BS: Someone who has touched your life

Subject: BS: Someone who has touched your life
From: Stringsinger
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 06:59 PM

A lot of times we hear critics and rants but not often do we mention the people who
had a profound and positive effect on our lives. It seems to me appropriate that we acknowledge those who encouraged us and helped us in our lives and careers.

I'll start. I had a wonderful reading teacher in the 3rd grade who because of her patience with me, encouragement to me made me a life-long lover of reading. Mrs. Bussard helped me to pronounce words, gave me the positive you-can-do-it attitude and brought to her teaching a warmth and compassion. Sometimes you are lucky to run across a gifted teacher like this.

When I first started singing folk songs, Will Geer, the great actor, encouraged my pursuit.
He did it with a gentle humor. I was just a kid and I sang Sam Hall. He thought that was terrific and introduced me to some folks with whom I would later associate, Pete Seeger,
Cisco Houston, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman.

Waldo Salt, the great screenwriter for Midnight Cowboy and Serpico was an active progressive during the McCarthy era. He encouraged me to play at left-wing events.
We called them "bookings" in those days.

Wendell Corey, the actor used to call the radio station KGIL in San Fernando Valley and request my performances. I was just a kid but to have some one like that as a fan played an indelible role in shaping my life.

Bess Lomax Hawes introduced me to traditional folk music. She opened the door for me to hear more and eventually helped me to become a teacher of folk singing and playing.

Bob McAllester was an ex-boxer who loved to help young boys. No, he wasn't the least weird. He taught boxing at the Los Angeles Atheletic Club for kids. I needed a male parent figure and he used to take me to see prize fights. He would explain to me the difference between a "boxer" and a "fighter", the former having footwork and technique.
I never liked to fight but I always cherished his giving to a young kid who need that.

Pete Seeger has helped and encouraged so many people in the folk singing field. His generosity is legendary.

Sam Hinton, a renaissance man, folksinger, folklorist, educator, biologist, oceanographer,
calligrapher, and a great performer in the San Diego area presented me in my first concert in 1952 at San Diego State College. What an amazing time for me.

These are just some examples of the wonderful people who have impacted on my life for the better.

I'd like to hear yours.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: BS: Someone who has touched your life
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 07:44 PM

Oh geeze...

Strangely enough, if was my 3rd grade teacher as well... She was an old spinster who, for reasons unknown, took a liking to me... I remember that as a teenager she once caught me in the woods next to her house with a bunch of my friends... Yeah, we were smoking cigarettes and acting out and she walked back in the woods and worked me over real well even tho she hadn't seen much of me in 10 years... Her name was Miss Dial, like in th soap...

Then there was Will Anderson, an accomplished painter, who taught me to draw... I was like, ahhhhh, 7 years old... I went on to get a degree in "Painting anf Printmaking" at VCU's famed art school...

Then there was my Mom... Smart, hip, radical, antiwar and civil rights activit... But also into the arts and dragged me thru museum and museum as a kid...

John Taylor, a poli-sci professor at VCU who I worked for part time whoes office in the 60's was always filled with radical students arguing about this or that...

Bob Dylan, for making me want to quit playing drums and play a geetar...

Since those major influences I have been okay with life's journey... Sure, I could list lots of others but these were the biggies...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Someone who has touched your life
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 07:46 PM

My kindergarden teacher, Mrs. Casey and my senior English/lit teacher Miss Bertha Clark. Miss Clark was quite formidable and wore her hair in a twisted bun on top of her head. 3 of us wanted to know how long her hair really was so we screwed up our courage, stayed after school one day and asked her.

Would you believe she actually took it down for us??? All the way to the floor!

She could make anyone love The Bard, and also let us get credit for 'Independent Reading'. A treasure of a teacher.

My parents for starting me on 'violin' lessons and their love of all music in general. Stuart Mossman for introducing me to 'fiddle' music (as opposed to violin)

The cop who 'busted' me for shoplifting at age 8. Frog marched me to the cop shop, called my dad who was at work. Believe me, I never, ever, ever stole another thing.

