When I was a little kid, we’d sometimes go to church with my grandparents on the weekend. Their church was a little tiny place in the middle of the woods where mostly farmers and poor people went. There was a Hammond instead of a pipe organ, the carpets were faded crimson red polyester, and the walls were lined with cheap wood paneling. My grandmother sang tenor (!) in the church choir, and my grandfather would play fiddle or musical saw along with the organ and piano. Anyway, the brash, earnest crooning of the Television’s Soul’s Harbor Singers reminds me of this church.
Google’s got nothing on these folks, but apparently they’re from Charleston, Maine. I love the Country Western arrangments, steel guitar, stiff postures and crazy hairdos. I also love how each little group of singers has its own stage name, like “The Singing Faloon’s.” Also check out Pastor Ronnie, who I’m sure caused impure thoughts in more than a couple parishioners. The track below appears to be sung by his dad.
3 Comments
Hi,
I wish I could have heard your grandfather play the saw. I play the saw at church, too. I wonder what brand of saw he plays. Do you have a photo of him playing?
All the best,
‘Saw Lady’
http://www.SawLady.com
Thank you for telling me of the photo of your grandfather on Flickr – beautiful photo! He is right, you know, about the older saws having a better sound than today’s saws. Please tell your grandfather that every summer I organize a musical saw festival in NYC – it sure would be wonderful if he could attend.
All the best,
‘Saw Lady’
http://www.SawLady.com
My family went to Charleston Pentecostal Church when I was growing up, and yes, I even sang on Soul’s Harbor. What we may have lacked in talent, we had in zeal! I loved the picture of the Soul’s Harbor Singers-I know them all!:)