Ray, Henry, and Jerry (Pap) – The Wilson Brothers
The first album Pap and his brothers ever made, “Words of Life,” will be 50 years old in September. Yesterday I helped Paul shoot a video with a couple of our cousins to celebrate the upcoming event. He’ll be sharing it near the exact date of the recording so be on the lookout for it.
I really enjoyed listening to the three discuss the music that has literally been part of our entire lives.
Myself and cousin Brian were about three and four years old when it was recorded. Paul and cousin Maria weren’t even born.
During the filming everyone learned something they didn’t know previously and everyone wished they knew the answers to questions that can’t be answered today.
Over the years I’ve shared a few of the songs from the album for my weekly Pickin’ and Grinnin’ in the Kitchen Spot. Paul is planning on uploading the entire album without all the talking so folks can listen to the songs uninterrupted.
There are quite a few original songs that Pap wrote on the album. The one I’m sharing today is “He Showed Me What was Best for Me.” A few years ago Paul had a lyrics video made for the song.
I hope you enjoyed the song! If you’re like me you’ll have it going round and round in your head for the rest of the day 🙂
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Like my mom used to say, “that’s toe-tappin’ music!” Love the message too!
You’re right, I’ll have his song it in my head for awhile. What a great tribute to be doing this in honor of your Pap. Really is a great song. You sharing all these musical memories with us is incredibly sentimental and sweet.
I loved it because it is peppy but gets the message across.
I love the song; they sang so good together. It will be extra nice if Paul can put together the entire album.
Also, love the picture of your dad holding you when you were so tiny. Treasured moments. God bless.
Loved the song today & the Dancing words too.Praying for your sweet Mom. I got your cookbook in the mail & I love it, but was disappointed that it was not signed. I could’ve sworn I checked the spot to have it signed. I fried me some cabbage!
I love the song but all the words jumping onto the screen from all different directions in all different sizes makes me have to turn away. I know it’s my problem, my eyes or my brain. I considered not saying anything but maybe there are other people like me reading this who are afraid or embarrassed to say anything.
Gene, my feelings about today’s songs are the same as yours. I once heard a preacher call these new songs “dementia music” – you say the same words over and over for 10 minutes. I am sure we have had some younger people leave because we still preach the the old fashion sermons and sing the old hymns but at the same time others have joined the church because they didn’t like the “feel good” sermons and songs sung at some of today’s churches.
A list of songs sung at my church today
He Lives-Opening Hymn
Mansion Over The Hilltop
I Need Thee Every Hour
Softly And Tenderly-Invitation
yeah Tipper you sure can’t help but pat your foot right along with the music. I hadn’t heard that one before. I like it.
Those are hymns from my childhood. There is nothing better than the old hymns.
I love the song! Pap was a great songwriter and love his tenor vocals as well. What a legacy for your family
Brenda T – Thank you very much for your well wishes!! I hope you have a wonderful week!!!
Donna. : )
Love the song. Sweet picture of you being held by your Dad.
Good Afternoon, Randy!
Thank you for your comment to mine! I enjoyed reading it very much! I truly believe that when we cry in sadness or joy (sometimes something simply brings so much happiness to us, we express it in tears) – I believe it is from the Holy Spirit that we are able to shed those tears. I realize that there are times we are in shock, or so numb, that we can’t show any kind of emotion, but I believe the Holy Spirit is with us in those times as well (shock or numbness is a defense to protect us during those moments). Never apologize for crying! Tears ducts are part of the wonderful creation God made in the anatomy and physiology of the human body. They are for a purpose. I would love to hear your recordings of your father-in-law and family! My favorite kind of music is the kind made by families and friends singing and playing instruments together. I love hymns! I collect hymnals because I love reading them like a book!! The lyrics to the hymns are definitely inspired by God! Also, at least you are brave enough to sing out loud with others around you! I only whisper sing unless I am by myself. : ).
Donna. : )
What is a person has heard the original recordings and enjoys it “because” of the background sounds? What if people talking and laughing with special appearances by little people are the highlights of the recordings?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY JANE “TIPPER” WILSON PRESSLEY!
Many happy returns and many more.
ps: If I have the dates reversed, please let me know. My recollection is that Granny’s birthday is the 5th and yours is the 6th (which is also my mama’s birthday).
Robert-My birthday is August 5 and Miss Cindy’s is August 6 🙂 So you were for sure on the right track!
He showed me what was best for me!! Wow & oh how true! I absolutely love that!!!! Love their voices. Y’all are down to earth like me & how I was raised! ❤️❤️
For Brenda and Donna, the family has many recordings of my father in law and of others that sang and played with him. They are on old reel to reel tapes made with a Sears recorder, cassettes and VHS tapes, unfortunately most are not labeled. It would take many hours or days to go through them. Donna when you read of me saying many hours listening to the Wilson Bros. or Pap, Paul and the girls it is often because I am down and having a pity party. Truth is I often cry when listening to them singing the old hymns. It was said at church this morning that these old hymns came either from Biblical scripture or the Holy Spirit inside of the one that wrote them. As for musical talent, I wrote Jim Casada a few days after reading his July newsletter and told him I can not play a radio without getting static and the last time I tried to sing at church, my dear lifetime friend that sits on the pew in front of me thought I was having some kind of a medical emergency and started dialing 911. She says the Bible says make a joyful noise not a painful noise! One other thing you can’t learn talent by going to school and studying music, you either have it or you don’t, and Tipper’s family is ate up with talent.
Jim Casada has a newsletter?
Do tell!!
I was lucky to have heard the Wilson Brothers in person, both in concert at the Folk School and informally at Clay’s Corner. It was always an inspiring experience! I treasure their CD’s!
