“Music and Family”

Music of Diverse Cultures

By:  Anna J. Micklatcher-Peterson

As a Converse 11 student, I have a limited choice of a family member to interview that is older than myself.  My grandmother who played the piano and organ on my father’s side of the family along with my great grand father who played the fiddle on my mother’s side, have long since passed away.  That leaves me to choose someone special to Lanna and I that we consider family and who is also a part of our church family.

Ronnie Elmore begins our interview by saying that he loves to play the guitar, banjo and mandolin.  He is almost 70 years old and has played most of his life.  Ronnie enjoys playing at church, home, work or with other guitarist’s just for the fun of it.  He was first inspired to play by watching older artists like Roy Clark, Author Smith and Chet Atkins on “Hee Haw.”  Other lifetime favorite country music artists he likes are Hank Williams, Sr. and Johnny Cash.

Ronnie was fifteen when he began guitar lessons on Wednesday’s at the Gaffney Guitar School.  At that time, Gene Wyatt was his instructor, and only charged him $5 for a for thirty-minute lesson.  Throughout the years, Ronnie has picked with many guitar groups including Bobby Wright, Lanna Peterson and his grandson “James” who all have enhanced his musical skills.  The only other instrument he voices that he would like to learn how to play would be the piano.  Even though he can pick out songs by ear, he says the “piano for me is extremely hard.”

The type of music Ronnie has always loved to play is gospel, country or bluegrass.  In all these years, these have continued to be his preferred choice.  He has never liked rock n roll music, and only tolerated it as a kid if his friends had it on.  They would listen to music on the radio, tv, or vinyl records.  He also remembers the 8 track tapes that came later.  Ronnie thinks that our more advanced technology is far greater with today’s instruments, pickups, speakers and Bluetooth.  His view is that “the music sounds much clearer.” Age has not slowed him down a bit with the ability to learn this technology.  He loves to look up anything pertaining to music on U Tube.

Serving in the military for thirty-six years did not hinder his love of music even though there were times he was not able to play. Vietnam was one of those times.  He says there was no music there.  Ronnie’s service to our country in Afghanistan was different though.  They had a group of guys including himself that would get together and “pick.”  He played the guitar and his best friend, Alan Painter, played the banjo.  It made this time in their lives a little better. 

    

As a carpenter by profession, Ronnie’s job at Hollywood’s Productions has also broadened his musical experiences. He has access to famous people like “Brooks and Dunn” and works musical events where his job takes him places like the “Myrtle Beach Country Music Festival.”  Being a post war veteran though makes the “loud” concerts not enjoyable to him.  He prefers building the stage and props instead.  When I asked him what Brooks and Dunn were like, his answer was that “they were quiet and laid back” and “they were good guitar, banjo, mandolin, and steel guitar player’s.”

Even though Ronnie is saddened that many of the people he has enjoyed “picking” with over the years have already passed away, he continues to play beautiful music for all who want to hear.