The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-07-31

Got quite . surprise at one of my brcadcasts, not 50 long ago, when the: usher brought mo . card bear ing the name, Major Robert Drake, U. 8. Army. Name means nothing to you. but 1t took me back about eight years to Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- vania, where my six days and nights . week at the Stanley theater meant nothing compared to my Sunday afternoon at Bette's Airport, now the Municipal Airport. After watch. ing the planes for several church. days, I decided I should learn to fly. The Major, then just plain Bob, . flying instructor, outfitted me with e parachute and away we went in an old Curtis fledgling. Two hours and forty minutes later the same afternoon, Bob hopped out and said "She's yours" was too scared to say "No"-gave her the gun and found myself 1000 feet in the air, started down-"1ts Q cinch-here comes the ground-ouch," bumped 6 little, better go up, up and try a better landing - here comes the ground again--a cinch-Wowl-an awful bump-open the throttle, bet ter 20 up again she's not climbing fast enough-hope miss that ham, gar---I didl-now she's going up to 1000 feet again-what's the fire engine coming on the field for?- whats the crowd there for?-why the ambulance2--still 2,000 feet up ---whatll I do2-it's getting dark more ambulances - three now for only one would-be fiyer-did I mail that letter to Mother7-who1l sing my song tomorrow? - I've always tried to be a good boy-it's getting darker-can't stay up here all night better start down - Our Father who art in Heaven-here comes the ground again - hallowed be Thy name Wowl-a perfect landing" well, Major, I'm awfully glad you came back to see me. I don't think I'll ever forget you. never told you that Sunday, back in Pittsburgh. but just before that last landing spoke to Someone up there who outranks a Major-1ll never forget Him either"
 The Spring of 1925 found me singing with an orchestra at the Kentucky Hotel, in Louisville. The musicians were always talking about Q boy at college, in Bloomington, Illinois, named Hoagy Carmichael. Let's drive up there tonight and see him-Okay-we're in Blooming ton-it's nearly four A. M.-Sorry, Hoagy's not home-Where Is he? He just drove down that old dirt road. Say, who's that crazy loon sitting on the running board of that fiiyver, playing cornet at 4 in the morning 7--1'm glad to meet you too, Hoagy-What's that tune you were playing?-Well, Dick, it's just little thing dreamed up a couple of days ago-think I'll call 1t 'Stardust."
 That year, come Summer, the band booked a week at Michigan City and the leader of the band, when he gave me cut in pay, said, "Dick, I'm sorry to do this. I'll try to make 1t up to you in another way. I've instructed the manager at Michigan City to give you lots of publicity and billing-''Dear Mother: I'm going to get billing for the first time" "Well here we are in Michi- gan City-look at that marquee The Management Presents the Ken- lucky Hotel Orchestra and. as a special added attraction, that every promising young singer with the golden voice, fresh from triumphs in the South-WILLIAM POWELL.
 Another woman came into my life, not 50 long ago and it's ell Joan's own fault. Her name IS El- len-She's my daughter.