❤I WAS BORN IN '59, JO ANN PLAYED THE MAPLE LEAF RAG THAT YEAR. THEN IN '64 SHE PLAYED HELLO DOLLY. I KNOW SHE TOTALLY INSPIRED TO PLAY RAG. AS LIL LATER OF THE 60'S I STARTED WITH CLASSICAL PIANO. TURNING TEENAGER I REBELLED AND HAD MY CLASSICAL TEACHER TEACH ME RAG. I WATCHED HER HAIR TURN GRAY...BUT I DID IT. SHE ALWAYS HAD A HUGE RECITAL AT THE CIVIC A LARGE VENUE. YOUR PIECE HAD TO BE MEMORIZED AND WE PLAYED ON A 9FT. CONCERT GRAND PIANO. I STILL CAN PLAY IT AND STILL REMEMBER THAT DAY...SOME 60 YEARS AGO. CHERYL❤
I played this at UIL State Solo & Ensemble as a Freshman this year, and this was my reference. I listened to this rendition constantly, so much I could hear it my head. When I played my solo for the last time, I genuinely felt sad. This solo means a lot to me because I got introduced to it at a concert before my Freshman year even started. The concert happened at my school, and the person playing it was a Junior, and I just loved the way she played it so much that I wanted to play it too. I miss her (she graduated) and playing my solo dearly, and maybe one day I can play it again when I’m in college. I give my thanks to my teachers for helping me become successful, and for my self in 6th & 7th grade practicing to become a better musician.
As a small child, I watched the Lawrence Welk show. Larry Hooper was my idol. l tried to imitate his deep voice with my squeaky little boy voice with little success, but l did my best!
LARRY INSPIRED ME ENOUGH I DEVELOPED 4 OCTIVE RANGE. UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS JUST OVER DUBBING, SHORT OF A LIVE PERFORMANCE. I'M 73 NOW. SO MUCH FOR FANTASY