Jerry was so excited to walk in the door of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, that when he walked in the door and saw all the stars, he sat on the floor and was so honored to sit next to some of his favorite stars!
It only got better as we toured the Hall of Fame!!
The Maddix Brothers and their sister, Rose, was a well known group in California. They played in the late 40's and 50's and used to play for dances in the Southern California area. Jerry met them and knew them personally. Jerry's Mom used to love to dance to their music, they were one of her favorites. They came to California to pick cotton and ended up being entertainers. Today Rose is show cased in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
We love gospel music and we didn't realize that some of our favorite old time gospel singers were born and raised in Alabama, until we saw them show cased in the Alabama Hall of Fame. A few of our favorites are the, "The Happy Goodman's", "The Spear's" and of course "Jake Hess". Over the years we have worn out their tapes as we still enjoy listening to the old time southern gospel singers.
Jerry cut a CD in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame! This studio has had many music groups use this vary studio for producing their Cd's and tapes. He sang, "He Touched Me" and "In the Garden". He had a lot of fun making the CD and something he won't forget. I made copies of his CD, so if there are any friends and family that would like one, just let me know!! Not everyone can say they cut a CD in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Wow, what fun!!
After years of Jerry telling Heidi, "you still ain't driving my RV", he finally gave in and let her at least sit in the seat of the bus! That is the Alabama bus which is housed in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Looking good Heidi!!
We visited the birthplace of Helen Keller in Tuscumbia, Alabama. The home has eighty five percent of the original furnishings. The organ in the parlor still works. The tour guide asked me if I played and invited me to play the antique organ. One of the old time favorites of the Keller family was, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," a song I know very well. What a thrill to play the antique pump organ that was once played by Helen's mother. Helen said she can tell music from other vibrations by its rhythm. She detected loud and soft tones, swelling chords and dance measures. Each musical instrument has its own quality of vibration. She said the music of the organ rolls, thunders, sinks as if into the sea, mounts upward and sweeps out into space carrying her soul on its majestic wings. 
What a beautiful outlook she had on life.
The cottage was once an office, but after the death of Helen's mother, her father remarried and furnished the cottage as a bridal suite. Later a dressing room and porch were added. Here Helen was born, a normal child, on June 27, 1880. At the age of 19 months and illness left Helen blind and deaf. Later the cottage served as the school house for Helen.
