Garrison, Homer 1989-11-21

Homer Garrison reviews Gospel music in West Texas region, as well as local history.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name:Homer Garrison

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: November 21, 1989

Location: Hereford, Texas

Interviewer: Richard J. Mason

Length: 120 minutes

Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Garrison Homer,

Gospel music,

No music in country schools in Seagraves 1920, His father near Seagraves for 2 years, Moved to Brownfield 2 years Gomez 2 years, Moved to Lehey school between Brownfield and Seagraves, Moved to Lubbock County 1928 near Idalou in Liberty community, West Texas schools in 1920’s were 8-12 miles apart no busing, Deaf Smith County at one time 12 schools now 2, His first singing school at Lehey in 3rd or 4th grade, Teacher was Tomlinson of Brownfield, Basic program of sing, lines and spaces time, Singing school at Liberty community, “Professor of Music” S. V. Summers lived in Liberty near Garrison’s, He taught with assistance of Uncle Tom Nelson, Nelson became father-in-law of Garrison’s sister, No music in the rural schools just Lubbock, He finished 10th grade at Liberty, He attended Lubbock High School in 1932 to get classified for college work, Summers insisted Garrison attend a Music Formal School,

Hosted by Stamps Baxter Music Company in Dallas Texas,

V. O. Stamps was the leader,

Garrison attended in fall 1933 for 6 weeks,

18 years old, train to Dallas, 1st 

time away from home,

Back to Lubbock,

Music training from Odis Echols of Lubbock,

Echols later moved to Clovis,

Stamps Baxter Music Company (again),

V. O. Stamps had music studio in Oak Cliff, Above a large drugstore 40 students, He invited Garrison to be in a Stamps Quartet, Selling song books, Back in Lubbock, Echols group called Melody Boys, Odis Echols Henry Shipp Don Smith and a 1st tenor, Clyde Burleson formed another quartet with Menace Beak, Wilson Carson, Garrison sang for a month, Homer Garrison was 19 and getting married, 1932 at Texas Tech 1933 back at Tech and just married,

Wife pregnant he had to work so stopped school, Worked for Clyde Burleson at $18 per week, Singing on the road, Good money for the height of the Depression, Clyde Burleson (again), He sang with Stamps for 25 years Lubbock was hometown, They sang together from 1933 to 1936, After 5-6 months they went to McKinney Texas to sing, Recruited young piano player Marion Snyder, Wilson Carson had being playing guitar for them, Piano players got most attention at conventions, They sang in Texas New Mexico Louisiana and Oklahoma, Oklahoma for 3-4 months, Baby was born, Altus Oklahoma , high school program in July, Wet baby diaper in Homer’s pocket, Singing conventions, Usually 6-8 groups promoting at a site, Altus had 4 groups, Melody Boys of Echols, Stamps Quartet of Dallas, Lubbock Stamps Quartet, A. J. Showalter of Tennessee, Each group sold song books for 25 cents, Quartet paid 12 ½ cents, plus free copies, Used profit to defray travel expenses, Clyde Burleson (again), He bought 1934 V-8 Ford for $26 per month, Group paid for car expenses, family at home, All country boys with limited training, Didn’t go after “big money”, Shaped-noted method, Garrison couldn’t read conventional music, Stamps Baxter (again), Lubbock Stamps Quartet represented them, Stamps Baxter supplied with song books and cash help, Oklahoma hotel room for 3 weeks, Rain no business, V. O. Stamps wired $50 Burleson had $20 in his shoe, Lots of good times, Two week singing schools, Teach basics, shaped-note timing, Brought singing to communities, Developed local music leaders, Lubbock Stamps Quartet disbanded after 4-5 years, Beak to California Snyder to Dallas, Garrison learned to serve people training for latter life, Clyde Burleson was high-pitched 1st tenor, Garrison’s mentor outgoing loved to entertain, Homer Garrison was lead singer, Beak was bass but could sing any part, Had been in Harley-Sadlers’s tent shows in 1920’s, Tall boy with him became a Methodist preacher, Some of the men were clean others untidy, Living with 5 men in a car, Conflicts while traveling together, Menace Beak was only one who could write music, Marion Snyder later wrote songs, He married sister of wife of V. O. Stamps, V. O. Stamps (again), He came to Lubbock 2 times for 3 week singing schools, A singing person is a happy person, They used mostly Gospel music, but also some “tricky tunes”, Stopping at a country school to promote a Friday program, Two week singing schools for $75, Year-round but better in the summer.

Tape 1, Side 2:

Tape 2, Side 1:

Tape 2, Side 2:

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