StoryCorps Facilitator Weblog » Martha

Stories from the Past

Martha — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:34:02 +0000

On Saturday, June 28, James Havron, Nashville Public Library historian and StoryCorps liaison, hosted a Door-to-Door at City Road Chapel United Methodist Church, in Madison, Tennessee. Michelle Swinehart and Martha O’Brien facilitated. When the door to the recording space closed, participants told stories of meeting in high school band, living on farms, serving in the military, and their exotic travels. Memories of former days came alive.

Our thanks to James Havron for organizing the interviews and especially his support of the Nashville StoryBooth.

Musical Memories

Martha — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:10:17 +0000

Wanda Armstrong and her daughter, Ronda, recently visited the Nashville StoryBooth. Wanda’s dad and husband were both musicians and her daughter inherited their talent. During the interview, they harmonized on one of Wanda’s dad’s favorite songs, “Blue Moon of Kentucky.” Wanda fondly remembered how, after a gig, her dad would invite band members to their house. She loved hearing them play bluegrass tunes by Bill Monroe and Hank Williams, and remembered her father singing the song, “I Wish I was Single Again.”

Celebrating Friendship

Martha — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 21:16:33 +0000

Three friends, Carolyn Butcher Perry, Karen Kledzik, and Phyllis Amerikaner, took a “girlfriend trip” to Nashville from Santa Barbara, California, to record a StoryCorps interview and also visit the Grand Ole Opry. Avid StoryCorps listeners, they wanted to record their antics to honor and celebrate their friendship. Their stories sparkled with memories of former adventures – from dressing like bag ladies for Menopause the Musical to marching in majorette boots in the Sweet Potato Queen parade. Phyllis’s “good morning song” to her daughter rocked the StoryBooth with laughter.