Townsel sisters

TOWNSEL SISTERS, TOO YOUNG TO TRAVEL:
From the time we could remember anything, we could sing. I think we were born singing because mama sang or hummed all the time and daddy played a mean flat top guitar. Our first time on stage was in Gillette, Arkansas at Camp Doughboy; the band was Les Gibbs Playboys. They were good. We were so young Eloise had to be woken up because she was asleep in mama's arms.
When I was eight years old, I could sing any kind of harmony that came by - daddy made sure of that. Our lead singer, Eloise, was the best, still is. When she opened her mouth, a huge sound came out of that little body. She was the youngest and the least, but that voice could fill an auditorium. The most talented one of us was Carolyn, who is a year older than I. She learned to play a guitar as smooth as anyone anywhere and remember...we beat 5000 people in the U.S. and Canada in the Pet Milk Grand Ole' Opry competition... Carolyn was only seventeen at that time. She was also responsible for our first song on "Sun Records" and "Sky Records", "The Whole Night Through". Carolyn was about twelve when she wrote the song. Eloise and I added a few words, but the song was hers. This made us about ten, eleven, and twelve when this record came out. "Sky" launched it first, but it was recorded at "Sun" and left there until finally someone discovered it a few years back. At that time, our song made it into a collectible set known as "Memphis Belles".
When We finally made it to Nashville, we won, which meant we could really sing, yet we hadn't realized the talent within us until more recently. The purpose of this page is to see if some of you think so too. At our age, this is for joy and to develp friendships. We could sing, but when it came time to go on the road, we were too young and too poor. We had the chance to go on the road with Faron Young, but daddy said no because of our ages. Nashville might have put us in the rear view mirror. We were old enough to sing but too young to travel. We still have a great story and beautiful memories. We were sponsored by KVSA in Dermott and McGhee, Arkansas where a museum will be opening which will contain many of our memorandums.
If you would like more on "The Townsel Sisters" story, you will be able to access that information soon. If you are interested in the museum here in Arkansas, I'm sure they would love to hear from you.
LANA TOWNSEL HAWKINS
THE HANK GARLAND STORY : From My Prospective
Hank Garland’s dream of becoming the best guitar player of all times didn’t die–not even with his “accident.” As you listen to him play in so many different sets— It finally dawns on you that his dream, as a little boy, did come true. I just wonder how much more God could have provided him with. As you read this story , I hope you will read it with the thought in mind that I knew him as a little girl and studied his sounds for most of my life. This story is accurate and true Historically and it should be out there for those who loved Hank “Sugarfoot” Garland.
Carolyn, Eloise and I had been singing since we were born and were always around good musicians starting with our Dad and Uncle Phil Brannon, Tommy Henderson, etc. As we grew professionally--- we started to sing with more great people. A man named Floyd Huddleston picked us up and he ended up writing some of the best big band sounds to ever be played on stage or anywhere else. He wrote the Aristocats for Walt Disney and hundreds more. Carolyn along with the Townsel “two”–wrote her first song called “It’s Over I’m Through” at the age of 12. Floyd thought it was worthy of being the flip side of our first record produced by Huddleston called “Moanin’ Groanin’ Blues. This is the song that was recorded at Sun and later named “The Whole Night Through”. When Sun didn’t pick the song up (or us) —Floyd produced it as the flip side on the “Sky” label. The musicians behind us were the Jennings Brothers(Charles and Rayford). The last I heard from them—they were in Dallas. This was years ago and I’ve often thought of them –especially the stand up bass Rayford played. That was when I thought I would love to play a bass but just didn’t grow enough.(physically or musically).We were only around 11,12, and 13 when this record came out. It wasn’t too bad. Mr. Huddleston made sure it was quality for three little girls who didn’t know music but could sing.
