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- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 216.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 14 Sep 2013.
All dressed up in their ?nery for a 1940 music recital at Newport Grammar School, from left, were Sylvia Brown, Barbara Seehorn, Susan Kennedy (?), Charlotte Seehorn, Mary Ann Radcliffe, Lucille Robinson, and Janette Nease.
Photos of young musicians identi?ed
‘As It Was Give To Me’
Duay O’Neil
Over the past decade, I don’t think a single “As It Was Give to Me” column has failed to elicit at least one comment from my readers, but periodically an article strikes a chord with many of you and my telephone rings off the wall and the emails pour in.
Such was the case of last Sunday’s appearance of three pictures taken in 1940 at Newport Grammar School of young music pupils of the late Eleanor Susong Little (later Hickey).
These photos were found in the effects of Mrs. Hickey’s daughter, Mary Ann Little, who died earlier this summer. Like many such pictures, they were not identi?ed.
However, with the quick assistance of Liz Henry, Christine Valentine, Nathan and Mary Ford, Jan Carpenter, and Tommy Seehorn, all photos are now identi?ed with one possible question.
Along with the identi?cations have come more stories from our days as music students and our recitals.
Many have recalled the length of such occasions.
By the time I started lessons, Mrs. Little had been widowed and then remarried, so I’ll refer to her as Mrs. Hickey.
I’ve heard it said she never turned down a pupil.
Whether a child bubbled over with talent or was completely stone deaf or clueless at the keyboard, Mrs. Hickey somehow found a time slot and valiantly did her best to instill the rudiments of musical performance in her charge.
Such was not the case with other teachers, who preferred to devote their efforts to boys and girls of above-average talent and dedication to practice.
In my own case, my dad’s cousin, Jessie O’Neil Lee, who lived in a large home that sat where the parking lot of today’s Courthouse Annex is located, ?rst noticed my desire to play. Cousin Jessie owned a large, black grand piano which stood in “the front room.”
When we visited, I would slip away from the adults as often as I could and did my best to play a tune. While my parents probably thought I just wanted to make noise, Cousin Jessie urged them to enroll me as a piano student.
My ?rst recital performance came at Christmas, and I still have my copy of “Frosty, the Snowman.” I had only taken music for a few weeks, but I played with the aplomb of Liberace.
Mrs. Hickey held recitals three times a year: at Christmas, after the annual Johnson City competition, and at the end of the school year. Everyone participated in the Christmas and end-ofyear events, while only the students who scored either Excellent or Superior in competition performed in that recital.
Because of the large numbers of pupils, we were divided into those performing on a Friday night and those who appeared in Saturday. Occasionally a Sunday afternoon was needed to round out the season.
Beginning with those who had just begun lessons, often the youngest pupils, one by one we trooped across the oiled ?oor of Newport Grammar School’s stage to an upright piano and banged out our piece.
As the evening wore on—and on—and on, the performers increased in age and ability. In later years, we came to realize that the student who appeared last was the one Mrs. Hickey deeded to be her prize pupil. It was many years before I achieved that honor.
Robyn Self Elkins and I laughed at church Sunday about that, and I noted that about the time I made it to the end of the program, Jerry Maloy came along with his exceptional talent and dedication to perfection and knocked me off the piano bench.
Parents with more than one child enrolled occasionally had to suffer through two recitals. Eddie Walker remembers Mrs. Hickey doing her best to have siblings on the same program, but on at least one occasion she slipped up and scheduled Eddie on one night and his sister on another. Needless to say, his parents weren’t happy.
Garry Brooks shared a recital story, too. He writes, “Virginia Clark didn’t start piano lessons until the seventh grade…and Mrs. Hickey didn’t want to put her in the beginning with the small children, so she placed her later in the program and told her to play “The Marine Hymn” through twice so it would seem harder. So Virginia played not once, not twice, but continued to play. Evidently she thought the longer she played, the harder it would sound. As Virginia started the ?fth time, Mrs. Hickey got up and walked backstage to the center door. Not being able to get Virginia’s attention, she walked out onto the stage and pretending to straighten Virginia’s evening dress, whispered audibly ‘Stop!’”
I recall another time when one of Mrs. Hickey’s students needed her help during a recital. The Kennedy girls, Mary Louise and Karen, were close in age and extremely talented. Mary Louise always sang a solo (and did a wonderful job, I might add), but, as will happen, once she forgot the words.
Betty Sue Henry, left, and Nadine McDaniel studied violin under the instruction of “Mrs. Little,” (Eleanor Susong Little), in the pre-war days of 1940.
All dressed up in their ?nery for a 1940 music recital at Newport Grammar School, from left,
were Sylvia Brown, Barbara Seehorn, Susan Kennedy (?), Charlotte Seehorn, Mary Ann Radcliffe, Lucille Robinson, and Janette Nease.
panying her at the piano and turned her head slightly and whispered “A ?at.” However, Mary Louise didn’t understand what she said. This exchange continued until Mary Louise stopped completely and yelled, “What?”
Garry also recalled a time at First Baptist Church when Mrs. Hickey and Kenneth McSween’s talents clashed.
Garry, a Methodist, said, “One Sunday, I walked across the street to go to the Baptist church with Ralph Sharpe. Mrs. Hickey was on the organ and Kenneth McSween on the grand piano. On the ?rst hymn, Mrs. Hickey started in one key and Kenneth in another. Mrs. Hickey tried to get his attention, but the more she motioned, the louder he played. Finally, in disgust, she turned to organ up to full blast shaking the rafters. At my lesson, I asked her why she didn’t change keys. She replied, “And let the people think it was my fault?”
Thanks to all who helped identify the pictures, and much gratitude to Garry, Eddie, and others who shared their memories.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 22 Mar 2013.
Sylvia Brown Ray Costa, age 79, of Bean Station, passed away March 21, 2013. She was a member of Rutledge Baptist Church and was a retired Hamblen County schoolteacher at Fairview Marguerite, John Hay Elementary and Meadowview Middle Schools.
She was preceded in death by Bob Ray. Survivors include her sons Mark (Peggy) Ray of Rogersville and Rob (Lisa) Ray of Bean Station; daughter, Amy Ray Taylor of Russellville; grandchildren Corrie Ray, Kayley Ray, Gordon Ray, Catey Laura Ray, and Clay Taylor; and brother, Tip Brown of Newport.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Karen Manning, Becky Rogers, staff at Emeritus and Dr. Worley of Jefferson City, and Interim Home Health and Smoky Mountain Hospice for their special care.
A memorial service will be held in the chapel at Smith-Reagan Funeral Home at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, March 25, 2013, with Rev. Jack Ritter officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.
Smith-Reagan Funeral Home of Rutledge is in charge of arrangements.
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Name: Robert Ray
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 10 May 1952
Event Place: Cocke, Tennessee, United States
Age:
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Father's Name:
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Mother's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Name: Sylvia Brown
Spouse's Titles and Terms:
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Reference ID:
GS Film number: 1669919
Digital Folder Number: 004485980
Image Number: 02945
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