Saturday, February 23, 2008

Fiddlin' Bill Hensley

Now we're being told to Google ourselves as a security measure -- to see what might be on the Internet about us. Come on, guys, admit it! We've all done it just out of curiosity or vanity.

The first time I Googled myself was a real challenge because it was about ten years ago and Google didn't even exist. There were only a handful of hits. Some grad student in Kansas who was a tornado chaser, just like in the movie Twister. A doctor in Australia. A local politician in Florida somewhere.

Not long ago I tried again and I have found my connection with greatness! Fiddlin' Bill Hensley of Tennessee. Must be a family connection somewhere. My great grandfather came out of Tennessee and staked a claim in the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889. Bill was a pretty tough character. When he was 75 he killed a man in a drunken gun battle and was sent to prison for murder. But boy could he play that fiddle. You can listen to a little bit of his music here.

2 comments:

Betty said...

Sure you want to hang this picture on the family tree, bro? 'Course he does have lightning fingers on the fiddle.

Your new blog is great fun! I read Believer's Brain, too--sharp thinking and sharp wordcraft--but I never feel like I can give the comments the time they deserve, so I end up not posting at all. I'll try to do better...

Bill Hensley said...

Thanks, Betty.

I was thinking you could see the family resemblance!