As we kept working at our singing–I remember our Sunday School teacher got involved. She had a whole choir on Hwy. 82 that loved music. Her son Dwayne was really good too. If we missed Sunday School—Mrs. Smith was there to know why. It didn’t matter that we had done a show the night before. Thank God for Mrs. Smith. She helped instill in all of us a love of God to go along with the special teachings of a Special Mom and Dad . The wonderful lady that she was –she took special note that all the harmony singers did their part right. We had a good youth choir. Mrs. Smith would put on plays so we could sing or again —She might take us on a fishing trip. Most of our social life was around that little country church or singing somewhere with Daddy as director.
Floyd Huddleston had heard about these three little girls who could sing and lived at Lake Village, Arkansas. Here he comes. He lived in Leland ,Miss. at the time. He found Daddy at the old store he and Mom ran and ask Daddy if he could visit and work with us. He’s the one who actually found the Townsel Sisters and made them public figures. At home and everywhere we went—we gave it all we had.. Mr Huddleston as we called him was a great big Irish looking guy and we all loved him from the start. He was so patient with us. He came to the farm and worked with us. All we had there was a guitar but he would sit on the end of the couch arm and clap his big hands and pat his foot to teach us his songs. The first Sky record was a thrill. We heard it on the radio and I think this made us more determined to make it big.–especially for Mama and Daddy.
As time went on we would go back to Memphis more and more–doing shows or recording. Mr. Huddleston arranged our first Louisiana Hayride appearance and this was a long time before Nashville. We sang all over the place and were with “Bill Black’s Combo a while. Charlie Rich was also singing with us. We sang with Charlie before “Behind Closed Doors “ came out.. We went back to the Hayride several more times and we heard a show with Jerry Lee doing “Whole lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”. The reason I say heard is because we were on this show too. Daddy wouldn’t let us go out front and watch Jerry Lee. We all laugh about it now but we were only like 13,14, and 15 years of age. This could have been a shock to three little protected girls. Again —we were too young. But we were there the night He turned it loose. Our last Hayride appearance had the Geesinslaws on . I was 17 at the time.
As we grew in music, we had to practice more and more. We never missed a day and one hour was a minimum----mostly two----- do chores, school work and be in bed by 9o’clock P.M and you had to make the honor roll . We really did have (a few )dates on week ends but usually we were in that ol’ 1957 Ford car headed somewhere to sing. This was our love and Mama and Daddy had sacrificed so much ( as had Ferril, Hoot and Annette) for us that there was no way we would have let them down. I even learned to cut our skirts from a newspaper just like Mama did and sew them up before I married..
Getting to Hank Garland may seem like it’s taking a long time but I would hope you can understand that this whole story goes hand in hand with Hank. We had heard “Sugarfoot Rag” all our lives and how young “Sugarfoot” was to have gone so far. This was only one of the yardsticks Daddy gave us but we loved the Grand Ol’ Opry and that was where we wanted to be. Mr Huddleston somewhere around l957-58 set up a new state of the art studio in Memphis with the support and help of Mr. John Pepper. It became “Pepper Records” and was the third label we had recorded for before any of us was 16. We didn’t consider” Sun” at that time. Mr. Huddleston started bringing in musicians from all over to record behind his singers.We started with “Talk To Me Baby”–One of my favorites—. Burle Olswanger had an orchestra in Memphis and he had a banjo player on this song that also played a blonde guitar on a couple of other demos we did. It didn’t register that this was “Sugarfoot”. The Jordannaires and Ace Cannon were on this demo and the flip side of “Talk To Me Baby”. The demo we did as our first experience for Pepper was never released. “Help Yourself “ and “Cross My Heart”had” Ace” Cannon with one of his best ever Sax rides and should have been released if for no other reason. We have that demo to ourselves so we can hear that Ride anytime. The guitar player played a Blonde guitar and wore a cream colored jacket. This meant nothing to us. At this level of our lives—We were to be heard and not seen .We weren’t introduced to anyone and Floyd –our security blanket--- was there and was directing all this crowd of people so we had no reason to know anyone else. (We met Lana Wood that day). Now I listen to those demos and I know Hank Garland had to have played those sessions. I study him and his music and I never cease to be amazed at what he could play–from Classical to raw country. He was and will always will be the best ever and he didn’t steal his from anyone.
