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That first Wurlitzer watched Crowell grow up. It patiently worked through scales, recital practices, and performance preparation. Like a doting parent, it watched as she left behind childhood toys and waked into young adulthood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also testifying to this season is a framed, yellowed newspaper. The Bedford County Times reminded its readers to tune in for Shelbyville\u2019s AM 1400 WHAL\u00a0first broadcast on Friday, December 20, 1946, featuring Ralph (Rat) Brantley and Miss Billie Hayes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said of that first broadcast, \u201cThe first sound ever [on WHAL] was Rat playing piano, and I sang, \u2018If I Had My Way.\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other opportunities to perform during this time stirred memories of specific songs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Crowell recalled, \u201cIn my high school days, we had one morning where everyone with a talent performed. \u2018Dream (When You\u2019re Feeling Blue).\u2019 Remember that one?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indeed, piano playing sharpens and extends memory while simultaneously creating lifetime memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crowell took her beloved music with her as she married Elmer \u201cCoke\u201d Crowell, and they began their family. You\u2019ll find that handsome football captain pictured on the same yellowed front page newspaper, foreshadowing two lives that would become one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While chauffeuring her children, Jackie, David, and Nancy, Crowell found ways to continue to make music a part of everyday life. She shared music with Bedford County\u2019s school children as a music teacher in the \u201870s and \u201880s and taught private lessons. She briefly operated a dance studio in her home\u2019s basement before moving on to playing piano and teaching dance at Nancy June Brandon\u2019s School of Dance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brenda Ayers was one of Crowell\u2019s dance students and remembered how important it was in her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe were poor growing up, but dance was the one place I could go to and escape that reality,\u201d Ayers said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crowell said, \u201cMy real joy was helping others learn to love music and have a part in it, even if they never played anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But some still play and live with the joy their time with Crowell sparked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her first piano student, Bob Smith, plays piano and organ. Music has taken him from the center ring of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration to church platforms, and he continues a life of music sparked at Crowell\u2019s side on the piano bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said, \u201cI credit everything I\u2019ve ever accomplished through my music to this super dear lady! She was so patient and worked with me to learn to play the piano; then, the organ came naturally. I owe my love of music to her, and, to this day, when I see her, it\u2019s like seeing my idol. I\u2019m so humbly thankful God allowed me to learn and study piano under her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crowell has always shared her love of music by serving as a pianist at area churches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She said, \u201cI am still blessed to be able to play the piano and organ at my church, First Presbyterian, every Sunday morning in praise to our Lord God.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The list of piano positivity states that learning the piano removes negative emotions. Another benefit of playing the piano is that it helps alleviate stress and reduce anxiety. Crowell agrees, saying she depends on it and God for strength and happiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crowell adds her reason for learning to play the piano to this long list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt becomes a joy in your life like nothing else,\u201d she said. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" IT\u2019S A life of song. Spend 15 minutes with Billie Crowell, and tell me you don\u2019t walk away with a song in your heart, a smile on your face, and a pep in your step. She says music is God\u2019s gift to her; Crowell is God\u2019s gift to us.\u00a0 The piano has its place in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":16644,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DSC_7295-2-1024x769.jpg\")
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