One year my family and many of my father's brothers were at my grandparents house as we'd all get together to go fishing the farm pond's and frog hunting at night. Most of the men including myself are musically talented either instrumental or singing. Uncle Donnie played a mean Chet electric guitar playing mostly 50's Rock and Roll as good as Chuck Berry or anybody. One morning I was sitting in the den next to my grandpa and we start hearing somebody flat tearing up Grandma's old upright piano in the front bedroom, I heard grandma say I never knew you played the piano? Uncle Donnie said I didn't either I just sat down and started messing with it and realized I knew how to play it, it was like Jerry Lee Lewis was in the house, he played Great Balls of fire! Playing with his elbows and pounded the keyboard with his head never missed a beat! My uncle was in the Navy in Vietnam he was a communication tower technician, so he went from Base to Base ship to ship working on installing and repairing the communications and radio, radar systems until his co workers safety harness let go when he was on the very top of a tower when one of the guys above him somehow come loose and fell brushing my uncle on the way down to his death. It did something psychologically to my uncle so they section 8 him and send him home. And then went to work for the Bell helicopter manufacturing plant as a civilian installing communications on helicopter's but he just never could get over the flashbacks of watching one of his fellow technicians fall to the death and almost taking him along with him. Uncle Donnie passed away yesterday at the age of 83 but this is one thing I'll never forget about him, the next oldest brother under my dad, would get together at family reunion's, I and my older brother would join in under that pavilion playing and singing our heads off singing 50's Rock and roll, country and gospel music like Johnny B good ringing a bell!
Sounds like great memories. My condolences on your loss.
Passingbye wrote:
One year my family and many of my father's brothers were at my grandparents house as we'd all get together to go fishing the farm pond's and frog hunting at night. Most of the men including myself are musically talented either instrumental or singing. Uncle Donnie played a mean Chet electric guitar playing mostly 50's Rock and Roll as good as Chuck Berry or anybody. One morning I was sitting in the den next to my grandpa and we start hearing somebody flat tearing up Grandma's old upright piano in the front bedroom, I heard grandma say I never knew you played the piano? Uncle Donnie said I didn't either I just sat down and started messing with it and realized I knew how to play it, it was like Jerry Lee Lewis was in the house, he played Great Balls of fire! Playing with his elbows and pounded the keyboard with his head never missed a beat! My uncle was in the Navy in Vietnam he was a communication tower technician, so he went from Base to Base ship to ship working on installing and repairing the communications and radio, radar systems until his co workers safety harness let go when he was on the very top of a tower when one of the guys above him somehow come loose and fell brushing my uncle on the way down to his death. It did something psychologically to my uncle so they section 8 him and send him home. And then went to work for the Bell helicopter manufacturing plant as a civilian installing communications on helicopter's but he just never could get over the flashbacks of watching one of his fellow technicians fall to the death and almost taking him along with him. Uncle Donnie passed away yesterday at the age of 83 but this is one thing I'll never forget about him, the next oldest brother under my dad, would get together at family reunion's, I and my older brother would join in under that pavilion playing and singing our heads off singing 50's Rock and roll, country and gospel music like Johnny B good ringing a bell!
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Sorry to hear about your uncle brother.
That experience had to be very traumatic.
He left fond memories for all to enjoy.
Our condolences 👍👍
Passingbye wrote:
One year my family and many of my father's brothers were at my grandparents house as we'd all get together to go fishing the farm pond's and frog hunting at night. Most of the men including myself are musically talented either instrumental or singing. Uncle Donnie played a mean Chet electric guitar playing mostly 50's Rock and Roll as good as Chuck Berry or anybody. One morning I was sitting in the den next to my grandpa and we start hearing somebody flat tearing up Grandma's old upright piano in the front bedroom, I heard grandma say I never knew you played the piano? Uncle Donnie said I didn't either I just sat down and started messing with it and realized I knew how to play it, it was like Jerry Lee Lewis was in the house, he played Great Balls of fire! Playing with his elbows and pounded the keyboard with his head never missed a beat! My uncle was in the Navy in Vietnam he was a communication tower technician, so he went from Base to Base ship to ship working on installing and repairing the communications and radio, radar systems until his co workers safety harness let go when he was on the very top of a tower when one of the guys above him somehow come loose and fell brushing my uncle on the way down to his death. It did something psychologically to my uncle so they section 8 him and send him home. And then went to work for the Bell helicopter manufacturing plant as a civilian installing communications on helicopter's but he just never could get over the flashbacks of watching one of his fellow technicians fall to the death and almost taking him along with him. Uncle Donnie passed away yesterday at the age of 83 but this is one thing I'll never forget about him, the next oldest brother under my dad, would get together at family reunion's, I and my older brother would join in under that pavilion playing and singing our heads off singing 50's Rock and roll, country and gospel music like Johnny B good ringing a bell!