In 1958 We entered a local contest that was out of Nashville but a local radio station had to sponsor you. We won the local but went no further that year. K.V.S.A. out of Dermott, Ar. Sponsored us again in 1959. We weren’t going to enter that year but when we got to the auditorium thinking we were going to be just entertainment between acts—we found we were competing. We won again. This time rather that go to the radio station and tape a song to send —We took the tape from the live show and sent it in. We never expected to hear from it. In the mean time we had put out our first Pepper Record. Here comes “Mean Mistreating Blues”(Olswanger”) and “Talk To Me Baby” (Huddleston) I still think this is some of our best harmony except for “I Know “and “Blackberry Winter” Late in the afternoon, the man with the banjo and Blonde Guitar finally stood up and said “Well guys--- I’ve got to get back to Nashville.” It still didn’t register who we had. Hank Garland was supposed to be country ,wasn’t he? Well guess again----Jazz, Rock, Country, Classical—you name it—If he heard it –he could play it. He didn’t even have to hear it. He seemed to have a no ending talent that stretched over sounds, instruments, writing, etc..
We hadn’t recorded “I Know” yet but Mr. Huddleston gave us permission to use it in our talent competitions. Since we never expected to hear we had made the international finals competing with over 5000 others, we went on our merry way. Our mother took the call and Carolyn said she turned from the phone and said we had made it in her quiet way. You made it? Made What? “ The Grand Ol’Opry Contest” We were in the 7 finalists. “ How exciting is that”? I was at Arkansas Girls’ State representing Lakeside High with some other girls when a friend came running up from Dermott and yelled “Lana–You’ re going to Nashville”. I just laughed and I said ,“ now don’t tease me”—Why would I be going to Nashville?” I had forgotten the contest. “You won some contest. My mother just told me,” Betty said. Then it was time to sit down and laugh and cry. I thought we weren’t good enough to win that , you see. I then couldn’t wait to get home with Eloise and Carolyn. We didn’t know we could sing until we were about 60, 61, and 62 years of age. It was pointed out to us in a boxed Collectible called the “Memphis Belles” a few years ago. The song is the one Carolyn wrote at the age of 12 but they had found it in the Sun Studios and called it “The Whole Night Through”.
When I got home–Mama was cutting out Sears, Roebuck gingham and sewing all day and night. These were Special dresses. We wore them the night of competition in Nashville when we won the whole thing and I still have mine. One of our aunts was working on other dresses and we wore one of Aunt Artie Hollands’ dresses the first time we took the Ryman stage and sang on the Grand Ol’ Opry. We had to borrow petticoats from a good friend from across Hwy. 82 named Vennye Ann McGaha She was so unselfish and at times we were allowed to ask her to come along. She was Carolyn’s age.
At the time we were suppose to go to Nashville, the man who had made(literally) the Townsel Sisters from conception on—(Daddy)—wasn’t well. He was having bouts with his heart. He had what the old folks call “Dropsy”. ( Fluid around his heart) He went to see one of his favorite cousins. He had called him “Big John “ all his life and he ask Uncle Vernon Palmer (as we called him) if he would go with us to Nashville. We had a great time with him and we knew Daddy was well looked after. Uncle Vernon recently gave me some beautiful film of” Printers Ally “ form 1959. They are wonderful and I really do appreciate them. Thanks goes to Billy Garland for having the tape converted for me.
Mr. Huddleston in his gracious way gave us permission to use two of his songs in the competition. “I know “ and “ Talk To Me Baby” were hooked together as a combo.
The contest—what can I say? There wasn’t just one but 7 great acts. Did we think for one minute that we would win----not on your life—but we were going to give it all we had. Yes, I do think the combo of Mr. Huddleston’s great songs gave us the chance to win. We had what was considered to be the best musicians in Nashville. Piano player Marvin Hughes, Guitarist Hank Garland, Lightnin’ Chance on the bass, Buddy Harmon on the Drums, and so on. We still Didn’t recognize Hank Garland. He was strictly business when it came to helping all the contestants reach their potential and there were 7 good ones. I never ask if any of them knew music but I can tell you true—this was what we worried about. We were self taught with the critical ear of a loving father. He didn’t lead us wrong. We WON!
