Music & Family

For my music and family blog I got the honor of interviewing my sweet 80 year old Grandma Lee (Aka Luedee). Since there were so many questions I thought I’d like to share all of her essential ones and her best memories. 

Me:What sort of music-culture did you grow up in?

Lee: I grew up listening to Gospel, Blues, Rock and Roll, and the HillBillies. 

Me:Where did you grow up?

Lee: New Orleans Lousianna 

Me:What kind of music did you grow up with? What did it mean to you and the people around you? Did music have any particular function? When and where did you listen to it?

Lee: Gospel meant alot to me because it really helped me know God and want to sing more. All the people around me enjoyed it also because growing up it was a comfort to everyone around in spite of everything they were going through. I used to listen to Gospel in the morning and the Blues in the afternoon on the radio channel WBOK. 

Me:Were you involved in any music groups at school or church or anywhere else? Your garage?

Lee: I sung in my church choir but it was mainly solo’s. When I was in school I signed up to take music classes but I wound up switching because my music teacher wanted me to sing Opera and soprano and I didn’t want to sing that. 

Me:Have you ever met any famous-y musicians? 

Lee: I met Mahalia Jackson who was a gospel singer, and Ray Charles. I was once a background singer for Ray when he was playing a gig. 

Me:Has any musician inspired you?

Lee: Yes. Ray Charles (who was her favorite), James Brown, Al Green and Frog Man Kenny. 

Me:Did you play any instruments or sing growing up? How did you feel about that? Do you still play/sing? Do you regret anything? 

Lee: I only sung I never played any instruments however I still sing to this day. I do regret not pursuing music big time.  

Me:What is your first memory of music?

Lee: When I was ten years old I got up to sing a song in church called ‘I Came to the Garden Alone’ however as I was singing I looked at the church clock hanging on the wall and all of a sudden I started singing the Blues song ‘The Clock On the Wall’ and I didn’t even realize it. I hurried up and was kicked off the platform and I caught a huge whipping and wasn't allowed out of the house for days. 

Me:How has your relationship to music changed over the course of your life?

Lee: Never I love it. 

 Me:Do you still listen to the same kind of music you listened to growing up? How is it the same or different? 

Lee: I only listen to Gospel now. 

Me:Do you like any type of music that might be surprising?

Lee: I loved listening to the Hillbilly music .

Me:If you had kids, did you push them to be involved in music? Why or why not? 

Lee: Out of the eight kids I had only two of them could sing I tried to push them to do more but they were always shy.

Me:If you had to describe your life in one song, what would you choose?

Lee: Prayer changes things.

Me:What does music mean to you?

Lee: Everything!