Keith Carr in Echoes, 1959
I have a complete collection of pop music recordings from January ’55 thru December ’59. I have every song that made it to #20 or higher on the Billboard Charts, around 1300 songs.
About 10 years ago, a church friend of mine asked if I could put together a “Name That Tune” game for our monthly senior pot luck lunch. I did and it was a big success.
Since then I’ve been asked to play my music at several places around San Antonio. And since not everyone at the senior centers and churches where I play was born around 1942, I’ve had to expand my library. I now have around 50 different shows with music from the ’40’s to the ’70’s – pop, R&B, country, spiritual, and specialty shows.
Before the pandemic I was playing at nine different locations every month. Now I’m down to five shows a month. Still keeps me busy and I love it.
As a side note to the story, for different reasons I sent letters to Pat Boone and Connie Francis, and would you believe it, got letters back from both of them.
Last bit. Do you remember a song called “A Million to One?” It went to #5 on the pop chart and #1 on R&B in June 1960. By the sheerest of coincidences, the guy who recorded it lives here in San Antonio. I accidentally met him several years ago and have struck up a friendship with him.
Editor’s Note: Keith was banished by redistricting to South High for his senior year, but clearly identifies as an East High Ace!