After the contest , we did the Friday Night Frolics on WSM radio. Saturday night we were on the Opry. Scared? No . I guess we didn’t have that problem as long as the three of us were standing together. Hank played behind us that night and several others when we and Hank were in Nashville. That’s when we actually got to know him. He treated us like ladies.
As time went on we got to watch this Classy Genius up close over the next few months and he was absolutely amazing. He was working with all the best such as Elvis, Patsy,etc. So why would he help put out a classic with three young girls called”Blackberry Winter”? Because he was the one with the inner music and he created so many people and their exceptional “sound” that it just was a natural thing to him no matter who you were. He could see the potential in a song and did what it took to make it a hit. Any kind of stringed instrument seemed to be nothing to him. He was good at all of them. He was kind and businesslike all the times I saw him. I still don’t see why anyone would have wanted to control or hurt him. It would seem that those who wanted to control him must have wanted the music he wrote and produced as well as Hank himself dead. This left the door open to many but they would never come up to him—not even close and understand —He was through at the age of 32. There were those who saw to that. One thing that really got my attention was the way he treated our Dad. Daddy was an equal as far as Hank was concerned and they had conversations meant only for them. Daddy was a good flat top guitar player in his younger years. And he loved good playing. This old rice farmer couldn’t play like he use to but he wanted what was best for his girls and he felt Hank was the best. Hank was the arranger and leader of the “A” Team session players.
In February, 1960, we were to be in Nashville for our first session in the recording studio. We went to the Bradley Barn and had Owen Bradley as the engineer. We had the “A” team as the band. Hank Garland was the lead guitar and the Spanish sound of “Blackberry Winter”. Grady Martin played back up to Hank. Buddy Harmon was on drums, “Lightnin’ Chance was on the bass, and the wonder that was Floyd Cramer was on the piano. He and Hank complimented each other in the studio but Hank was always in charge. It went so smooth we were tickled. We had come to Nashville on the Saturday before we were to record on Friday and three of the songs we had never heard before. Boudeleaux and Felice Bryant took over on Monday and taught us the melodies. Then we went to the Hotel and put the harmony together.”I know “ was the only song we knew and this left us a little extra time to work the other three. We were to record on Friday the 5th and record we did.. This was so different from the other sessions we had done. This was top of the line professional and as soon as we were done with one Hank had us on the next. We had learned three difficult songs in four days. This was fun and a challenge. Never in a million years would we have disappointed our Dad, Hank or anyone in several states who believed in us. It turned out to be a terrific session. One will be a classic called “Blackberry Winter”. It was written by Edith Lindeman and Carl Stutz. The beautiful background is pure Hank at his best. We did this song one time and they stamped it. Marty Robins was in the studio to see us do this one. Read “El Paso” the Truth and you will see what happened to Hank and the Spanish Sound here . You will also, find out who took credit for it a few years later.
At the age of 16, I had my first major crush and yes, it was the man I had been studying for the music and genius he put in everything he did.--- “Hank Garland”.I think I might have died had he actually spoken to me by myself. He spoke to us in threes. He was 29 and very married with children. We were brought up the right way and you can bet that look was all I would do. Of course, Hank, the gentleman would never have approached me anyway. Hank talked about music when he talked to us. What he and Daddy talked about –I don’t know but it was serious most of the time. Hank wasn’t classically handsome but he was pure Class. The way he dressed, acted, manners, etc. I hear he got angry sometimes. I never saw this side of him. What I did see was a man that was pushed into a corner by those who would be and couldn’t because they could not visualize or put into their fingers the things Hank had in his head. So what did they do? They stole his love—Music. The last time I saw him in 1960 —he was looking so tired. I listened and learned a lot about what he was going through. Gossip was all around if you kept your mouth shut and listened. I didn’t and still don’t believe what was said about Hank. I do believe he was pushing himself beyond human endurance in order to prove others wrong. I don’t believe Hank’s “accident” was an accident. I do know he wrote “Jingle Bell Rock” and played on it. I do know because I was there—that He –Hank-- was the Marty Robins West Texas sound. If you think I’m wrong—take a listen to “Blackberry Winter”. I do believe that Elvis was getting too close to Hank for some and their were those from Hollywood to Nashville who were glad he would never function again. Dead couldn’t have done to Hank what was actually done to him. So many are willing to take his music now that he’s gone but what seems unforgivable to me is the fact that they did it while he was still on this earth. So many lost their lives from 1961 to 1965. Was all this necessary? Why did so many in Nashville move to other locations such as Branson.?
