Here's a pic of my good friend from high school Mr. William E. Brackeen.
He was a prodigy in Jr. High School and was well known even back then for his ability to play anything he heard on the piano.
William and I had French II and sat on the back row with another friend, John McCrary.
We had a blast sitting on the back row and still made good grades.
One of my best memories is having "Arm Wrestling for Your Pocket Change Money" contests from time to time.
They never understood how a skinny white boy could keep beating them.
But they were skinny too, so the playing field was fairly even.
Obviously there were no jocks in that class or we would have all been in trouble.
William entertained us with some of his favorite hymns.
These days he's a Music/Piano/Choir Instructor at Langston University in Oklahoma.
9 comments:
Arm Wrestling for Your Pocket Change Money?
Why didn't I think of that?
Very cool post! I have a brother in law who has an ear for music without the ability to read it. He can sit down a play almost anything.
I can play the radio.
Jennifer
How marvelous!
I bet he is amazing.
It is wonderful that you have remained friends all these years. I'm sure you have great stories you can tell about each other.
I used to have dreams at night that I could play the piano by ear. I wish I could do that.
William is a total gentleman and boy can he play. UJ plays with a lot of passion and feeling and can improvise so well. That amazes me. I have always thought it pretty neat. :o)
Hey Joe I'll wrestle you for your pocket change! ;o)
Pocket change? Could we girls do Coin Purse change do you think? And could we not arm wrestle but best application of lipstick? How cool that you kept up with your musical pal and stay in touch...neat trick these days!
Sandi
That is too cool.
Some lucky people just have that 'ear'. THey need only hear something once, and they can reproduce it. It's uncanny.
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