And, my parents just for being who they were. Instilled manners, music, values, trust (too much sometimes maybe) and love.

Subject: RE: BS: Someone who has touched your life
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 08:08 PM

I guess I must be really Catholic, because the first two people who came to mind were a priest and a nun:

Sister John Bosco, O.P., my choir director from fifth to eighth grade. I remember her saying that Ron Benedict and I were "really sharp," and thinking that a compliment. She taught us Gregorian Chant "the right way," and she also organized a harmonica band. I never got much past "O Susanna," but I sure can play that one well.

Father Robert Mueller, who taught me German and music in high school and junior college. I understood he was born in Milwaukee, but I'd swear he was born in Germany. He taught us German drinking songs, and walked the halls in the evening talking German with his students.

These people instilled a love of music and language in me, and that has made a huge difference in my life. And besides that, both were wonderful, loving people.

-Joe-

I have a friend named Marge Lev who speaks of her guitar teacher Frank Hamilton as a major influence in her life - and she is a major influence in mine. She and her husband were my "honorary parents," sitting in the first pew at my wedding.

Subject: RE: BS: Someone who has touched your life
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 08:49 PM

You were lucky, Joe. I never had Honorary Parents. MY parents were the Honoraries for most of the kids in Winfield!

Subject: RE: BS: Someone who has touched your life
From: Jeri
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 09:20 PM

Surprise: my third grade teacher. In the days before anyone had named it 'A.D.D.', I had what was then referred to as a 'discipline problem'. My teacher, whose name I can't even remember right now, made me focus. Luckily, I was able to. It wasn't easy, and I still can't stand being bored or waiting, and I mostly don't even attempt long-term projects, but I can keep from getting into trouble most of the time.

Vaughn Ward, who taught Folklore and Oral Tradition in my high school. I would never have known what traditional music was like. Our class went to Fox Hollow Folk Festival and even put on our own festival with her guidance. I didn't do much but I made the potato soup for the performers and got to meet some really great folks.

Of course, Rick Fielding, friend and musical guru, for inspiration, my self confidence and showing me I should take myself somewhat seriously if I wanted others to.

There are probably others from my past. There are currently local (that includes Maine) friends who give me a home-of-the-heart full of song and craziness.

Subject: RE: BS: Someone who has touched your life
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Oct 07 - 09:37 PM

Ha! My second-grade teacher! Sister Margaret Ann, SSND, who told my mother to get my eyes checked and yup, I needed glasses, and from then on I was reading three or four grades ahead of my grade level.

Brother Hugh Matthew Smith, FSC, my Chemistry and Physics teacher in High School.

Father Jovian P. Lang, OFM, who was my boss, mentor, and who officiated at my wedding (to another of his proteges).

Martha Ward and Dorothy Marquard, two children's librarians at the local public library, who would let NO child go home without at least one book.

My mother, who as a poor widow raised four kids and instilled in them love: of reading, of learning, of honor, of values, of each other and who we've missed every minute of the past 26 years.

My father, who I barely knew, but who I understand won WW2 singlehandedly, wrote every book in existence up to his death in 1950, invented everything worth inventing, and who gave four kids life before his own ended in a construction accident. (His accomplishments were told to us by our mother, and many we figured out on our own.)

My wife. 'Nuff said.

My brothers, my sister.

Carl Landrum, the band director in High School, for giving me a chance to play Third Trumpet, Second Chair.

There are a host of others, as well. Peggy, Marlene, Steve, Bob, Tom, Bob's father....

Subject: RE: BS: Someone who has touched your life
From: Janie
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 01:31 AM

First and foremost my parents, who clearly love unconditionally, have consistently practiced what they preach in their relationships with one another, their children and extended family, their community and their work. And my grandparents, especially my grandmothers. In very different ways, they both had very difficult lives, and both of them lived life on life's terms, with love and generosity, actively seeking joy in every little small corner where it might hide.

