Zithers and rattle bones and Am I Blue?

We had quite a collection of musical instruments: pump organ, zither, harmonica (or French harp), banjo, guitar, ukulele, Jew’s harp, rattle bones, and piano. Guess we all could "carry a tune"; some good, some not so good. Janice had a beautiful natural singing voice and sang at many different places.

The kinds of songs we played were any and all kinds. We started at home as no one was afraid to burst out in song at any time or anyplace (except at the table when eating!). Then at church and at school functions. Janice sang over the radio K.F.E.Q. Twice a solo and twice with a chorus, one from Sheridan and one from Grant City. She also sang many many more times and at many many more places. I think most of the rest of us sang in programs at school and church.

We liked to learn and sing any and all of the popular songs of the day. We older kid's favorites would not be the same as the younger ones, so the older kids liked "Yes We Have No Bananas", “Highways are Happy Ways”, “It Ain't Gonna Rain No More”, “Little Gray Home in the West”, “Among My Souvenirs”, “Moonlight and Roses”, “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”, “Carry Me Back to Old Virginie”, “Bring in the Sheaves”, “Am I Blue?”, God Will Take Care of You”, “Sweet and Low”…well, you get the idea. Then we sang some of the songs that mom and dad sang that were popular in their time, such as “Red Wing”, “Preacher and the Bear”, and “My old Kentucky Home”.

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