.
 |
In the early 1960s, I got a degree from the University at Chapel Hill in Journalism, but I was also a fledgling musician studying the modern folk songs of Johnny Cash and Buck Owens.
I wanted a guitar, and a kid down the hall had one. He hadn’t learned to play it, said he’d swap it for a pair of brass knuckles.
I had no interest in brass knucks but knew a pawn shop where they sold for $2, bought quickly and became a guitar owner.
They said George Jones liked simple country ballads with just three chords. Nashville, Tenn., songwriter Harlan Howard was once asked what a country music fan looked for in a song. He said, “Three chords ... and the truth.”
I soon learned the three chords and could beat along, playing rhythm but not the melody’s lead line, with most country and gospel songs. No problem. It’s easier to sing if you’re playing an instrument; it will keep you in tune and the correct timing.
Learned all the words to Tom Jones’ song “Stay Until Tomorrow” and, singing with a five-piece band, wearing a knockout powder-blue leisure suit, I enjoyed our gig at the Loudermilk reunion at Bellview. They paid us $5 per man in cash, and we got all the food we could eat. 1970s high life.
Piano man, primitive style
For years I ignored the small piano in our living room, for our four kids to learn on. They dutifully had lessons, played in annual recitals. I had some lessons as a child but was not interested at all.
Then I had a dramatic conversion experience. I heard the great country musician Ronnie Milsap (playing a piano) singing “Almost Like a Song.” I believe I can play that. And I did.
Over the next several years, taught myself to play entirely by ear, simple technique based on those three chords, play loud and keep smiling, they’ll never know.
Bought a nice used Roland keyboard at a Franklin pawn shop in 2000s and joined a country band for a while, playing for money.
Good lesson one Saturday night at Hiawassee, Ga. Standard pay was half the gate money, but George Jones was playing that night at the fair. So instead of $40 or $50 per man, we each got just $10 for entertaining a very small crowd. Jones was tough competition.
Critics abound
Have written in this space recently that everybody needs to get the anti-Covid-19 vaccine. Lots of support for my view, but also some opposed, too.
One letter to the editor said I was a good guy. But he didn’t care for my Sunday school teaching and my guitar playing sucks. Shucks, I could have told him about the guitar playing if he’d asked.
I much prefer a keyboard instrument these days and hardly pick up my guitar. Only similiarity between Chet Atkins and me is we’re both white.
It’s true, I have taught the adult Sunday school class at the Methodist church in downtown Murphy for many years.
And have told the
members many times they ought to get somebody decent for the job. It’s their own fault they have to sit there and listen to me pepper the lesson with my hillbilly stories.
On second thought, considering critics and the state of the world today, maybe I should have kept that set of brass knucks.
Wally Avett first wrote for the Cherokee Scout as editor in 1969. His books are available as signed copies at the Scout office in Murphy. Call him at 837-5531 or email wallyavett@gmail.com.