Ole Pappy

Tales from the Cosmic Tavern & Lounge Column in the Galactic Gazette from my home town of Cosmos, MN recently took a blubbering shot at the guy I call, “Ole Pappy.”

I loved the writing of columnist and co-publisher Mark Minick as he reflected both on the music and of the times of that era in music. It all began when Mark found a note in Ole Pappy’s (my father Richard Higgin) Cosmos News column, “Smorgasbord.” He subtitled his column, “A Little of Everything, Cooked Up by Dick.”

This particular column from 1957 found Ole Pappy taking a shot at Elvis Presley, who was the singing sensation of our time.

In one paragraph Ole Pappy said of Elvis, “Elvis is the marijuana of tin-pan alley, the scourge of genuine music-lovers, the utter despair of intelligent Americans everywhere.” Pretty strong words.

But I’ve got to admit, Ole Pappy had a way with words and that was pretty good writing, as ill-conceived as it may have been.

Ole Pappy added, “The idea of Elvis the Pelvis gyrating grotesquely to the enchanting strains of ‘Silent Night’ is revolting.” Ole Pappy, I know Elvis never “gyrated” while singing “Silent Night.”

But our dad was a man of honor, who stood by his convictions no matter how others felt.

He accepted Christ at a Christian retreat at Lake Koronis near Paynesville and our lives were never the same — and all for the better. While I still respect him for leading us to a better life, I have to say, “MY FAVORITE” gospel music has come from Elvis Presley. In fact, his, “How Great Thou Art,” tears me up every time I hear it.

So, while in many things the acorn didn’t fall far from the tree between me and Ole Pappy, we differed greatly regarding, “The King’s” music. I always knew my Ole Pappy was trying to protect us from elements he deemed destructive.

And I knew his guide was The Saviour above. I only wish he and I could have sat down in the living room on a comfortable couch together and listened together to, “How Great Thou Art,” by Elvis. It may have brought tears to his eyes, as it does mine.

Fact is, I don’t know if Ole Pappy even got as far as really listening to him.

The ”gyrations” and obvious pull he had on kids was enough.

And, he felt Rock n’ Roll music was the devils’ workshop. My wife loves his music and we listen to the “Elvis Station” in our cars every chance we get. While there was a lot wrong with our generation, and it was our parents jobs to keep us as straight as they could.

I don’t think Ole Pappy ever really understand the “Rock and Roll” revolution, as his kids did. My sisters, Beth and Caryn and I were in constant battle against my dad and his views of our music. In fact, he once burned some of my sister Caryn’s records — “The Seeds” for one, I think!

While we had our differences, Ole Pappy and I agree that’s place as parents to watch out for our kids.

LAUGH A LITTLE: De-Evolution At the rate law schools are turning them out, by 2050 there will be more lawyers than humans.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: As my Ole Pappy used to say, “Words are powerful. They can create or they destroy ... so choose your works carefully.” Ole Pappy should know, he was a “wordsmith,” as they call writers. Thanks Ole Pappy!