An octogenarian's love for country music

by Ivan Anandappa

I remember the baby size four stringed miniature guitar shaped musical instrument which was known as the ukelele. If my memory serves me right, this instrument was used originally for the rhythm section by Hawaiian musical groups.

I was about knee high when my eldest brother bought me one. He was a journalist and also a great lover of music. In the good old days we had only monorail sounding gramaphone records. We had an old H.M.V. Gramophone and also an equally ancient large Bush radio.

They gave us a good service. My brother's repertoire of 78. R.M.P. Records, I thought, was a waste of time listening to Victor Sylvester's dance band playing (animal) music like the foxtrot and turkey trot and dance numbers of that sort. Anyway I was given V.I.P. treatment by my brother who bought every available cowboy song on record.

I had Jimmie Rogers and his hit numbers. I still play guitar and sing country songs. Jimmie Rogers, Montana Slim, Jesse Rodgers, Lonestar Cowboys, Gene Autry and songs of the modern day Hall of fame singers.

In the old days it was the socialising, funloving, lovable Burgher community who organised house dances. My brother was a friend of all these youngsters and I could say without even an iota of doubt they too enjoyed his company. As I remember they were participants in almost every house dance. Undesirables among these young men were never heard of.

Greatest love

Getting back to music which was my greatest love and pastime is listening to country music. Listening to the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation's "You call the tune" program brings back nostalgic memories of the good old old bygone days or should it be years.

Very often you hear songs sung by Gene Autry. "Darling how can you forget so soon" and Be honest with me". I can still remember two sisters singing "Be honest with me" on one of their radio programs which was broadcast live when Radio Ceylon was housed at Cotta Road. I maybe wrong, anyway if my memory serves me right, they were the "Kelaart Sisters", who were popular then.

Jimmie Roger's songs were mostly blues. The best of his songs which I still sing are, "She'll be happy in her old sweet home" and Mother the queen of my heart" "The T.B. Blues" was the song that Jim sang about himself and how he suffered.

It was said that he died of tuberculosis. It still is a sad song in my books. His last verse is sad but true. "Gee! But the graveyard sure is a lonesome place. They put you down on your back and throw that mud in on your face".

Reiterating the days of yore I remember one of my brother's friends who was exceptionally talented. Everytime he visited our home my dad used to ask him to sing the particular song that made Frank Sinatra a rising star in Hollywood -"Oh Danny Boy".

He was fondly called Pitman Danny Boy Abraham and his rendition of this song, as the elder folks said, was so full of fervour and perfection. He was so close to be nicknamed Frankie Boy. It didn't last long. Fate played a game and shortened his life span, leaving us with the memory of a fabulous singer and a gentle friend.

Star attraction

Lyle Godrich was another singer we all loved to listen to. I was about 15 or 16 years and in college when he appeared on a show and sang "The Aniversary Waltz". That period was when the college and convent organised shows at the drop of a hat. Lyle was the star attraction.

I suppose it was in the late forties of the beginning of the 1950s that the Commercial Service of Radio Ceylon was inaugurated. I remember the names of some of the officials. There were Clifford Dodd, Steven, Jim Horsington. Greg Rosskoski, Vernon Corea and Jimmy Barucha who helped me when I sang on Talent Corner. C.S.R.C. is the station or should I say the only station that organised Country Music programs.

Hank Snow, Hank Williams, Hank and Thompson were the top artistes at that time. Jim Reeves recorded on 78 RPM with "Gypsy Heart" was on one side and another on the other side. They didn't make the grade. In walked the ever great country guitarist Chet Atkins who showed Jim the road to success. He advised him to sing on a lower key. He re-wrote music and accompanied him on the guitar.

Chet set the music. Jim sang his heart out, "Am I losing you" and "Just call me Lonesome" Jim Reeves became a great star.

I too have had my share of playing country music and singing country songs on a professional level for several years.