Thanks to all who left me such encouraging feedback on my initial post! One of those comments was made by the Weavers, long-time acquaintances from the time when both our families were serving in the ministry in Louisiana. They knew a singing evangelist whose father had taught singing schools in Arkansas, in the same area that my parents live. The singer's name is Reggie Payte. This information made me want to do some follow-up. I emailed my Daddy, Travis Watson, to see if he knew Reggie Payte. And here is what I found:
He knows someone who knows Reggie Payte (isn't that how things are down south?) BUT he did know Reggie Payte's father Olin Payte! Olin Payte sang in the Hartford Quartet (out of Little Rock, AR) at the same time as Daddy's next older brother, Lloyd Watson. Now Daddy is not exactly sure when it was that they sang together, but says it was either in the late 1940's or early 1950's. [That is close enough for me. I love history, but am not a slave to exact dates. My theory is that you should be able to place important events in the correct decade.] I passed this information on to the Weaver's and to my cousin, Donna, the family historian and daughter of my Uncle Lloyd. She was glad to know the name of the quartet, as she had given up trying to find it. Aren't I the helpful one?!
The history lover in me couldn't leave it there, so off I go to bing and search "Hartford Quartet, Little Rock, AR", not really expecting to find anything since I had never heard of this quartet. I was excited to find it popped up very quickly. There was a blog that chronicles the history of gospel quartets (who knew?), so I click and go.
I didn't learn anything new about my uncle or Olin Payte, but I did find out that Albert E. Brumley sang with the Hartford Quartet beginning in 1929. If that name sounds vaguely familiar to you, then you have probably sung "I'll Fly Away," "The Blood That Stained the Old Rugged Cross," or any one of his many other songs. The blog called him "the most prolific white gospel songwriter." I have a copy of a book of his songs. It was compiled by his daughter, who had a resource table at the Arkansas State Singing Convention that I attended a few years ago.
What does all this have to do with my journey in song? Wait for it.....
When I was in the 3rd grade at South Heights School, in Sapulpa, OK, I sang a fairly new song in the school talent show. It was the first time I remember singing anywhere other than church. The name of the song was, "It's Bound to Be the Lord" by Albert E. Brumley. It was published in 1963 by the Stamps Baxter Music Co., in their Golden Harvest book. It is a very happy memory for me. I can still sing that song from memory, all 3 verses. It was probably written for quartets or convention singing, but it is an excellent song for a children's choir. I doubt that today's society would allow a child to sing a song about God and His creation in the public school talent show, but it is their loss. I am happy that my school was not like that.
That little rabbit trail was not on my original map, but I am really glad I chased it down. If anyone is interested in "The Best of Albert E. Brumley", please contact Albert E. Brumley and Sons, Powell, MO 65730.
Psalm 18:49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. --KJV
I grew up in a gospel music family. In fact, my father grew up in a gospel music family. My grandparents, Clifford and Clara Watson raised four boys and taught them to sing gospel music.
In those days, there would be a "singing" on Saturday. People would bring food for the "potluck" lunch. They would sing all morning, break for lunch, and go back and sing all afternoon. They sang from "convention" songbooks, published for the purpose of use by the gospel singings. Stamps Baxter was a popular book.
In the summer, there would be "singing schools", usually taught by someone from the publisher of the song book. I remember attending these in my teen years. The one that I attended was held at Greenhill Methodist Church, in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. It was taught by Robert S. Arnold. Mr. Arnold wrote "No Tears in Heaven" and many other gospel songs. He wore the old-fashioned, round, horn-rimmed glasses. I thought he looked like an owl.
I was 12 the first time I went to singing school. We had just moved to a new town and I didn't know anyone. But I had grown up singing gospel music. My daddy was the music director at every church I had ever been in. Singing was the one thing I was not shy at doing. However, Mr. Arnold took me out of my comfort zone when he declared that each of us would learn how to direct the singing. I was shy, and terrified at standing in front of the church and directing the singing. In Mr. Arnold's class, no one could opt out of any segment of the school. So, I learned how to beat the time for every time signature.
We learned all the fundamentals of singing. The emphasis of the singing school is sight singing. The songbooks are written with shaped notes, because many of the old-time singers did not know the lines and spaces of the staff. They learned the do-re-mi method, where each note has a distinctive shape. I am sure it would come back to me, but all I remember of the shapes is that "do", which is the base chord or the key in which the song is written, is a triangle.
I wish everyone could experience an old-fashioned gospel singing. My daddy still has one in Hot Springs Arkansas. I believe they meet on the 4th Thursday of the month. Everyone brings food for eating after the singing. When you arrive, there is a sign-in sheet for those who want to lead a song, sing a special, etc. Daddy opens the singing and then calls on those who signed in to pick a song from one of the books. They take turns leading a song and everyone sings together. A few will sing a solo or a quartet will sing. This goes on for an hour or so, and then they eat and fellowship. It is a wonderful time of singing about our Lord Jesus all evening.
So, that is how I got on this Journey in Song. In future posts, I will talk about the songs that I have written and the stories behind them.
Psalm 13:6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
