Music and Family

When I called my grandma to ask her what kind music sparked core memories for her, I was expecting scenes similar to the ones in The Help or Forest Gump. Music that you could go juking to (I learned this from my grandma; juking is when you and your friends hop from diner to diner and play music on the juke boxes at each place). And her summary of the music she listened to is what I expected, uplifting and dance to-able. Musicians like Elvis, Frankie Valli, The beach Boys, Roy Orbison, and Chubby checker. I also love these musicians, but she grew up in an era where these artists created the fads of the time LIKEEEE bubble hair. Bubble hair is one of my favorite trends from the 60's. I'm sure it has a legitimate name, but I coined the term bubble hair because of the cartoonish air this style gave a person. Example: 

My grandma tells many stories from her high school and college experience, some of them sound like they come straight out of a movie. But my favorite part of these stories is when she claims the boys in school never paid her any attention (every story features a different boy who trying to pursue her and she just not interested). One of these boys, she says, was a Roy Orbison wannabe. He wore the same glasses and combed his hair the same direction. I think she also told me that he liked to sing in the Orbison style too. 

One of my grandma's favorite songs by Roy Orbison is In Dreams, she said it was so beautiful and stood out among the rest. 

Another one of her favorite artists at the time was Chubby Checker. And if his name alone doesn't ring a bell, I'm sure most people are familiar with the lyrics "LETS TWIST AGAIN LIKE WE DID LAST SUMMMER". Very upbeat and definitely started a lot of trends. My grandma was an IT girl, no matter how much she tries to deny it. She wore glasses, she was naturally beautiful, her daddy was a strict Baptist mining man, her momma was a city girl that WORKED IN THE SCHOOL. My grandma was untouchable and desired by all the boys. On top of that she was on student council, which means she was charismatic, popular, and smart. She told me that when she was running for student council her advertisement was a poster with mints glued onto it in reference to the Peppermint Twist (by Chubby Checker) which was very popular at the time.  

All in all, my grandma connects with the music of the 60's more than most other genres or time periods. And that is something that connects us as well. Wades Family restaurant in downtown Spartanburg is a restaurant that we go to any chance we get. They serve southern cooking and play music from the 60's. it's a place that I feel connects me and my grandma more than in any other place. you should definitely check it out if you haven't already! (they're building another one too, which is super exciting.)

this is a picture of my grandma in the sixties say something nice >:(