Get holiday ready! Christmas Open House begins tomorrow.
Hello, again!
Growing up, all of us Johnson kids learned to play musical instruments. I have memories from the 4th grade of Dad helping me with the trumpet. However, it was Mom who really encouraged us to play instruments. Still today, I think it should be a requirement for all students to take instrumental music in school.
Mom grew up playing not only the piano, but also the marimba, ukulele and guitar. In fact, to this day I have not witnessed anybody else play the marimba with 2 (count 'em: 2) mallets in each hand!
My mom, Aldine and her twin sister Darlene were known as the 'Coulter Twins'. They started playing at the Salvation Army, and their musical career then took them to the radio, as 10-year-olds, playing live music on radio station KANS here in Wichita. On one occasion, the twins were playing live on the Kiddies Review Program, a variety show for kids, when a member of their church tuned in on the last part of their song, which was All My Sins Taken Away, Taken Away. Since the Coulter twins were also singing that night at the church service, the church member thought it would be the perfect song for the altar call.
After singing a few numbers during the service, the request came to sing the song from the radio. Mom went on to ask if he wanted them to sing the complete song - all verses, and yes, he did. What the radio listener missed at the beginning of the song was this:
Hand me down my walking cane
Hand me down my walking cane
Hand me down my walking cane
I'm gonna catch that midnight train
All my sins are taken away, taken away
I got drunk got put in jail
I got drunk got put in jail
I got drunk got put in jail
Come on Mama and go my bail
You can imagine the reaction of not only the radio listener, but also the congregation at that point of the service! What a memory!
I enjoy sharing memories and making new ones, especially around the holidays. Speaking of, we're here to make hosting the holidays a little bit easier (but still beautiful!) Our Christmas Open House begins tomorrow, November 7 and runs through Sunday. The stores are looking amazing - they've outdone themselves again! Everything Christmas will be on sale, so don't wait to stop by.
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
Growing up, all of us Johnson kids learned to play musical instruments. I have memories from the 4th grade of Dad helping me with the trumpet. However, it was Mom who really encouraged us to play instruments. Still today, I think it should be a requirement for all students to take instrumental music in school.
Mom grew up playing not only the piano, but also the marimba, ukulele and guitar. In fact, to this day I have not witnessed anybody else play the marimba with 2 (count 'em: 2) mallets in each hand!
My mom, Aldine and her twin sister Darlene were known as the 'Coulter Twins'. They started playing at the Salvation Army, and their musical career then took them to the radio, as 10-year-olds, playing live music on radio station KANS here in Wichita. On one occasion, the twins were playing live on the Kiddies Review Program, a variety show for kids, when a member of their church tuned in on the last part of their song, which was All My Sins Taken Away, Taken Away. Since the Coulter twins were also singing that night at the church service, the church member thought it would be the perfect song for the altar call.
After singing a few numbers during the service, the request came to sing the song from the radio. Mom went on to ask if he wanted them to sing the complete song - all verses, and yes, he did. What the radio listener missed at the beginning of the song was this:
Hand me down my walking cane
Hand me down my walking cane
Hand me down my walking cane
I'm gonna catch that midnight train
All my sins are taken away, taken away
I got drunk got put in jail
I got drunk got put in jail
I got drunk got put in jail
Come on Mama and go my bail
You can imagine the reaction of not only the radio listener, but also the congregation at that point of the service! What a memory!
I enjoy sharing memories and making new ones, especially around the holidays. Speaking of, we're here to make hosting the holidays a little bit easier (but still beautiful!) Our Christmas Open House begins tomorrow, November 7 and runs through Sunday. The stores are looking amazing - they've outdone themselves again! Everything Christmas will be on sale, so don't wait to stop by.
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
More from:
Christmas Open House
