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 …
Author Archives: elvisgumby
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Playing Organ Music at the Mall
My mom developed a close relationship with the owners of the music store where she bought sheet music and lesson books for her piano students. At one point, she worked out a deal with them where they placed an electric organ in our house for demonstration purposes. If someone came to our house and ended …
Bass and Chords
As I was growing up, I continued to pick around on the piano. Occasionally, my mom would start giving me lessons, but I never stuck with them for very long. I wasn’t disciplined enough to stick with practicing the easy songs that were necessary to develop skills needed to play more complicated music. When I …
My First Guitars
I don’t know where my first guitar came from. I suspect that my mom got it from the music store where she bought sheet music when she gave piano lessons. I remember getting a Mel Bay guitar instruction book that showed some simple instructions and chords. As with most other instruments, I would teach myself …
Lisa Marie – American Princess
I have spent too much time at Graceland to not be affected by the death of Lisa Marie Presley. It’s not lost on me that any time that I’ve toured the house, I’ve been touring HER house. She inherited that estate. From what I’ve seen, the family would still use this property for private family …
Trombone
I had my first experience in band in the 5th grade. I played trombone. I don’t remember why I played trombone. It wasn’t like I wanted to play the trombone. I remember that the trombone that I played was provided by the school. I don’t think I was never excited about the trombone, but I …