Meryl Shank, my high school math teacher for three years. Much more than a math teacher, he mentored me (and others) all through high school. He was brilliant and had lived a very interesting life, using his mathematical genious in some military capacity. He was diabetic and had heart problems that began when he was in his late teens. The diabetes was poorly controlled, and by his mid-30's he knew he was not going to have a long life. What he loved best was teaching and shaping young minds. Knowing he would be lucky to live to be 50, he chucked his career and came home to teach. And he was brilliant at helping adolescents sort through their adolescence. I think he saw himself as a teen in kids like me who couldn't quite figure out how to 'fit in.' He created niches where we did fit in.
He died the year after I graduated high school. It was the first death of some one I loved that I experienced. 40 plus years later, I still go put a flower on his grave now and then when I go home.

Dr. Jugland, a sociology professor. I quit college halfway through and went to work for the Dept. of Welfare. Several years later, I enrolled in a small local 'commuter' college, and took night classes. She was from Germany. I first encountered her in a history of western thought class. She took me under her intellectual wing, encouraged me to do independent studies in a number of areas of sociology and sociological thought, and laid the groundwork for my understanding of social processes and the complex matrix of the relationships of the individual to social groups and social institutions.

Sara P., who was my clinical supervisor for a number of years, starting with my last year of graduate school.

More than a few of the clients I have worked with over the years who have taught me so much about the courage,strength and resilency of people whose lives are ones of frequent, sometimes constant, adversity.

Thanks for starting this thread. It is good to be reminded, and to reflect.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Someone who has touched your life
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 08:48 AM

Mine-- they know who they are. I told them. Being able to accurately identify and name what they did has been an important part of my being able to make some use out of whatever it was that they passed along.

It sure is weird, though, when you're the one having others tell you it was you, isn't it? (Let's not kid ourselves-- many of us here have mattered to at least a couple of people? People are like that.) Sometimes it's years after I was SURE they didn't hear whatever I tried to tell them, and then there they are, telling me they did, and what it meant in their lives.

Makes me step lightly, not knowing what crap may come out of my mouth that someone in need will take to be really important. When they tell me, I try to disabuse them of the notion of being "so inspired," because IMO the REAL secret is to just try to be straight with folks, and so that "inspired" thing isn't quite... right.

I'd much rather hear what they DID with whatever they got out of our interaction-- that's the interesting part, for me. And that's what I try to tell the people who have made an impression on me-- what I did with it, and how their gift went on for others.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Someone who has touched your life
From: kendall
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 10:34 PM

Buryl Ives who hooked me on folk music.
Gordon Bok who talked me into performing in public and being a life long pal.
Pete Seeger whom I admired from way back in the late 40s, and the fact that he was willing to give me my first banjo lesson.
Ralph Hayward, my math teacher, who was a poet and storyteller.

Sandy Paton who thought I should be recorded on the Folk Legacy label.

Subject: RE: BS: Someone who has touched your life
From: Victor in Mapperton
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 05:28 AM

Sorry I misread the title of this thread, I thought it was "Someone who has touched my wife".

The music and life of George Harrison for me.I admired how he accepted the news his illness was terminal and gave that touching interview with his family by his side and remained so calm and strong.

God bless him.

Subject: RE: BS: Someone who has touched your life
From: topical tom
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 07:26 AM

First, there was my uncle who played the fiddle and motivated me to do so.Country music was my love as a young lad.In university a fellow-classmate played two albums for me, "The Weavers at Carnegie Hall" (first concert) and "Darling Corey" by Pete Seeger.The latter taught me to love folk music.
    To these people I owe my love of music.

Subject: RE: BS: Someone who has touched your life
From: John Hardly
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 12:49 PM

I never knew anyone famous (like you all).

In the absence of a father, I had an older brother to look up to. And he played guitar. Pretty well too, I might add. Formed a "folk trio" in high school and played in bars through his college years.

I had a brilliant mother who didn't answer questions for me, rather, taught me how to look for answers.

I went to a college to play basketball and happened to come to that college at the exact four year period when two working potters, Doug and Karl, were "helping" a fledgling art department get started. Had I had a "real" art education -- and "real" art professors -- I would probably never have become a potter. Doug and Karl were inspirational -- their exhuberant approach to clay and the simple, practical, yet experimental spirit was contagious.