Blog 346 – 07.18.2016
(Excerpt from the book, Emily – The Little Girl Who Sang Her Song To Anyone Who Came Along)
Episode 18

At Spring Branch Middle School Emily took Band and her instrument of choice was the violin. I recall going to see her play at a great gathering of all the Houston area bands. When the high school bands played you could make out the melody line of what they were attempting to play while the middle school bands were reminiscent of a bunch of cats disturbing the peace of an otherwise quiet night. But all of us parents were proud of our budding musicians and so grateful for band teachers that patiently endure hours of practice to teach music.

Music adds so much to our lives and Emily spent her short life making music. Her finest instrument was her voice but she became accomplished enough on both guitar and ukulele to accompany herself as she sang.

In the last several years of her life in addition to all the music she did with the young people of her church she played and sang in clubs around the Washington D.C. area. One of her most fun gigs was as vocalist for a jazz band. Several recordings of this work survive her. As I mentioned in the Preface it is my hope that these episodes from the life of Emily will be a means for stirring interest in her music. Emily was never concerned with becoming famous or a great success in the music business.

One of my close friends with connections in the Nashville music industry asked me to see if Emily was interested in moving to Nashville where my friend was sure that her connections could help Emily have a blossoming career in music. Emily declined because she loved where she was and singing her songs to anyone who came along.

My brother’s friends who heard her sing for us at his place near Jamestown, Tennessee also were in the music scene in Nashville and told us she could have a great future there. The divine Emily knew her time on earth was coming to an end and she had an appointment with a sax man to make beautiful music together and that trumped all those Nashville cats.

I am grateful that Emily chose the path she did and that I got to be part of her journey. Through these episodes from Emily’s brief visit to planet Earth you too are getting to see a true star that continues to shine for all of us who are privileged to know the little girl who sang her song so sweetly.

Your friend and fellow traveler, Emily’s Dad,
David White