjoying listening to the singing and guitar playing by Tipper’s family.
Gene,
That sounds like a lot of fun. You should tune up and head there to join in the music. If you’re a little out of tune, I promise you won’t be the only one. 🙂
Thank you for sharing this recording of songs of Pap & Granny on tape singing together. What a precious family to learn more about through a blog & YouTube. Thank you Paul for making this post.
Thanks for a great start to the Lord’s Day! Keep the songs coming.
Happy Sunday! Love praising our Lord along with the singing video of Pap and Granny. What a blessing!
How can I express the joy of sitting with my coffee at 6:30 a.m., listening to these glorious songs and voices? The talents of Pap and Granny are simply endless, and it brings me true joy to hear these songs. I hope to hear Paul and Granny’s singing and recordings of all of them. And when I hear the girls singing, I hear Granny in Cory’s voice and Paul’s voice in Katie. The talents of this family are blessings that reach far and wide, all the way up in northern Michigan, and I don’t remember how I even found you on the Internet, but I have been so blessed by every one of you.
I loved the video! It made me feel all sorts of emotions. Sadness, because of the fact we get older and some are gone now. Happiness, because it is so special to get to hear such beautiful music. Joy, because of the words and content. What a treasure to have these recordings and what a blessing to be able to share them with us.
God bless you Laura Lee Baird
beautiful!
Wonderful! I loved this and started crying; this singing brought back such excellent memories – of Mom playing and us all sitting around and singing. I was 18 years old in 1966. Thank you so much, Tipper, and, yes, please post more photos like this. Mary Jane Simmons Bryan (the one whose family is from Summers County, West Virginia)
I first listened to this video yesterday on the BP&A Channel. It is just wonderful. How amazing it must have been to grow up listening to your parents playing and singing all the time. Their voices just go together so perfectly. …and yes, we all do love Granny, and the whole family!
I will listen to this again and again. Thanks for sharing.
I typed my name too fast again today. Lol.
Brenda
Thank you for sharing. Beautiful music. So glad the love of God and music is shared by your family throughout the generations and now shared with countless others.
What a true treasure you have in these videos and recordings. They almost sound like one at times. Beautiful harmony. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you for sharing Pap & Granny singing. It’s so beautiful and the harmony is outstanding. Please share more of their singing together and you and Granny singing as well. It’s like you said…. She’s the star of the show.
A hidden gem were so glad came to light with the rest of your family!!
I haven’t listen to today’s songs yet, it would best for health to not wake up my son and grandson right now. I do not understand a lot of the “musical” terms Paul writes about, I only know what sounds good to me and what don’t sound good. I love all of the songs (especially the old time hymns) I hear sung by the Wilson brothers, Paul and Pap, and the girls, Chitter and Chatter. I often listened to it on You Tube. I have been loving listening to Granny sing, she does not have to take a back seat to any of you. Right now, I am seeing the older post- On Heaven’s Bright Shore, and I think that is a song I have heard sung in church a long time ago and will read and listen to it latter on today.
I am not trying to take anything away from Pap, Paul, or any others by saying this, my late father in law reminds me of Pap in more ways than one. He was a musician and had a small band all of his adult life, they never sang professionally but often sung in churches and for benefits or on Saturday nights at each other’s homes but no where if alcohol might be present. One of his greatest joys was going to the area nursing homes and having a devotion and singing for ones in these homes. He or the band members never asked for any pay for doing this. He along with all of his band members made their living by working blue collar jobs. Much of his music is recorded on old reel to reel tapes tapes, later on very cheap cassette recorders, and some on VHS tapes. The reel to reel Sears tape recorder (50’s, 60’s) is still in the cabinet he kept it in. I guess much of his music will be lost now and never be played again on these tapes.
Your
Randy, those old R/R tapes will still play. Mine from the ’50s do. Why don’t you set up the old Sears machine and see what happens? It might need new belts, but maybe not. I’m sure it is a 2-track recorder, which means those tapes would play on any brand 2-track recorder/player. My old Grundig (German-made) machine wore out years ago. I have a 3-track unit now, and it won’t play my old tapes, darn it! I’m thinking of going shopping, or trading. I want to hear our old rock-a-billy band again from Army days. I also taped my collection of 78 r.p.m. records before selling them. Some were early recordings from vaudeville days.
Randy,
Thank you for sharing that info. I bet your dad’s band sounded great. Gene gave some good advice below. if you’re intimidated a little by the thought of trying to operate the reel to reel or afraid the tapes might be damaged some how, there’s a company called Legacy Box that accepts old cassettes, VHS tapes, and other old formats and converts everything to CD, DVD, or jump drive for you. It’s around $9 per tape. You should look into it. They send the originals back to you. I bet it would be great for you to hear that music again. Good luck!