Transparent Christian Magazine

That’s me, and that’s my Great uncle Don. He’s mostly blind now, but he still plays music every day. This picture was taken at my family reunion last week, just as we stood up from pickin all the old time church songs we knew.

Actually, he knew.

I just sort of hung on.

He played mandolin in the way only old men can, all jangly like Bill Monroe, and I picked some lines out on my guitar and sang what verses I could remember.

My greater family was gathered around us in a big circle—my own folks, my dad’s folks, his brothers and sisters and their kids. Everyone sang the same songs and I was amazed at how well I remembered the words. My grandma sitting next to me, and my old grandpa next to her with his funny green fisherman’s cap tilted on his head like a hipster, and me watching them sing. It makes you feel good, making music with your family..

I’ve been looking at this picture a lot, and it’s crazy how people look like their personalities. My uncle Don looks kind. His smile is not a weary one. It’s used to being there. The folds around his eyes are relaxed and gentle, like curtains drawn to let the right amount of light in. He’s about 85, and his skin still looks smooth and young. And his hair is kind of messy like a little boy’s. What a charmer.

Don lives in a farming community in southern Washington and he plays any number of instruments. One of my early childhood memories was when he suddenly appeared in our living room with a honky tonk piano—a piano with little metal tines stuck inbetween the hammers and strings so that the sound tinkles like the Old West. I remember coming home from school and he was sitting there at this heavy wooden upright, playing the hell out of it. I mean loudly. I had never seen anyone play music up close until that moment. When he left, my parents told me they were giving me piano lessons. I ended up playing that piano everyday for 8 years.

I like that my family plays music. No one outside of Don has any particular talent for it, but when you get a bunch of people together and they’re singing what you’re singing, you can’t help but feel close to them. I don’t know how many more times I’m going to get to see Don, and even though he probably doesn’t have a myspace page and will never read this, I want to thank him for showing me music and say I look forward to pickin again, soon.

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Editor’s Note:

Korby is playing music with his Nashville family on Monday, December 21st at 3rd & Lindsley at 7:00. You can join me, I’ll be there for sure. This is going to be the last live show of 2009 for me, and I can’t wait. Korby will have some limited edition posters and a limited amount of DVD’s of the videos he’s made this year.  Click here for the promo for that DVD.

From Korby:
I have had a great year. Thank you for being part of it.

To commemorate all the new friends I’ve made and all the interesting and lovely art I’ve gotten to make with them I’m having a super special show at the end of the month. Here in Nashville. I would so love to play for you.

I’m playing a special long set, …featuring alot of acoustic songs and some super sweet electric action with the band I always play with. I have been working on the setlist for weeks already, trying to come up with just the right combination in just the right order. I’m going to try to play a really great show for you.

The special guests I’m keeping secret for a moment, but your clue is: I’ve made songs and movies with them this year…amazing people live here. Amazing people who make art that will last a long long time, and I’ve been lucky to have gotten to work with some of them.