Bluegrass pioneer
Bluegrass and old-time country-music pioneer Al Hawkes was the speaker at the Dec. 6 meeting of the Westbrook Historical Society.
He spoke about his musical career, showed pictures of his studio and his extensive record collection, which exceeds 40,000 78, 33 and 45 RPM discs, along with rare radio transcriptions, songbooks, etc.
Al was born in Providence, R.I., in 1930. His family moved back to the Hawkes family homestead on Hardy Road, Westbrook – where he still lives – when he was 10 years old. His father’s interest in radio/electronics influenced Al to follow in his footsteps. He soon was assembling radio kits and stringing antenna wire from the top of their barn to adjacent trees to pick up southern radio stations, such as WWVA, Wheeling, W. Va.; WJJD, Chicago; and WCKY, Cincinnati. These stations broadcast what was then called hillbilly music, both live and by recordings, and those performers had a lifelong influence on Al.
He often tinkered on his mother’s piano, but his piano playing didn’t last long. His mother bought him his first guitar and a “How to Play the Guitar” booklet when he was about 12 or 13. His father gave him the old Gibson A4 mandolin from his college days. Al went on to play the 12-string guitar, tenor and plectrum banjo and stand-up bass. He formed his first band, the Al Hawkes Hillbillies, while attending high school, and broadcast live shows from a small broadcast studio on the second floor of an abandoned blacksmith shop next door to the farm homestead.
While a senior in high school, he opened a small radio repair shop and sold Motorola radios.
In 1949 he attended Mass. Radio and Broadcasting School for two years, with honors, and obtained a 1st class Radio Broadcast license. In 1956 he formed a recording company, Event Records.
He has received over 25 state, regional and national awards, and was inducted into the Maine Country Music Association Hall of Fame in 1980.
Among the pictures he passed around to his audience were beautiful, colored, floral paintings done by his great-rreat aunt, Julia Hawkes. They were in a trunk, and were covered with blankets. They were in the old farmhouse.
On a portable CD player, he played several hillbilly songs, and he told us of the celebrities who played with him. We heard yodeling, very well sung, by Betty Cody. He also mentioned Betty Gribbin, who sang with Ken McKenzie’s band.
Many local people recall the wonderful evening each summer, when Al and his wife Barbara (who has been Westbrook’s city clerk for several years), entertained, hiring a big tent, placed on the hill in their back yard. Guests brought contributions for the potluck supper, and Al and his musical friends entertained on the stage.
Quite a career Al Hawkes has had! Our community is very proud of his accomplishments.
I stand corrected
I had a call last week, way from Florida, Gladys Bruns Pratt, who grew up in South Portland, subscribes to the American Journal and was interested in my “Who? Whom?” article in the Nov. 30 issue, which she had just received.
She had an English teacher at South Portland High School, Georgia Hamilton, who was particular, too, about her studentsA? ‘ grammar (as was my Deering High teacher, Gladys Tilton). Gladys recalls that they were taught not to end a sentence with a preposition (of course, Miss Tilton taught us that, too).
Ahem. So I was correcting the use of who for whom. Instead of “Who will you vote for,” I corrected that to, “Whom will you vote for.”
But, of course, each version ends with the preposition “for.” So now, it should have read: “For whom will you vote?” I thank Gladys for being so keen. But I wonder if, at the next election, we will read that correct version in many newspaper articles.
Battle the blues
In the Community Room of Windham’s Unity Gardens, Kate Dulac of the Southern Maine Agency on Aging, gave a talk Dec. 7 entitle, “Depression in Older Adults and the Holiday Blues.”
She advised us, during the holidays, to focus on our health and to schedule what works best – not overdoing it or thinking we must continue the routine of entertaining as we always lave. Say no when you need to, she advices. Schedule what works, and let others know when you need or want support.
This is good advice. But she also recommend that, if the blues don’t stop, we seek medical help.
Good and filling
I printed this recipe several years ago, and decided to make it again this November, as our turkey was soon to be made into soup and I had several slices to use before that. It is very good, and filling. You may want to try it after your Christmas turkey dinner.
DEEP DISH TURKEY PIE
1/4 cup croutons
1 can of condensed cream of celery soup (10-1/2 oz.) and 2/3 cup milk
1-1/2 to 2 cups of cooked turkey, cut in large pieces
1 cup frozen peas
1 teaspoon onion, chopped, or onion salt.
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup more of croutons, for a topping, with melted butter poured over them.
Place 3/4 cup of seasoned croutons in a greased ,1-1/2 quart casserole. Combine milk and soup, add turkey, thawed peas, onion, salt and pepper, and pour into casserole, and top with croutons and butter. Bake in a 300 degree oven for 45 minutes, uncovered.
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