JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum I'm Curious: Where Did Your Creative "Gene" Come From?

Good morning everyone,

I just posted over on the Visual Arts Forum a little info about my artist parents, and links to samples of their artwork at a gallery in Naples Florida. (Here's that thread....)

http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=649741

Anyhoo, this got me thinking (I know, I know, my parents are very proud!); Presuming very few JPF members are not "first-generation" creative types, what is everyone's artistic heritage? Are there other family members involved in the arts -- or are there some "mutants" among us!!

I just thought it would be an interesting study to see where all this creativity hails from.

Thanks in advance for sharing....

Beth

Musta been the Milkman.

Way to kick this off, Bill!

Your milkman must have been a laugh riot.

Cheers,
Beth

Levi Strauss

On my mother side, my grandmother always sang a lot and regretted she didn't go into the theatre. One of her brothers was a musican.

On my father side, I've got a great great grand father who was playing the organ at Notre Dame in Paris.

However, my mother and my father themselves weren't musical or artistic at all.

Hi Ben,

Wow, that is SOOOO cool. Probably the Boot-leg version?

Actually Beth, My Father had some talent. He played a mean Harmonica and guitar. My Half brother on my Fathers side is quite the guitar player. Taught himself Merle Travis style listening to records.
But.
I only heard my father play when I was very young. Under 6 years old. I only saw him a few times over the next 50 years. I did not meet my half brother until he was in his 30's and I have rarely seen or heard from him since. The last was at least 10 years ago.

But I don't think either wrote songs or music.
We shared another trait, Alcoholism. I got over it, they didn't. I think it got in the way of them ever developing their talent. I know it held me back for a loooooooong time.

When my Father died his wife gave me an old broken guitar he had and his harmonica.

Hey Beth

Well my Dad was a Ventriloquist by profession (how many other kids can say that?) he also was a clown and dressed up as santa at christmas with his dummy "Dusty" playing an elf. (you can see where I get my whacky sense of humor ) . He also loved to play guitar and sing... he had played a bass in a band in his earlier years... Also a very distant relative of mine was Edgar Allan Poe... which probably explains my sometimes darker side :O and my creative writing
Derek

Hey Nat (I'll assume),

That is very cool. Notre Dame, huh?

I wonder, too, how many of our "forefathers" MIGHT have had some talent or artistic inclinations...but it was discouraged/squashed in favor of more "marketable" pursuits...

Thanks for sharing...
Beth

Hi Bill,

That's quite a bittersweet story. I'm glad you "got" the gene, but the literal musical inheritance -- the guitar and harmonica -- must have meant even more to you.

Bet you could crank out a pretty awesome tune about that....Something about the family tree, missing branches still bearing fruit, etc.

Anyway, I appreciate you taking the time!

Beth

Both sets of grandparents had a piano at home and there were various other instruments hidden away (guitar, bagpipes, concertina), but my parents did not display any developed talent for playing. They were probably too busy with other things.

They didn't object when I was hit by the guitar craze, but insisted I obtain an education to "fall back on", which I immediately did!

I think a lot of people are naturally talented but were never motivated to develop that talent. I remember lots of kids in high school who could sing or play instruments quite well, but I bet few still do.

Both sides of my parent's family, (back three generations as far I know for sure), including my parents, were musical. Some dabbled in other areas, like dress making.

My father especially was very musical, and performed on Saturday nights at the town square on banjo starting at 15. Had played for folks earlier than that, but not as organized as the town shows in the square. He was self taught on banjo and mandolin, and sang in church when not playing one of the two instruments.

My mother had studied piano in England during her youth. But she went to work not in music as hoped, but for the English Army when WW11 broke out for her country. She met my dad over there, as he was in the US army. They had music in common to talk about right away, and hit it off the first night at a dance. They married in England, and moved to the US after the war's end.

They bought every musical toy for me that came out. Then at 7, bought me an accordion, then soon after, my aunt on my father's side, (also musical), bought me drums. Then it was a constant buying of guitars, organs, and electric pianos by my parents, all by high school age.

My mother would always encourage me to play something whenever I was home. She would then dance around the room she happened to be cleaning in, or if cooking, in the kitchen. She loved to dance. And as she is now 90, and in an assisted living rehab place, one of her goals is to get her legs strong enough again to dance. She said this the other day, (her first day there), when I came back over and saw her in the room where a Saxophone player was doing a show for the folks, (with recorded music of all decades).

So, with her, music continues to be a real love, and a motivator for moving around again.

