Martha Keller
I just wanted to write after
glancing over the website you've worked so hard on. You mentioned on there
about hearing from people whose lives have been touched by your grandfather or
by his works. Well, I'm one.
I am 62 years old & I can remember hearing his songs as long as I can remember.
My father was a natural musician. He could play any stringed instrument -
Guitar, Steel Guitar, Hawaiian Guitar, Banjo (4 & 5 string), Electric Guitar ,
Octophone, Piano, Harp Guitar, Auto Harp & the Tenor Guitar. Those are the ones
I can think of. He use to play at local clubs in surrounding towns and really
enjoyed it. The problem was that he belonged to a church that didn't allow
musical instruments. The church was the "Old Order German Baptist Church"
(along the lines of Mennonite only more strict in some ways). He had been
firmly indoctrinated in the beliefs of the church that he tried to follow its
ways but wound up trying to HIDE his music abilities. He was extremely
talented. It was a shame. As he got older he got to singing country music &
Marty Robbins had tried to talk him into going on the road with him but my dad
had church ties that held him back.
He enjoyed listening to the
Sons of the Pioneers. Many of the songs were played on an old Nickelodeon we
had at our house. My mom would put them on when I was just a baby & I would
fall asleep listening to them. She had to stop doing that because I would wake
up at night when she turned them off.
My favorite song your dad did that I could remember was a song I only heard
my grandfather & my dad sing. I never heard Bob Nolan sing it. It was the
only one I learned to sing by heart & I sang it often to myself. Once I had
children, I use to sing it to them too. Now my oldest daughter is pregnant
(about 7 wks.) & she called me up 2 days ago asking for the lyrics to the song,
saying she wanted to raise her baby up like I raised her. She wanted to sing
that song to her baby too. The song is the "King's Highway". I had forgotten
the 1st 2 lines in the 2nd verse & the whole 1st verse.
I can't tell you how much joy it brought to my heart when my daughter found your
website. I told Kerry (my daughter) that Bob Nolan had written the song. She
said she would get on the computer to see if she could find it & she did!
I just wanted to share with you that his songs continue through the generations
just as some of the songs my dad wrote has continued in his family's hearts.
My mom once told me a story of a time she was extremely embarrassed. I don't
know if it was true or not because I was too little to remember it but she said
one time my grandfather & dad had gone to Indy to a club to hear the Sons of the
Pioneers. I guess they met them & I don't know if this was true but she said
they followed my dad back to our house. My dad called to my mom when they
walked into the house she turned around to look up & see the them all staring at
her. She was down on her hands & knees mopping our kitchen floor with a bandana
on her head. Like I said, its just a tale I heard but don't know if it was true
or not. Nice to think so anyway.
I still have some of the old records that I'm trying to get put on CDs. I still
like listening to them.
I do have a question for you. I saw a lot of his songs listed on your website.
Do you know if they have been put on CD or can they be? Would love to get them
if possible.
Many of them are
on CD, Martha. Go to our
Discography page, click on an album cover and
it will take you to the track list.