I remember Hanks” “Accident” vividly. I married in June of 1961 to a wonderful man who was the actual love of my life by the name of Charlie Hawkins. He was proud of the Townsel Sisters and we spent a lot of time talking about our singing. He knew how I felt about Hank and was O.K. with it since he knew the whole Townsel family were fans of Hanks. The day in September 1961 when Trudy Stamper called from Nashville and told me that Hank Garland had crashed the night before and the Doctors said he wouldn’t live . I tried to hold on to the thought that Hank was given a talent from God and that God would take care of him.—I guess I overlooked that there are mean people on this earth. I lost contact with Hank. He just seemed to disappear and no one in Nashville would talk to me. The day I got the first call----I sat on my husband’s lap and cried. He understood how much the Townsels cared and I now know Hank cared for us. He remembered our music even when he got older. This is a great compliment. Charlie led me through the grief that overwhelmed me at the thought of Hank never being heard from again. .I felt Nashville had cheated me of the great riffs and beautiful backgrounds from Hank. If you listen to Hank backing a singer—he allowed the voice to carry the song but his fingers were busy filling in background. Over the years –I thought of Hank playing for God and how beautiful it must be. Was I Wrong.!!!
When Hank didn’t die, he was put in an institution and his brain shocked so many times that he was reduced to a child who had to learn to walk, talk, and with the love of his family( his brother and friend Billy) he was able to learn the “Sugarfoot Rag”. Hank’s playing was like a ghost of the former Hank who was so dynamic. What happened to his playing of the Ukulele ,Banjo, Mandolin? They were put on the shelves of Billy’s home and now someone else has the Golden Ukulele Hank received from Elvis. I do hope God will build them a conscience and they will give back to Billy the things that belonged to Hank and no one else. Hank told me on the phone one time how good Elvis was to him. Elvis must have been a good guy too.
I was still under the impression that Hank was dead. I was told his hands, arms, and body were crushed but nothing was said about the brain. I assumed he was O.K. there but I didn’t realize until years later that Hank’s wife had him admitted to this institution with help from others and actually helped reduce him to a child. When this was finished --- Evelyn put him on a plane back to his Mom and Dad with a $20 bill in his pocket. Can you just imagine what this Mother and Daddy felt when they took home what was left of the brilliant 16 year old musician who had left home and had done so much for music and Nashville? Now he was destroyed but the love of this Mother and Father along with Billy and the rest brought Hank through to be 74 even in his shape. A few months after Hanks’ accident —Evelyn lost her life tragically. Was this an accident too? Born in Cowpens S.C. in 1930, Hank Garland’s career ended at age 32. His actual death took place on December 27, 2004.
How can I know all this? Partly, I was there and partly I was one of the fortunate ones who found Hank again one year before he died. With love–Billy had been taking care of this great man who could never say what all had happened to him in Nashville but he would answer questions. “Crazy” was the last session song he did with Patsy before he got destroyed. I feel the movie “Crazy” will touch on only a little of the true Hank. I feel it will not tell the facts about this basically shy person. The only time I can see Hank fighting Back is when his music was being affected. He was given this gift from god and Yes, he did defend it but he would never hurt anyone the way he got hurt. To have all that wonderful music inside and not be able to put it out to your fingers—This man loved the Lord all his life and this –with the love of his family, especially Billy—brought him through many trying years.
