Overnight on the third evening of our cruise to the Bahamas, my wife was awakened by my voice coming from the bathroom of our cabin. “Can someone come help me!” was the plea that she heard. I wasn’t yelling, but I was speaking in a voice louder than what I usually use. She got up,… Continue reading SOS from the USS Sunshine
Author: elvisgumby
Fingerpicking
My parents encouraged me to learn how to play a lot of different instruments over the years. At some point, I picked up a harmonica. This came natural enough that I would play it at churches with my cousin Sammy accompanying me when we performed at churches. Another instrument that I got around this time… Continue reading Fingerpicking
Guidance from Don and John
After I started writing a few songs, I had a chance to play some of them for a couple of friends who were professional musicians. Don is a professional piano player who has accompanied many well-known artists. He was also one of my mom’s piano students when he was first getting his start. He suggested… Continue reading Guidance from Don and John
Birthday 2023
In keeping with my tradition, I’m sharing this list of gifts that I received from my wife for my birthday month. I admire her creativity in her diversity of items on the list. I help her along with suggestions, knowing that she is going to do this each year and trying to steer her to… Continue reading Birthday 2023
My Son’s First Guitar
I mentioned in an earlier post that my son had a good guitar before I had one. When he got the guitar bug, he wanted an electric guitar. We bought him a Red Squier Stratocaster starter pack with the upgraded amplifier. He had enough natural music talent and drive to be able to learn what… Continue reading My Son’s First Guitar
Mom on Sharps and Flats
Starting in high school and though college, I had more opportunities to play at weddings and other events where I had to play songs on piano where I wasn’t just accompanying myself singing. Sometimes these were instrumentals where I could cheat and play in a more comfortable key. Other times, I was playing for someone… Continue reading Mom on Sharps and Flats
Glenda’s Wedding
Through junior high and high school, I continued to perform in a variety of situations. I would sing with my cousin Sammy, play organ for beauty pageants, and accompany myself on piano at church and occasional talent shows at school. I rarely played anything that challenged me to expand my skills. I was mainly getting… Continue reading Glenda’s Wedding
Graceland Piano Mystery
My brother-in-law expressed an interest in going to Graceland with me. He’s been my brother-in-law for 37 years and I’ve been going to Graceland for 21 of those years. The time for him to go was long overdue. My wife and I planned to take his girlfriend and him to Graceland for his birthday in… Continue reading Graceland Piano Mystery
Piano Lessons
There were several times when I was growing that mom started teaching me piano. I wouldn’t practice as often as I should, and I never made it very far into the lesson books to anything advanced. At some point, mom negotiated with Mrs. Dean Norville to give my sister and I piano lessons and in… Continue reading Piano Lessons
Everything in the Key of F
While I was able to play songs on the organ and accompany myself singing on the piano, there were still limitations to what I was able to play. My dirty secret was that I only knew how to play songs in the key of F. I think part of this was due to the way… Continue reading Everything in the Key of F