My dad played the mandolin as a young man. Along with his brother, who played guitar, they were invited to entertain at square dances held at homes in the community. This was a common form of entertainment in the country during the Depression.
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| "The Musicians" Roy, at left with his guitar, and Henry with his mandolin. |
They also sang along with the music, and had quite a repertoire I'm told. I don’t ever recall hearing my dad play the mandolin, but I did hear him sing! Around the house, anytime he was happy. He also was one of the song leaders at church.
Mother related a story today about his mandolin-playing days.
The brothers were performing “High-Steppin’ Mama Blues,” a 1929 hit by Gene Autry, at the home of a neighbor. The lady of the house for some reason took offense at their choice of song and promptly asked them to leave. Perhaps she thought the song was directed at her? Who knows? But I thought it was a funny story!
Gene Autry performing his 1929 hit, "High Steppin' Mama Blues on YouTube
We know that my dad requested in a letter to his mother in 1938 that his mandolin be sent to him when he was at a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in Oregon. In a letter to my mother, he wrote he had received it -- stating his mother told him she was sending it against her better judgement, because if she did not send it, his return home was reassured! Apparently, the mandolin was a prized
possession and something he didn't want to do without for long.
In other letters, we learned he played the instrument regularly at social functions at the CCC.
For some reason, however, my dad didn’t take the instrument
from his childhood home place when he married. At a later time when he went to retrieve it, the instrument was gone. Perhaps it was lent out and never returned. He always lamented the loss of his mandolin.
I wish I had asked him, when we still had him with us, how he had come to own the
instrument, how much it cost, how he learned to play.
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| Credit
Photo of a 1918 mandolin. I searched images and this is the one that more closely resembles the one he's pictured with above.
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But most of all I wish now we
had bought him another one. Why didn't we think about doing it?
I posed the question to mother. Had he lost
interest in playing, was the instrument too expensive to purchase, was he too busy raising a family
and making a living to pursue his musical enjoyment?
What I wouldn’t give to hear my dad play the mandolin now. But when I hear that twangy, bluesy sound I never fail to think of him.
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| Daddy as a young man I didn't inherit his curly locks! |
Thank you, Daddy, for the music you once made and for passing on to my sister and me your musical abilities (as limited as mine are).
What a bittersweet story Sanda, and I can imagine how you would have loved to hear your father play the mandolin, a very attractive musical instrument. It is sad when cherished objects disappear from the family home. Your Dad was a handsome guy, wasn't he?
ReplyDeleteWishing to have that mandolin, even if I cannot hear my dad play it! Yes, thank you, Patricia; he was quite handsome!
Deleteit's a blessing to have such sweet memories! we'll always have questions we'll wish we had asked.
ReplyDeleteI believe having fond memories of childhood makes adulthood easier in some cases. So true; so many things we wish we'd asked. So much my grandmother could have told me if only I'd asked. When we are young we don't care as much. It's only when we're older that we regret having not asked.
DeleteThis makes me sad...and happy. Sometimes things just pass over our heads...why didn't we buy him another but Daddy was so into his family he never expressed an interest for anything except all of us being together. He was a sweet kind and loving person. I can remember him playing the mandolin at Christmas at his parents house. How much I miss him too. Thanks for the memories sis.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you heard him play. Perhaps I was too young to remember him playing at granddaddy's house, or just too little to pay attention. He was one of the sweetest men in the world!
DeleteWhat a delightful story about your handsome father.When we are young we take relatives for granted later we wish we knew more about their earlier lives.I did inherited my father's curls,spent the rest of my life trying to strighten it!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Judith. Life is strange in that way. Only when it's too late do we want to know more (in most cases). I always wished I'd inherited my dad's curly hair; I imagine you wish you hadn't! The grass is always greener on the other side.
DeleteSuch a lovely story...music always becomes a special part of one's life...even when the instrument is gone, the music stays behind....hope you have a lovely week Sanda
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mona. Music does define us in so many ways. You hear a song the the memories come flooding back - where you were and what you were doing when you listened to the song regularly.
DeleteThanks for sharing the story of your dad and his mandolin. Maybe your dad simply didn't want a duplicate mandolin, since the original held a special meaning?
ReplyDeleteNo one in my immediate family plays or sings, we're much more DIY & gardening people :-) and we love to play cards and board games.
That could be, Anna. Or maybe he felt he'd outgrown his earlier music interest. My family is/was into gardening as well. I think it runs deep in the blood, which is my excuse, anyway. We never played many games/cards as a family - just Rook. I later became addicted to board games as a young teenager, but never play them any more. I'd like to learn chess.
DeleteInteresting how musicians seem to have blossomed during the depression era. There are loads of musicians from the NE of England (Sting, Eric Burdon and Mark Knopfler are three names off the top of my head). Economic conditions up here have never been as good as in the South and certainly in the post war era young men had little opportunities to work unless they made them for themselves. These days it seems to be more the dream to be a footballer (soccer), but if you are really good I think music has better long term potential. My dad had a guitar when I was growing up, but I can't say I ever heard him play it.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course, the Beatles come to mind as well! I think you are correct, even today many find their route from poverty to riches through music. One must obviously have the talent though.
DeleteWhat a great story about your Dad. I'd never heard "High Stepping Momma" before so thanks for the clip. The song cracked me up. Funny that the women you mention ran them off for singing it.
ReplyDeleteDarla
I'd never heard the song either, but when my mother told me the song the guys were playing when they were asked to leave, I found the recording on YouTube. It was funny that she told them to leave. Hit her the wrong way I suppose.
DeleteYour dad and his brother looks like such fun guys. Did anyone ever call him "Curly"? My father (who also had curly hair) said that was the nickname for all men with curly hair. But my father was also a great joker, so who knows?
ReplyDeleteI don't recall that anyone ever called my dad Curly. In face, I don't know of any nickname he ever had. I'll have to ask my mother if he had one when he was young. A few of his nieces called him Hennie-Penny, since his name was Henry. That's the only nickname I recall, although it was limited to a few people.
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