Owensboro Music Teacher’s Secret Album Found at Goodwill
Yesterday afternoon, I was out running errands in the Highway 54 area when I decided to place a pickup order to grab on my way home for dinner. While I was waiting, I popped over to the Goodwill. I could spend hours looking for treasures, but I didn't have very long, so I went straight to the back to flip through books and records. That's when I saw my mama's sweet smile on the shelf.
The Voice of an Angel
Just look how pretty she is! My mom, Sharon Weber, has the voice of an angel. Think classically trained Karen Carpenter. She taught music at Owensboro Middle School and the 5-6 Center for over 30 years.
The Weber Family Trio
Chances are, you have also enjoyed her singing at a local wedding, funeral, or community event. From the time I was big enough to sit on a stool, I sang with her and my dad, Jerry, in The Weber Family Trio. We traveled performing Southern Gospel favorites around the tri-state area. My mom started singing when she was really young, too.
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Music History
Once upon a time, my grandparents, Katherine and Buddy Cravens, were members of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. My Grandpa led the music ministry there, so it was only natural for the Cravens kids to follow suit. At the end of each service, organist Beverly Foster and pianist Ewing Rascoe would play as people mingled before lunch.
'Lead Me to Some Soul Today'
Mom was only 5 years old at the time, but she would sit next to Beverly or Ewing and sing along with whatever they were playing. She had learned to read by then, so she would follow along with the sheet music as Beverly taught her songs. 'Lead Me to Some Soul Today' was the name of one chorus from an old hymnal she remembers singing often. Soon after, she started singing regularly in the service.
Personalized Mixtapes
Eventually, once she was older, people would bring her cassette tapes with lists of song requests for her to sing for them. She had a little tape recorder and would make personalized mixed tapes!
Why Don't You Make a Record?
Mom recalls a conversation she had with Wanda and Jimmy Kuegel one day after church: "Jimmy said, 'Why don't you make a record? If you want to, I will fund it for you." She went home and did her research by calling around to find the best place to record.
Electric Arts Studio
In true Sharon fashion, boy, she sure did find it! Happy Goodman Studio/Electric Arts Studio in Madisonville, KY, where the legendary Steve Chandler was the sound engineer at the time. The musicians (listed in the picture below) joined Mom for three days as they recorded the songs. Then she went to Martin Studio in Henderson for the fabulous cover photos.
I Believe
Titled "I Believe," it is a selection of hymns and popular gospel songs of the 1970s. Once the record was pressed and she had the copies, they sold like hotcakes. Mom also took them with her when she sang at various churches and set them up on her cute little merch table. Putting all of her proceeds into a savings account, once she had enough, she paid Mr. Kuegel back.
Luckily, she still had some copies left, which she packed away for me to discover in a box of old letters and newspaper clippings one day as a teenager.
Finding My Mom's Vinyl Record
I love it when people find them "in the wild" and send me photos. I love it even MORE when I find them myself. I try to buy them up since the only ones that exist are out there somewhere! If you ever see one, let me know!
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