 |
NOTE: A word about the first slide. This photo was provided by Mike Downey,
son of Uncle Gerald and Aunt Alice. Mike was named after his paternal grandfather, Michael Edward Downey. Because
this photo was undated, Mike asked me to give a guess as to when this picture might have been taken. My guess is that
this is my Uncle Gerald's High School graduation picture, and he just may have graduated from H.S. well after he was 18---we
just don't know. The second slide is that of Uncle Gerald and Aunt Alice taken sometime in the 1940's---or maybe even
1950's (?) And the third slide shows Uncle Bill and Aunt Juanita Black with Uncle Gerald in August, 1968.
....H.
Bruce Downey
*************************************************
Uncle Gerald and I share something
in common: We both taught ourselves how to play the piano---he, by ear, and me, by reading music, but both of us learned
without any instructor. Uncle Gerald taught himself how to play on Sherman Black's ebony player piano in the 1920's,
which piano had to be sold in the 1930's depression for only $25. I taught myself how to play on our restored
Jacob Doll & Sons upright piano which was built in New York City in 1905. I chose this particular piece to
play at Uncle Gerald's website because it's a "Blues" piece and the "Blues" style of music was
first performed during the same time period (1920's) when Uncle Gerald taught himself how to play the piano.
So this is for you, Uncle Gerald.
...H. Bruce Downey, October, 2003
Don't hear anything ? Try playing this media player
while viewing slides...
"Space Shuttle Blues" performed here by Uncle Gerald's nephew,
H. Bruce Downey
|