Yeah,,,I got tons of musical genes passed on to me. Very lucky!
I just wish I was as smart as I am blessed.

John

We have cornet, trumpet and piano players, plus bakers, and writers, on my side of the family tree. My father, 93, had a good voice, although he's retired from the church choir these days.

My grandfather was also a ventriloquist and ran away from home to be in Vaudeville. (That didn't work out so well, evidently there were tomatoes thrown). He also was a fanatic trout fisherman and tied trout flies and made some other tackle.

Waal, my Uncle Guy Kister, who ran the Family Watermill, in Millbrook Ohio, was an Accomplished Fiddler. But..cut the tip offa his index finger one year. Took him 3 years to get "back in form"..which he did.

My Mom taught Piano on the side, My Dad played Clarinet, My Stepdad played a fair job on a Beautiful VEGA Banjo..My Sis taught Flute for years..my kid Bro played Slide Trombone..& I played Hookey--never DID practice enuf to learn an Instrument. ALL are playin' Heavenly Harps now, except Sis & Bro.

I HOPE to learn either Guitar or Piano before I join the Harp Brigade...but dunno where the Time To Practice is gonna come from 'til I get "Retired." We got Brains Galore in my Fam-Tree: (My Uncle Jim's a retired Math Prof at U of Mich/worked on the A-Bomb in Los Alamos as a Grad/My Architect Cousin John Howey penned "The Sarasota School of Architecture"'Designed Pappas Restaurant at Tarpon Springs..his dad, Joseph, has Physics Bldg at Georgia Insitute of Tech named after him/Cousin Jeff Carver is a well-read Sci Fi Author/Aunt Joella Good has HS at Coral Gables named after her...& Cousin Peggy Good's "The Blonde who Defended Ted Bundy...from bein' Public Defender in Tallahassee. My Bio-Dad was finishin' a PhD in Geology, mappin' an area of the Silver River Valley in Idaho when he died..Map still bears his name. Grampa Kister was a Test Driver for White Motors all his life...& crossed Cross-Country in 1918 in a Model T...Lost a Mil. in The Crash... Stepdaddy walked away from Tennessee Farmlife, age 15, worked in Rubber Factories in Akron/GM's Body Plant in Cleveland..finished HS at age 21, worked his way up to a Masters Degree by Barbering..Chief Metalurgist at Alcoa during Wartime..quit & went back to barbering when he married Mom..always accented Education..or I'd prolly be in Jail & a Loser..if he hadn't become "Dad" at Just The Right Time. Was a Brilliant & Award-winning Photographer on-the-side/Some of his Artsy-Side definitely rubbed-off. My Great-Great Grampa Kister, Name-Forgotten, was a Dutch Mechanical Engineer..one of the First to emigrate to Ohio...who built 5 Water-Powered Mills along a single stream in what's today Millbrook, Ohio. I've probably succeeded as a Clockmaker because of Those Genetics. As a Cartoonist..thanks to Stepdad...& as a Musician/Songwriter...Thanks to ALL The Above when it Finally, if-ever, Happens! (I get my Fondness of WORDS from alla the Gals who were Teachers in our family...Mom, Sis, Gramma Kister [in a 1-room Schoolhouse in Wooster, Ohio], etc-etc.)

Not a single Scoundrel I know of on da Family Tree..but I get my "Militancy" from a long-gone Sherrick (Gramdma Kister's Kin) who fought in the Revolutionary War..and Grandpa Kister lost a Bro in the Spanish-American. Dad was a Midshipman en-route to the Philippines in WW2..& I got 'Nam under my belt as "An Artistic" Influence, too...Cartooned 8 of the 12 months I spent there..full-time.

Both my Sons are Award-Winning Bassists...tho they've put their skills Out-To-Pasture since graduatin' from HS...alas!

Hopefully, the Next Generation'll have great Luck..Genetically & Musically--Lord Knows, we've been Blessed!

Big Hugs,
Ol' Stan

I don't have the foggiest idea. It just began to happen one day about six years ago.

Dave

http://www.showcaseyourmusic.com/DaveRice

Mom and dad met playing with the San Francisco Symphony - just before WWII - mom played the clarinet, dad a percussionist. I've never tried the clarinet, and I'm a lousy drummer ; ))

Cheers, Bob

My Dad sings very well and there was always music of nearly every kind played constantly at our house. My Mom is a good writer and loves reading and poetry. She loves art too and could have been an artist if she had had the confidence and patience to do so. My cousin (Mom's side) is an artist as well. Two of my four sisters are very good at art. Both my parents are good ballroom dancers.

