esrosedotblog

SILVER HAIRED HERO

Today's hero, a guy I admire who lived through to and beyond 90 years of age, is an improbable choice.

I haven't thought of him in, maybe, 30 years. More.

Slim Whitman Yodeling Country Singer With a Regular Guy Image Dies at 90.

Who? You may ask. A yodeler? A CW veteran.

I grew up with Slim Whitman, well, one of his biggest fans, my Dad.

There are a number of favorites, which even I in my sophisticated musical tastes, come to memory like an iconic moment. In my heart, I am a shitkicker and, because of my Dad, I particularly liked the shit that Whitman kicked.

One of my Dad's favorite songs was Silver Haired Daddy of Mine.

I always wondered about this as my Dad's father died when he was 8. Then, I realize that he had a step dad, Wes King, who was distinguished by very white hair.

I never knew "Wes", he was never by any other name. Well, I saw him. In the store. Around. He never came to the house. My Dad would go see him from time to time. He was a mystery. By then, he lived with Mrs. Van Dyne who had a small boarding house, a good view and a little money. I know now that he was an alcoholic. We are everywhere.

Anyway, there it is. He was my Dad's "daddy" but never my Granddad. In fact, I never had one. All were gone by the time I came around.

Back to Slim Whitman.

He wrote 500 songs and made 100 albums. One Hundred. We are supposed to use numerals for figures over ten but here I will make an exception.

In my time, Whitman was also a joke. Read the obituary here. They make the most of it in a very loving way. I love that

In the 1996 movie comedy “Mars Attacks!” Slim Whitman’s yodeling, high-octave rendition of “Indian Love Call” causes the heads of the invading Martians to explode, saving Planet Earth.

He had many firsts. Elvis opened his show as his first job. He "taught" McCartney how to play with his left hand. He had other big hits. “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You,” “Red River Valley,” “Danny Boy” and “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen.

Kathleen was another favorite for my Father. I have no idea whether there was any "Kathleen" in his history.

Mr. Whitman told The A.P. in 1991 that he wanted to be thought of as “a nice guy” and a good father. “I’d like people to remember me,” he said, “as having a good voice and a clean suit.”

Labels: country, heroes, history, music