A couple of years after Hank’s “Accident” I went to Beaumont , Texas to see the Nashville Cat’s million dollar band. Their guitar player was the great Chet Atkins–not Harold Bradley as I read the other day. Chet said of Hank “If you don’t want him to play it you’d better not let him hear it because he only has to hear it once and He’s got it. He also said Hank was the best ever and one thing I noticed is that He didn’t take Hank’s resume as another person recently did.. Chet made one of his own.
One night in February 2004–---I was under my bed praying because a tornado was over our little town and I live in a nice but not too stable trailer. When I felt it was safe to get out,—I thanked the “Good Lord” and started down the hall to my computer. I glanced up and saw a picture of Hank crooked on the wall. I looked at it , Straightened it and started crying for all the music we all had lost when we lost him. I still didn’t know Hank was alive. When I reached the computer –I didn’t look for the weather. I looked for Hank Garland’s music. I found brother Billy . I saw where they lived so I called an operator just hoping they were the Garlands I was looking for. Did I luck out . I found two special friends in the Lord as well as Hank. As I talked to Billy that night I was telling him how sorry I was Hank had died so many years before. Did I ever get another shock? Billy told me that Hank was there with him and he told me what kind of shape he was still in. After I hung up, I spent the night praying and crying for this special one who’s talents had been taken from him so long ago. All I could remember was the classiest, jazzy, best looking gentleman in Nashville as a young girl. I just couldn’t see what had been done to him yet.
I kept in touch about every week and Billy let me know what was going on. Hank was in the hospital a lot it seemed and then came the call a few months after I found him and Billy told me they were going to take the life support away. I told Billy I had been praying and that I didn’t feel God was ready for Hank yet. Hank’s life had stood for the Lord all these years of being an invalid and before and my prayer was that Hank could have a few months to be able to remember and enjoy a few of the things he did in his Hey Day. I wanted him to remember when times were good–if only for a little while. The joy he had given to others with his music. The next day , Billy called me and said “Lana, You’re not going to believe this, but Hank talked to the doctor’s, shook their hands and he’s remembering things.” I fell on my knees and thanked God for this Blessing and for his goodness.
From then until December 27, 2004 when the Lord took Hank Home– I visited with Hank on the phone. The first thing I told him was that he was my first crush at 16 and I still had that crush. He chuckled. From then on , Hank would talk until I could feel he was tiring—then I would let him go. After I found out he remembered the Townsel Sisters, I ask about many of the things I’m writing----nothing that he didn’t want to talk about—just the few things I’m writing about and he could answer me. I received the picture of him with Elvis, autographed and it’s on the wall with other Townsel Sister pictures. Several of those have Hank in them. I received his Christmas card the day after he died. That was a lonely, terrible Christmas. I felt Nashville had cheated me twice.----- Once in 1961 and again in 2004. Was I being unfair? I lost Hank twice in my life plus I had lost my sweet husband who had helped me with the grief the first time. I lost him in 1990 and all this piled up together was about too much. I stayed to myself feeling I and all the world had been cheated of some of the most spectacular music to ever be created .This talented , hardworking, genius of a musician gave us many hours of pleasure as it was and many don’t recognize his work because others have laid claim to it. If you study Hank’s music—you can pick up on little things that let you know that it is pure Hank. He wrote and created many of his own –just to have them stolen. I know about this sort of thing a little bit. The Townsel Sisters ran into a little of this after they left the wings of Floyd Huddleston.
I will be saddened over what we have all lost in “Hank” Garland and until I go to be with the Lord myself—I will pray that I can again sing with Hank Garland ,My Sisters, and the “A” team band.
Thinking back—When I talked to Daddy about getting married at 18—he was kind. I thought he would be blazing mad and say “no”. He didn’t. I often wonder what all he knew and what he and Hank talked about. I do know that Daddy was a perceptive man who loved his daughters and when he was ask about us going on the road at the ages of 15,16, and 18 with Faron Young—He told the Nashville Brass that we were too young to go . Daddy was a good man and no dummy when it came to his girls or what was going on in Nashville.
LANA (Townsel) HAWKINS
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