Mom saw that I was good at art and encouraged me by letting me have art supplies and lessons (which I dropped because the teachers didn't teach me anything I didn't already know, and then when I was just about to finish the piece, they grabbed the brush and without even asking if I needed help, said, " All you need is the finishing touch" and finished the painting. I guess they did that so they could say they helped me, but I didn't need their help and I resented having done all the difficult work and then to have them mark my painting at the end so I couldn't say I did it all myself, well that was the last straw! After that the only lessons I had were in high school where the teachers didn't mess with my work. Most of what I learned came from experimenting and also reading how to books from the Public Library.

Mom also encouraged my music by letting me have guitar lessons when I was 15. I wanted piano lessons but we couldn't afford a piano. My first teacher was a young college student and he was very good. But it was in the sixties and he got busted for drugs. (Probably just grass). The next teacher was terrible so I dropped him and learned on my own.

Those experiences are probably why I am a good teacher. I had negative examples to show me how not to teach.

I am good at representational art (no digital picts to show you though), performing (music and acting) and writing lyrics, poetry, essays, plays and composing music.

My daughter is a very good flute player and can't live without music. She is good at 3D art. Both my sons are gifted artists and also enjoy music.

My grand daughter (3 years old in November) is very musical and excellent in language and she loves to draw. When she was very tiny, she was able to recognize some songs which she liked and would kick her arms and legs like crazy to let us know. She even tried to sing them. She couldn't do the pitch but she got the rhythm right. I was amazed.

I don't think she was quite two, when she drew a large elephant on my wall. It's obviously a toddler drawing but it was easy to see that it was an elephant even before she told us it was. (She loves them.) We left it up. LOL. We are looking forward to seeing how far her tendencies will develop.

Forgot to mention - my folks were trained ball room dancers, a regular twinkle toes / Astaire & Rogers couple... I have to concentrate not stepping feet...

Wow!

Some wild and romantic posts!! I won't comment on individual stories, since they clearly speak for themselves.

Just wanted to pop in to thank everyone so far who has been so generous with their histories! I do feel I know a few of you quite a bit better with this information in my back pocket...

I look forward to reading more of these, thank you again...

Beth

I didn't know until after the fact. My grandfather on my dad's side was a professional piano tuner and musician, also an alcoholic, and left my grandmother with four kids to raise. My dad was the youngest, and I suppose because of these incedents never pushed us kids for experimenting with musical talents. So I got into other creative things like: drawing, cartooning, illustration, sculpture, etc. Was voted the top artist in my high school, won awards and was one of the top 5 artists in college.
But my musical interests couldn't be held back: in 6th grade, I saw Tiny Tim, figured I could sing just as bad, and got a ukulele and learned how to immitate him pretty good. Then "Deliverance" came out, and I had to get a banjo. Self-taught for all instruments. I had to buy them myself too, since I had no support, so I did the paper route thing. Played banjo all thru high school, until my senior year, when KISS was getting big. Someone in the High School band was putting on a kiss imitation band, and I was recruited to play Ace. Had to borrow a guitar since I didn't own one. So I learned electric guitar to perform in a show in about a month. The rest has been downhill since then. I think it was sometime in my senior year, or first year in college (for fine art) that I learned of my grandfather. I also had a great uncle - Authur Tracy who was a bit more famous. He studied opera under Mario Lanza and had his own radio show in Philly, and appeared in the title role of a movie called "The Street Singer." Arthur Tracy looked like a twin to my dad's teenage photos. But I never met him or my grandfather.
I ended up looking more like my mum, but I suppose the artistic flair comes from my elusive father's ancestory.

I get my jeans at Bi-Mart when they're on sale.<g>

As far as I know, there is no musical ability or history on either side of my fambly. I'm not sure whether I inherited my tone-deafness from my mom or my dad. I just did the music thing. I figured I'd never make it as far as somebody who had natural talent, but I figured I could get somewheres. Had a girlfriend to impress for starters, and after she married someone else, I had chicks to attract. (Works, by the way. My wife was a Dodson Drifters fan.)

I have an uncle who builds acoustic guitars (he starteed out building grandfather clocks), but he didn't start building 'em until after I started playing.

Joe

Mom’s side of the family. Her brother, my Uncle Jack was a well known piano player. Completely self taught. My sister was an artist, and my Mom was a popular psychic. (Cue eerie music).

Dad’s side of the family loved music but had little or no talent.

