i have recently posted a message informing everyone that dr. bob l. and i have nominated charles moody and the georgia yellow hammers to the georgia music hall of fame.thougts, ideas, about them would be helpful dr. l and i have done orginal research, speaking to various relatives and friends of the hammers.
i want to share one story that shows the depth of these folks, in this instance mr moody(c.e.). as most of you know the hammers and the baxter brothers(the black group)were fans of each other and playing partners at times. on the fatefull recording together in 1927 they made history. either they were the first or among the first black-white groups to record together(old-timey groups)and in a special way were sharing their masterful talents a new path was forged.
on our interview with mr. moody's son he related the folowing story. in the late 50's, 60's various print publications were sending their journalist to calhoun, ga to uncover more understanding of the group, especially mr moody. moody was puzzled that people from the atlanta journal-constitution would have any interest in him and was entirely unassuming thru-out the whole process. but here is what the newspapers never knew or realized. a few days after some interview son moody went to the modest home of mr moody(a highly frequent thing), talked about the interviews and decided to put some of the lp music on to reminish of the "glory days". son moody put on the joint baxters-hammers recording and mr moody quietly talked of the historic day and then tears drained from him as he said to son moody, "we did the right thing". young moody said," dad you knew what you were doing" and the answer came," yes son i think so".to me this is powerful, straight from the deep heart of a profundly good and christian man. mike j   ( there are other such stories)