I always look forward to your Sunday posts. Love the song! Still saying prayers for your Mama. I hope everyone has a blessed and joyful day.
Found myself swaying in my chair listening to that wonderful tune. Prayers and love to Granny and all of you.
Love the energy! Will definitely be humming that one all day!
Loved the song and I don’t think there is one that I have not enjoyed hearing from any of your family. Ya’ll are definitely blessed with talent beyond measure. Loved hearing Granny sing with Paul a while back. I would have loved to have heard Granny sing with Pap also. Have a blessed Sunday everyone!!
I certainly enjoyed listening to them all! My Grandmother and her Brother both played the piano and all the old hymns. Before my Father passed I happened to ask him what he enjoyed doing the most with his 4 brothers, thinking it would be hunting or some game but he said,” Sunday mornings gathered around Mommy at the piano singing before we left for church.” That is a sweet memory in my mind!
P.S. – that was supposed to be “sorry I haven’t commented everyday like I wanted to” – not the word post! Soon, I am hoping my brain will return along with physical energy! Now you see why I don’t attempt to comment right now – but I have been enjoying your channels and blogs! Friends bring comfort, and you guys have brought a ton to me!
Donna. : )
I have now listen to today’s song and it is a toe tapper, I like it. The STP sticker stuck on the back window of the car ( maybe early 60’s Chevy) in the picture reminded me of my teenage years in high school when us boys would stick these STP stickers on our notebooks, most of us didn’t have a car.
I am excited about the upcoming videos of the Wilson Brothers!! They are my favorite group to listen to! I love every song you and Paul have posted!!! Your Mom is continuously in my prayers all day. I am sorry I haven’t been able to start posting everyday again, yet, like I wanted to. I took a big step backward with covid this week and had a really rough week. But God is very good!! The Blind Pig and the Acorn music are good medicine to listen to! Your Dad, the Wilson Brothers, Paul, and the girls helped carry me through what could have been quite a few pity parties for myself, but instead turned into parties of praise to my Savior! Thank you for posting every video you have on all three channels!!!
Donna. : )
Donna Sue-I am praying for you!!
Donna-hope you get well soon
First off- Happy 50th Anniversary of Wilson Brothers wonderfully uplifting and harmonious album! I think this song’s got a happy message and the brothers all sing very well with each other as only family can do! My family couldn’t carry tunes in a bushel basket, but the Wilson’s have God given musical talent nobody can deny! Thanks, Tipper for the share and pictures too. Those Wilson’s were a handsome bunch, huh!? God bless Granny (Miss Evelyn) and keep your whole family! You’re a remarkable bunch of people who do us hillbillies proud!!!
Thanks Tipper, that was really great, enjoyed it, top message. God Bless All.
That is a great song, a wonderful way to start a Sunday morning right before church!
Tipper, your family is so fortunate to have all these recordings by the Wilson brothers. Not many people have memories at all!
I’m blessed today because Zoey my 8 year old great granddaughter is getting baptized because she accepted Jesus as her savior. My son, who’s is pastor, gets to do the honors.
Have a great Sunday and continued prayers for all the family.
Brenda-how wonderful!!
Such a great song! And that was an electric guitar ? It sure is a catchy tune. I am going to play that for my family to hear. Such a wonderful legacy you all have in their music and to have it all recorded is such a treasure! Thank you for sharing it.
Loved it! What a blessing to be uplifted this beautiful Sunday morning with a cheerful song of gratitude. Thank you, Lord Jesus for your redeeming power filled with grace and thank you Lord for Tipper and all her family.
what a talented family. I loved the song and will look forward to the video.
your Dad and his brother Ray in the first photo look like twins, the all l9ok like clos3 family, but wow. love the song
My husband and I really enjoyed this song. Pap wrote some good words- words that make you think! God is good to have given him those words that blessed us today. You are right, the peppy tune will stay with us. Praying for y’all. Tell Granny God’s got this. Just keep trusting Him. Take care and God bless ❤️
You have such a rich history in your family!
Tipper,
Love that close harmony and upbeat style.
Prayers for Granny and you all.
Our Congregational church in Marlborough CT has a blue grass band, Soulful Blue. They get we staid New Englanders clapping and whooping.
prayers for granny , much love .God sent his word and healed granny, by his stripes Louzine was healed, any weapon formed against Louzine shall not, shall not prosper in Jesus name
Hallelujah Hallelujah, praise God ♥️✝️
My goodness, what catchy tune and love the words I bet watching them actually play and sing that song would have been fun to see cause the words bear repeating. That would make you tap you toes and slap your thigh or clap you hands. The girls should think about doing that one. Praying for Granny, of course, and hoping for a good path for her. God Bless you all.
50 years ago me and the little girl that was the love of my life were making wedding plans. I was 19 and she had just turned 18 (Aug. 3rd). Counting the time we “went together” this year in October would be 51 and a half years. My future father in law that would become one of my best friends loved the Wilson Brothers and often spoke of them. He was also a musician but not professionally. I love all of the gospel songs sung either by the Wilson Brothers or Pap and the rest of the “gang”. Now I spend many hours listening to the good old time hymns sung by them on you tube. For me, today’s religious songs don’t have the same meaning or message as the old time hymns do. I will have to play today’s song a little later, doing it right now and maybe waking up my son might not be healthy!
Randy, we have a small group that sings the good old hymns in Sunday School–they call it “Life Group here.
I can’t learn to appreciate the modern songs and choruses they sing in worship service. I’ve tried. I’m not saying they’re bad songs. Young people, including my granddaughters, love them.