I am LOVING these!!! They explain SO MUCH!!

Beth

I know this is still on the first page, but I wanted to bump it, because...well, because I'm a nosey busy-body, how's that?

Seriously, these are really intriguing stories...and I want to make sure everyone who wants to get involved does, but also, that everyone gets to see what's already been written....GOOD STUFF!

Beth

Both of my grandfathers played banjo. I have my maternal grandfather's banjo in my music room. It is close to 100 years old and I hope to have it restored soon.



I haven't been to Pappas' in over twenty years, but I still have memories of their Greek steak.

My mother's side of the family seems to have most of the musical talent -- both her parents played piano, my grandfather very well. Mom plays at the piano and is a decent painter. I used one of her canvases as CD cover art a while back. My dad's idea of great music was the marching band at half-time, but he was a skillful draftsman and designer so there was an artistic talent of sorts there.

Of their five kids, only I and my sister seem to have inherited any bent toward the arts. She writes and composes, I write, play, paint etc. Interestingly, her four children by her first husband show no talent to speak of but her younger two are skillful and professional musicians, now living in the Nashville area. (That would be Mean Mary James and Frank James) Oddly, their father seems to have no musical tendencies whatsoever.

Btw, I pretty much grew up in Naples and loved to spend time in the various Third Street galleries as a teen. Maybe because they're close to the beach!

ALL THESE BANJOS!! Yout better lock those up, or you may find Joe W. sneaking around your music room!

Hey Beth, Totally first generation here - Paternal grandfather was an almost-Amish minister (Very conservative Mennonite) Very devout family on either side - Father a car dealer - Mother a homemaker who became a nutritionist at a nursing home. I'm a Bl-a-a-ack sheep. Not sure where this creativity was spawned... Maybe Bill's mailman was ours too?!

Greg

Hey Greg,

If you DID share a mailman, he must have had some pretty heavy-duty walking shoes!

As an aside, have you seen the commercial about the retired mailman? I forget what the product is (bad advertising), but the commercial is a hoot. You see him leaving the embrace of a scantily clad older woman, at her front door....then he skips over the hedge, knocks at the house next door, and is greeted by a similarly alluring woman. Maybe it's an ad for the Post Office? I'll have to keep my eye out for it, b/c it's pretty funny.

Anyhoo, thanks for sharing. So I guess you're are first official MUTANT!! We'll have to keep an eye on you...

Beth

Beth, nice work - lovely.

As for me I don't know - I'm adopted....

Tom

Hi Tom,

Aren't you sweet!?!

But ADOPTED, huh? That makes your background all the more intriguing...Wouldn't it be cool if you were the love child of Frank Sinatra and Doris Day or something???

Although, what would you do with THAT sort of info? (I guess my intial reaction would be: follow the money!!)

Anyhoo, take it easy Tom, and have a good day.

Beth

I never really added my history beyond my parents, so...

Paternal grandmother was an opera singer (at 102, her notes are still pretty close to being on target!)...paternal grandfather was a BAKER, so I'm going to include that...

Maternal grandfather was a carpenter/furniture maker, and Nanna was a HOME-maker (and with 9 kids, I suspect she had to use a little creativity!)

Aside from painting, my Mom plays piano and sings loudly but badly. Obviously, both of them draw beautifully.

Siblings -- my two brothers draw, one very very well. One plays the violin, the other plays piano. My sister plays the guitar and was in an all-city choir growing up. She is also an exceptional writer -- but is limited to using it in her contract work with the government!!

As for me, I think I already said. Writing (prose/lyrics), working in clay, drawing, piano and guitar (as in, can read music and play a few songs left over from the lessons in my youth), and I can sing really really well in the shower (everywhere else I'm nasally and pitchy, go figure!)

Also, I've had to be creative running a household with chronic broken bones and orthopedic accessories. Please keep your fingers crossed for me when I go back to the ortho tomorrow...maybe he'll say...well, you know, they've magically healed, sooooooo NO CAST FOR YOU!

Keep these stories coming folks, I'm loving 'em!

Beth

Hi Beth,

Such a nice thread here, makes me smile. I believe my mom's side had the music genes. My grandma played a little bit of claw hammer banjo. My mother and my uncle and aunts played guitar and sang harmonies together, and my mom taught everyone of her children (6 of us) the few chords she knew. Each of us grew into different degrees of playing, but all by ear. My brother played 5 string and guitar, and some of my sisters just play guitar, but some play a number of different stringed instruments.
My dad loved to play bluegrass 8 tracks lol, so we were introduced at young ages.

