(Please scroll down to bottom of the page for a tribute to Milton Oliver)
********************************************
Minnesota Cooper Book Winter Singing
February 9, 2008
Yes, it looks cold. IT WAS DAMN COLD!!! That's me, believe it or not, on a frozen lake. DID I TELL YOU THAT IT WAS A FROZEN LAKE!!!!! Temp was -11 F, and the wind chill was -40 F. The things I have to go through to go to a singing.
However, the friendship and fellowship would melt anyone's heart. It was one of the finest singings I been to.
The following is a video clip from the Sunday Social.
(Special Thanks goes to Scott Schroeder who was my host for the weekend. On Tuesday morning the day I was supposed to return back to Louisville, I came down with a very nasty stomach flu. With a temp of 101.3 and sicker than a dog, Scott assure me that whatever needed to be done (doctor, medicine and staying an extra day) would be done. I return home on Wednesday feeling weak, but better. My wallet was a lot lighter due to extra airfare, but the hospitality and singing made up for it.)
**********************************************
Ohio State Sacred Harp Convention
February 16-17, 2008
No Rest for the weary, the next weekend after Minnesota, was the Ohio State Convention with our friends in Dayton Ohio.
The following is a video clip from the Convention
**********************************************************
Hoboken Georgia
March 15, 2008 - Located in Southeastern part of Georgia, this Sacred Harp community has roots dating back several generation.
Here even the sign tells you so, with one placed coming into town from all four direction. Picture in the middle is of David Lee and his granddaughter, representing the long line of the Lee family that settled in the area. Picture on the right is the tombstone of Silas Lee, uncle of David, who was Sacred Harp singing master. Above his name is two Sacred Harp tunes embedded in the stone.
Hoboken has ONE traffic light a few stores and an elementary school. Local singings are once a month, but in March of every year, Hoboken singing community has an all day singing at the school, which is the largest building they have. Singers come from all around the country and the world.
Hoboken is located from about 14 miles east of Waycross Georgia and about 1 hour north of Jacksonville Florida. In Waycross there is a museum that has a Sacred Harp display about the folks from Hoboken along with a video of Sacred Harp singing school and a "drone" a Hoboken speciality.
Pat and I also decided to stop by and visit the Okerfenokee Swamp area.
Below is a video clip of the singing
**********************************************************
Terre Haute, Indiana (Higher Ground Singing)
March 22, 2008
Singing was attended by several singers from surrounding areas. Chicago, Bloomington Indiana, Louisville Kentucky and the Illinois area were all represented.
***********************************************
In Memory
William Milton (fa's) Oliver
Milton Oliver was born on March 11, 1919 on Lookout Mountain, Alabama near Collinsville. Picture above with wooden structure in the back is the place were he was born. His mother and father were Sacred Harp singers and so was he. He died on March 26, 2008 and was 89 years old. He was a loving husband. (Married 59 years to Pauline) He was a loving father. (daughter named Alanna, son named Scot) He was a loving Grandfather, (3) and a loving great Grandfather. (2) He was a kind, gentle Christian man, with a little bit of dry wit about him. Most important to me he was my friend whom I will miss. Milton and I were both Sacred Harp Singers and diabetics. We talk about songs we loved and our blood sugars. Pauline would watch me like a hawk if I dared reached for a cookie.
Picture above is Milton, granddaughter Paula, son Scot on Milton's front porch.
This picture above is very special. It was the last time Milton led at Pine Grove church at the White book singing on March 16, 2008. As you can see he is with his family. I was not at that singing that day, but stop to see him that evening. A couple months ago he told me that he never saw "Awake My Soul". Therefore, I dropped off my spare copy to him and Pauline that evening. 10 days later he was gone. After the funeral, I asked Scot if he ever saw it. Scot replied that he did and enjoy it.
His visitation was attended by 50 to 60 singers from all over Alabama and one guy from Kentucky. To my surprise I was asked to lead a song which was #314 in the Red book, his favorite. We sang for a half hour and cried several times. He was a true classic.