The Haden Family were a country-gospel singing group that played in the 1930s-1950s all over the mid-west United States. They could be heard on gospel radio stations in Iowa, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, revival meetings and county fairs in Missouri. They were friends with many other country artists of their day including the Carter Family.
My father, Charlie Haden, was born on Aug. 6, 1937, and soon afterwards joined the act as Yodeling Cowboy Charlie, travelling and singing with his family until the age of 15, when a battle with polio damaged his vocal chords so badly he had to stop singing.
I don't have any photos of the original Haden Family with me but I did find a low resolution image from the 1950s online, go to the Springfield History Museum website at http://www.springfieldhistorymuseum.org/archives/index.php?Q=KGBX to check it out.
Later on my dad switched to the double bass, moved to Los Angeles, joined the Ornette Coleman Quartet, and became a jazz legend, but that's a story for another time.
For the past several years my dad has been trying to get a project off the ground which includes his kids, his wife Ruth, and various close friends and musical confidantes playing the old time gospel and country songs his family performed when he was a child and the world was a much more simpler and innocent place.
Well, this project is happening now and I'm so happy to announce it is proceeding as planned!
Today was a lot of fun, Béla Fleck played on a few tunes, and my sisters continued singing their vocal harmonies.
Here's a photo of (from left to right) Stuart Duncan, Buddy Greene, my sister Petra, Bryan Sutton, and my father rehearsing a song.
Here's Ruth and my dad with mandolin player Sam Bush.
Later on Pat Metheny came by and played an incredible version of...well, I'll just let that be a surprise.
Pat will be recording with us tomorrow as well and I'll be sure to take lots of pictures.
My sisters sang a rendition of "Single Girl Married Girl" with the band and I snuck into the vocal booth to document some of it.
Tomorrow I'll hopefully be singing on a song so I'm looking forward to that. I'll let you know how it goes!
http://www.belafleck.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Duncan
http://www.buddygreene.com
http://www.bryansutton.com
http://www.sambush.com
http://www.patmetheny.com
Posts
5 comments:
i am enjoying your updates.
SIngle Girl Married Girl is one of my favorite Carter Family songs. I also have the Harry Smith Project Boxed Set with your sister singing it on that so I liked your sneaked video peek!
it looks like all are having a good time and it must be nice for your dad to get you and your sisters and his friends together to revisit these songs.
your old friend,
teresa
Thanks Teresa!
Really great Josh and what a cool way to document such a fun and I'd say historic event. Cool that Pat is mixing it up with some of those Nashville heavies-those cats can sure play! The girls sound great and hope today's session was a blast. Perhaps when you get home I can help you a bit getting the links "live" etc. Great stuff!
Looks like fun, Josh. Enjoy it. P.Avion
Thanks dickdeluxe & Paul!
Post a Comment