He could never play anything, and everytime he got us to play for company, he would make the same statement. "All of my children play, and I can barely play the radio," lol.

Anyway, thanks for the thread and the stories,

Letha

HIDee Bro Kevin!

Think the Locals have torn the place down...it closed a few years back. Sadly, my Cuz had designed what WOULDA been the Tallest Bldg in Tampa..but funds have dried up for the Project. Or at least, have for the last couplea years. He's QUITE the Good Designer. I saw his Plans for the Pappas...(His having a Greek Wife prolly helped him snag the Commission..heh..& Maria's a Sweetie/a fine Interior Decorator the last 40 years in this town!)
Aerial View of The Bar there: It was shaped like a Drop Octagon Wall Clock!~

Also had a HUGE room strictly for "Garbage Refrigeration"...a Florida Restaurant "Necessity" I'd never known about.

When I first arrived in Tampa, 1973, John was designing an Auditorium for USF. I got to pick the Colors for the Seats there...(A far-from-boring Red-Orangy) which was Great Fun...while he was designing the place. (My Sole-Contribution to Great Architecture..heh!)

Sorry the Pappas ain't there...but he Did come up with it in the first place!

Best Wishes & a Big Guy-Hug,
Stan

Like Tom...it's the nature vs nurture question here. I'm also adopted.

And like Greg, I'm a first-generation musician...was plinking out songs on the piano by ear at six. My dad was a minister, and my mom led the singing. But they didn't really even listen to music at home much. The piano was there only because my older sister took a few lessons and gave it up.

Now that I think back, I guess any musical interest I had at all came from sneaking up to my sister's room and listening to her 8-tracks. I guess I'd better call her up and thank her!

Well,
Probably from the Radio. We got Electricity in the house about 1950 when I was about 12. Shortly after that we got a radio from an aunt I believe. There was several radio stations that played country music and I was hooked. No one played or owned any musicial instruments as far as I know.

My half sister, born in 1894 told a story about my father, born in 1871 about a organ or some simular type instrument that probably was in the house with his first or second wife. Both died young. Apperently he didn't like the thing for some reason and took it outside and proceeded to bust it up with an ax.

It's been a long time since I heard the story of the Milkman. You younger folk won't know what it means but sometimes it was the Iceman.

Lovin' these, boys and girls!

Hope everyone else is reading along too!

Beth

Once upon a time,
A long, long time ago,
There was a ____,
There was a ____,
Hmmm, I just do not know!!

Many of the folks on my dad's side of the family were very musical, but what is strange is how not musical I am. Although music is a huge part of my life now and &#65321;'ve written a game soundtrack and write a blog about it, I didn't show any particular musical ability when I was younger. The push for a more musical life was a conscious decision when I was in my late teens. I don't know if that happens a lot or not, but it just gave me an idea for a new forum post!

Daddy sang bass, Mama sang tenor, and me and little brother would join right in there...

On the serious side, my mother is a high school art teacher, and she plays the piano (she reads music, but I can't--but I am a high school English teacher ). My father has been playing in rock 'n' roll and country bands since before I was born (now he even plays drums in the local shrine club's bagpipe outfit). My uncle plays guitar and sings--he's a great harmony singer. And my great-grandmother used to play the organ she had in her house. Don't know beyond that.

Cool thread, Beth

Eric

Stan, I am really sorry to hear about Pappas. Although I haven't been to Florida in several years, Pappas was always a required stop. I seem to recall that construction was halted on the building for quite a while due to an eagle building its nest in the bucket of one of the construction cranes.

Oops, now back to the original scheduled thread...

I just happened to remember that one of my banjo-pickin' grandfathers was also an inventor. He invented the hydraulic lift that is used in many garages. Interestingly, he was an avid fisherman and made more money from a simple minnow catcher he invented.

Wow, Kevin....shouldn't you be seeing some royalties from all that? I'd call a patent attorney right now!!

Regardless, that is very cool.

I love this thread.

Unfortunately Beth, the patents would have expired years ago, even if he hadn't sold the rights.

I can't believe I forgot to mention this other source of creative genes. Several years ago, my cousin traced the family tree and confirmed the family legend that we were related to Robert Burns. He would have been my great-great (however many generations) uncle.

I am also, through the lineage of my inventor-grandfather, a direct descendant of Andrew Johnson. It has been hinted that he was actually the first president to use the "unclear definition of the word 'the' defense" during impeachment proceedings. Of course, this hasn't been confirmed and may just be a family legend.