One year my family and many of my father's brother... (
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Our condolences PB, sounds like he left quite an impression on your life as did my Uncle John. In my opinion there’s no greater gift or legacy.
Passingbye wrote:
One year my family and many of my father's brothers were at my grandparents house as we'd all get together to go fishing the farm pond's and frog hunting at night. Most of the men including myself are musically talented either instrumental or singing. Uncle Donnie played a mean Chet electric guitar playing mostly 50's Rock and Roll as good as Chuck Berry or anybody. One morning I was sitting in the den next to my grandpa and we start hearing somebody flat tearing up Grandma's old upright piano in the front bedroom, I heard grandma say I never knew you played the piano? Uncle Donnie said I didn't either I just sat down and started messing with it and realized I knew how to play it, it was like Jerry Lee Lewis was in the house, he played Great Balls of fire! Playing with his elbows and pounded the keyboard with his head never missed a beat! My uncle was in the Navy in Vietnam he was a communication tower technician, so he went from Base to Base ship to ship working on installing and repairing the communications and radio, radar systems until his co workers safety harness let go when he was on the very top of a tower when one of the guys above him somehow come loose and fell brushing my uncle on the way down to his death. It did something psychologically to my uncle so they section 8 him and send him home. And then went to work for the Bell helicopter manufacturing plant as a civilian installing communications on helicopter's but he just never could get over the flashbacks of watching one of his fellow technicians fall to the death and almost taking him along with him. Uncle Donnie passed away yesterday at the age of 83 but this is one thing I'll never forget about him, the next oldest brother under my dad, would get together at family reunion's, I and my older brother would join in under that pavilion playing and singing our heads off singing 50's Rock and roll, country and gospel music like Johnny B good ringing a bell!
One year my family and many of my father's brother... (
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Sounds like a great man. My dad worked on a bunch of that Military stuff. Sorry to hear about him passing. The music sounds like a blast. Frog hunting and fishing. So all those after dinner noises had to be frogs getting stepped on.
My high school buddy ( auto shop and football buddies) went in Navy. Retired after bunch of years. His dad and all his relatives in Michigan and wherever else are same way jam on all the instruments when together . Pickin and grinnnin is what my dad calls it. He is a musician too. Any instrument he picks up he can play.
You know what a stump fiddle is?
Passingbye wrote:
One year my family and many of my father's brothers were at my grandparents house as we'd all get together to go fishing the farm pond's and frog hunting at night. Most of the men including myself are musically talented either instrumental or singing. Uncle Donnie played a mean Chet electric guitar playing mostly 50's Rock and Roll as good as Chuck Berry or anybody. One morning I was sitting in the den next to my grandpa and we start hearing somebody flat tearing up Grandma's old upright piano in the front bedroom, I heard grandma say I never knew you played the piano? Uncle Donnie said I didn't either I just sat down and started messing with it and realized I knew how to play it, it was like Jerry Lee Lewis was in the house, he played Great Balls of fire! Playing with his elbows and pounded the keyboard with his head never missed a beat! My uncle was in the Navy in Vietnam he was a communication tower technician, so he went from Base to Base ship to ship working on installing and repairing the communications and radio, radar systems until his co workers safety harness let go when he was on the very top of a tower when one of the guys above him somehow come loose and fell brushing my uncle on the way down to his death. It did something psychologically to my uncle so they section 8 him and send him home. And then went to work for the Bell helicopter manufacturing plant as a civilian installing communications on helicopter's but he just never could get over the flashbacks of watching one of his fellow technicians fall to the death and almost taking him along with him. Uncle Donnie passed away yesterday at the age of 83 but this is one thing I'll never forget about him, the next oldest brother under my dad, would get together at family reunion's, I and my older brother would join in under that pavilion playing and singing our heads off singing 50's Rock and roll, country and gospel music like Johnny B good ringing a bell!
