The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-23
Rody,s Trombone Has Varied
Experiences; Tells of Wars,
Riots, Weeping and Laughter
Instrument Has Seen Many Exciting Scenes While
In Rodys Hands in France Shell exploded Nearby, Blow
ing Hat off Player Head Panic When Seats Break
in Toledo, Ohio-Carefuly Guarded by Owner.

and riot -
should say ! have" the trombone
replied, not little pleased with the
reception which. the: explosion story
mad received. DO you know / have
played before more people than any
other trombone in the world? It's
great to be up there on the platform
hanging on to the boss arm, while
the Big Boss is being introduced. /
get to see about every kind of person
there is in the world
But the most interesting ones are
those that meet when the boss takes
me around to some of the hospitals
and old ladies' homes that we are
always visiting.
One day we were at a home for
old women, where there was a lady
SO years old that had not heard any
music for years. The boss put my
horn right down by her ear, and played
as loud as he could, and do you know
she began to beat time. and when l
had finished she looked and said, Il
kept up with you didn't ~ It was
the first time that she had heard any.
thing in all that time
Plays for Minister
FAt another time we played in
country home in Chattanooga, Tenn.
where there was a minister that had
not been able to hear a thing in 20
years. The boss had noticed that the
old man had wandered about while
he was singing and playing. SO he
was not surprised when one of the
attendants said that the old man was
deaf
"Rody played me as hard as he
could right up at the mans ear, and 1
could see the tears gather in the old
mans eyes, although l could not see
very much, because / had to shut my
own eyes and hold tight, Rody was
blowing so hard.
We'll when we got through that man
stood up, and asked for some more
! You'll have to pardon me, if I ask
for more;' and l could hear the tears
even in his voice. Twenty years ago,
was a minister of the gospel and
loved those songs In all the time
since then, until today, l have never
been able to hear one of them
you know, that day seemed to pay
me for all the rough handling that l
| have had travelling all over the Uni
/ ted States, and playing for all of the
crowds that come to hear Billy Sun
day" - - 81
! Wants to Keep II Up
| How would you like to take a rest.
the reporter asked, but the trombone
! glared at him.
"Rody may treat me rough at times.
| but he is as gentle as can be, and |
wouldn't leave him for the world" it
said ''Tll have to be completely worn
out before | let him leave me behind"
/ AS a parting shot the reporter ask
ed if Rody ever played jazz.
Il should say he does not" the from
bone replied Indignantly. Rody plays
lots of things on me, but it is mostly
gospel music, but never jazz"
/ The trombone stopped moment,
and looked the reporter over, as if
deciding whether he could keep a
secret.
1.-The trombone Rody had before
| came, said that he had once played
! in a circus band, although that was
/ before the days of jazz, so am not
sure that Rody has never played it
himself
But / go best when it comes to
gospel songs, with a full chorus in
swing behind me, and a huge audience
going good in front. l tell you, boy,
that is the life"
| Whereupon the trombone shut up
i like clam, and sunk back further in
4 the case, signifying that the interview
was at an end. and the reporter COM
mented that the instrument had for
gotten all about telling about its ex-
periences overseas with the enter
| tainment section in 1918