Maxcey, Lillie B 1989-11-21
Lillie Belle Maxcey reviews gospel music development in West Texas.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Lillie Belle Maxcey
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: November 21, 1989
Location: Earth, Texas
Interviewer: Richard J. Mason
Length: 60 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Maxcey, Lillie Belle,
How she learned to play piano,
Taught at 8-10 years old by her mother,
No interest, moseyed along,
Her mother learned by correspondence course,
She started singing schools at age 13,
She was born in 1913,
About 1929, singing schools in Garza County,
Used Stamps Baxter books,
Stamps Quartet concert at Ragtown schoolhouse,
Two-story school and auditorium in upper part,
3 miles to Post to concerts also,
Summer singing schools,
She got out of chopping cotton, brothers had to work,
One teacher from Oklahoma for 3 summers,
?Eun Ellis of Enid, Oklahoma,
Papa wanted her to go,
1930- two singing schools,
One held at Garlynn community, 30-40 attended,
Every Sunday, a singing in the county,
1st Sunday- Garlynn,
2nd Sunday- Grassland,
3rd Sunday- Central, on Tahoka highway,
4th Sunday- Draw,
Friday night practices at Garlynn, non-denominational, community sing,
All ages participated, primary form of entertainment,
She practiced songs to learn piano,
Her brothers Thomas (often gone), Roy, Lee and Rob, and her,
All got playing instruments and gathered at evening at home,
Lee- banjo, ?violin,
Roy- guitar,
Rob and ?Cloe- were younger,
Thomas played when he was around,
Papa and Mama would sit on the front porch and listen,
“We’re going to miss this when they leave”,
She got married,
She met “W. C.” (?husband) at a sing in 1929,
Song books,
Stamps and Vaughan were main books,
“Precious Moments” collection,
Frank Stamps and Mrs. V. O. Stamps,
Some Garza singers went to Levelland,
Mostly local singing and Hackberry community,
Piano playing,
She played the last year in Post area,
One time at T Bar Ranch in Lynn County,
She was only piano player of 4 to play new song,
Transposing and Style,
1932- hard to get gasoline so less sings.
Tape 1, Side 2: Maxcey, Lillie Belle (again),
She didn’t attend for several years, and they moved to Earth area,
Fewer singers up in this area,
Current Muleshoe sings, some in Levelland,
She started back to sing in 1960’s,
Rotation of Plainview, Slaton, Levelland, Idalou,
W. C. (?husband) got in bad health,
Country music- “I’ll Never Be Lonely”, “Broken Pieces”,
She is currently making a tape,
Papa used to sing “Will There Be Any Stars”,
She learned by round notes before she started singing schools,
She likes songs written by Dottie Rambo,
“How Long Has It Been” by Mosley Lister, Stamps piano player,
V. O. Stamps and Frank Stamps,
Charles H. Gabriel a writer,
Churches now accept some of the songs,
[Lillie Belle Maxcey plays several selections on the piano for rest of tape],
“Remind Me Dear Lord”,
“The Holy Hills of Heaven Call Me”,
“Sometimes a Mountain” unnamed- ?
”Peace in the Valley” transposed lower of same number unnamed- ?”Dearest Savior”.
Range Dates: 1913 - 1989
Bulk Dates: 1929 - 1970
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Transcript:
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