One year my family and many of my father's brother... (
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Very sorry for your loss PB. May your Uncle rest in peace. 🙏
Gordon
Loc: Charleston South Carolina
Passingbye wrote:
One year my family and many of my father's brothers were at my grandparents house as we'd all get together to go fishing the farm pond's and frog hunting at night. Most of the men including myself are musically talented either instrumental or singing. Uncle Donnie played a mean Chet electric guitar playing mostly 50's Rock and Roll as good as Chuck Berry or anybody. One morning I was sitting in the den next to my grandpa and we start hearing somebody flat tearing up Grandma's old upright piano in the front bedroom, I heard grandma say I never knew you played the piano? Uncle Donnie said I didn't either I just sat down and started messing with it and realized I knew how to play it, it was like Jerry Lee Lewis was in the house, he played Great Balls of fire! Playing with his elbows and pounded the keyboard with his head never missed a beat! My uncle was in the Navy in Vietnam he was a communication tower technician, so he went from Base to Base ship to ship working on installing and repairing the communications and radio, radar systems until his co workers safety harness let go when he was on the very top of a tower when one of the guys above him somehow come loose and fell brushing my uncle on the way down to his death. It did something psychologically to my uncle so they section 8 him and send him home. And then went to work for the Bell helicopter manufacturing plant as a civilian installing communications on helicopter's but he just never could get over the flashbacks of watching one of his fellow technicians fall to the death and almost taking him along with him. Uncle Donnie passed away yesterday at the age of 83 but this is one thing I'll never forget about him, the next oldest brother under my dad, would get together at family reunion's, I and my older brother would join in under that pavilion playing and singing our heads off singing 50's Rock and roll, country and gospel music like Johnny B good ringing a bell!
One year my family and many of my father's brother... (
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Sorry for you're loss PB. That was a good read. Thanks.
Passingbye wrote:
One year my family and many of my father's brothers were at my grandparents house as we'd all get together to go fishing the farm pond's and frog hunting at night. Most of the men including myself are musically talented either instrumental or singing. Uncle Donnie played a mean Chet electric guitar playing mostly 50's Rock and Roll as good as Chuck Berry or anybody. One morning I was sitting in the den next to my grandpa and we start hearing somebody flat tearing up Grandma's old upright piano in the front bedroom, I heard grandma say I never knew you played the piano? Uncle Donnie said I didn't either I just sat down and started messing with it and realized I knew how to play it, it was like Jerry Lee Lewis was in the house, he played Great Balls of fire! Playing with his elbows and pounded the keyboard with his head never missed a beat! My uncle was in the Navy in Vietnam he was a communication tower technician, so he went from Base to Base ship to ship working on installing and repairing the communications and radio, radar systems until his co workers safety harness let go when he was on the very top of a tower when one of the guys above him somehow come loose and fell brushing my uncle on the way down to his death. It did something psychologically to my uncle so they section 8 him and send him home. And then went to work for the Bell helicopter manufacturing plant as a civilian installing communications on helicopter's but he just never could get over the flashbacks of watching one of his fellow technicians fall to the death and almost taking him along with him. Uncle Donnie passed away yesterday at the age of 83 but this is one thing I'll never forget about him, the next oldest brother under my dad, would get together at family reunion's, I and my older brother would join in under that pavilion playing and singing our heads off singing 50's Rock and roll, country and gospel music like Johnny B good ringing a bell!
One year my family and many of my father's brother... (
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Sorry for the passing of your Uncle The memories with forever linger. Hang in there.
Passingbye wrote:
One year my family and many of my father's brothers were at my grandparents house as we'd all get together to go fishing the farm pond's and frog hunting at night. Most of the men including myself are musically talented either instrumental or singing. Uncle Donnie played a mean Chet electric guitar playing mostly 50's Rock and Roll as good as Chuck Berry or anybody. One morning I was sitting in the den next to my grandpa and we start hearing somebody flat tearing up Grandma's old upright piano in the front bedroom, I heard grandma say I never knew you played the piano? Uncle Donnie said I didn't either I just sat down and started messing with it and realized I knew how to play it, it was like Jerry Lee Lewis was in the house, he played Great Balls of fire! Playing with his elbows and pounded the keyboard with his head never missed a beat! My uncle was in the Navy in Vietnam he was a communication tower technician, so he went from Base to Base ship to ship working on installing and repairing the communications and radio, radar systems until his co workers safety harness let go when he was on the very top of a tower when one of the guys above him somehow come loose and fell brushing my uncle on the way down to his death. It did something psychologically to my uncle so they section 8 him and send him home. And then went to work for the Bell helicopter manufacturing plant as a civilian installing communications on helicopter's but he just never could get over the flashbacks of watching one of his fellow technicians fall to the death and almost taking him along with him. Uncle Donnie passed away yesterday at the age of 83 but this is one thing I'll never forget about him, the next oldest brother under my dad, would get together at family reunion's, I and my older brother would join in under that pavilion playing and singing our heads off singing 50's Rock and roll, country and gospel music like Johnny B good ringing a bell!
One year my family and many of my father's brother... (
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Hey Passingbye,
I have a cousin in KC that also plays Chet Atkins style, and even plays a Gretsch Country Gentleman! He plays a lot of Chet’s stuff and also at church. He’s 68. 🎸
Billycrap2
Loc: Mason county,W(BY GOD) Virginia, 🇺🇸🦅
Passingbye wrote:
One year my family and many of my father's brothers were at my grandparents house as we'd all get together to go fishing the farm pond's and frog hunting at night. Most of the men including myself are musically talented either instrumental or singing. Uncle Donnie played a mean Chet electric guitar playing mostly 50's Rock and Roll as good as Chuck Berry or anybody. One morning I was sitting in the den next to my grandpa and we start hearing somebody flat tearing up Grandma's old upright piano in the front bedroom, I heard grandma say I never knew you played the piano? Uncle Donnie said I didn't either I just sat down and started messing with it and realized I knew how to play it, it was like Jerry Lee Lewis was in the house, he played Great Balls of fire! Playing with his elbows and pounded the keyboard with his head never missed a beat! My uncle was in the Navy in Vietnam he was a communication tower technician, so he went from Base to Base ship to ship working on installing and repairing the communications and radio, radar systems until his co workers safety harness let go when he was on the very top of a tower when one of the guys above him somehow come loose and fell brushing my uncle on the way down to his death. It did something psychologically to my uncle so they section 8 him and send him home. And then went to work for the Bell helicopter manufacturing plant as a civilian installing communications on helicopter's but he just never could get over the flashbacks of watching one of his fellow technicians fall to the death and almost taking him along with him. Uncle Donnie passed away yesterday at the age of 83 but this is one thing I'll never forget about him, the next oldest brother under my dad, would get together at family reunion's, I and my older brother would join in under that pavilion playing and singing our heads off singing 50's Rock and roll, country and gospel music like Johnny B good ringing a bell!
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Sorry to hear my condolences R.I.P. Donnie 🙏🇺🇸🦅
Randyhartford wrote:
Hey Passingbye,
I have a cousin in KC that also plays Chet Atkins style, and even plays a Gretsch Country Gentleman! He plays a lot of Chet’s stuff and also at church. He’s 68. 🎸
That's the only place I play and sing is in Church, I'm more into flattop Martin guitars myself, though I've played Electric guitars since I was about 12 year's old.
saw1
Loc: nor cal Windsor
Passingbye wrote:
That's the only place I play and sing is in Church, I'm more into flattop Martin guitars myself, though I've played Electric guitars since I was about 12 year's old.
Sorry for your loss PB. He will definitely live on through your memories.😔🙏
Passingbye wrote:
That's the only place I play and sing is in Church, I'm more into flattop Martin guitars myself, though I've played Electric guitars since I was about 12 year's old.
Did you see my posts where I showed my new(er)
acoustic guitar that I traded my old Gibson electric for?
My condolences. Nice that you have great memories of him!
Passingbye wrote:
That's the only place I play and sing is in Church, I'm more into flattop Martin guitars myself, though I've played Electric guitars since I was about 12 year's old.
So sorry for your loss also, and coming from a musical family too I can relate to the jam sessions when the family got together. My mom was our piano player and she could really tickle the ivory. I'm a flattop player too, but mine is just a Finder. Learned on an electric Gibson Sunburst, but it stayed at home when I left and my dad took it apart for parts on a homemade guitar that was terrible.
Play on and dedicate one to your uncle some Sunday.
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