Brethren, Taken from Bob Nolans website with the exception of the Masonic affiliation which came from W. Bro. Norman Lincoln. Did U Know? Ken Shorty Carson was born Hubert Paul Flatt on November 14, 1914 in Centrahoma, Coal County, Oklahoma. He was raised partly by his mother and stepfather, and partly by his grandparents. Kens maternal grandmother, Martha Flatt, was 1/2 Cherokee Indian (according to Kens mother), making Ken 1/8th Cherokee. The rest of his ancestors were mainly from the South and Virginia, going back as far as the early 1700s. The Indian blood explains Kens exotic features. His parents played guitar and fiddle. Even as a child Ken found pleasure in seeing people enjoy music, so he picked up the Jews harp and a harmonica. His mother gave him a guitar one Christmas and a legend was born. His career started with playing harmonica accompanied by a fellow by the name of Red Barton on KGFJ radio. He went on to perform with all sorts of notables such as Stuart Hamblen, the Beverly Hill Billies (not to be confused with the later TV show of the same name), the Ranch Boys, and the Sons of the Pioneers. He appeared in 22 of Roy Rogers movies as a member of the latter group. Ken was a regular on the Garry Moore Show from 1951 to 1958 and was also a successful solo artist. He had a voice that was sweet, soulful and pure, unlike any other. He could cover any variety of genre, and his tenor voice was well suited for the harmonies of trios and quartettes. Bob Nolan of the Sons of the Pioneers took a liking to him when they met in Chicago and Ken kept in touch with them over time. When Lloyd Perryman was drafted into WWII, Bob brought Ken in as Lloyds replacement. Ken was in two of the groups most famous recordings Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Cool Water. On the latter tune, Kens was the voice echoing Cool, clear water. Although Ken was only with the Pioneers for four years (from 1943-1947), his impact on the group was tremendous. He added the voice that hit. He added the whistle which became a classic Pioneer sound to this day, though no one has ever been able to do it as well as Ken did! Ken was master of over six instruments. He was the only one of the group who could write musical scores. He took down many of Bob Nolans compositions over the years, including Halfway Round the World. At age twenty three, Ken rode from Los Angeles to Chicago, and from Chicago to New York on horseback along with Curley Bradley and Jack Ross. The three, who comprised the group called The Ranch Boys, did it as a publicity stunt for their sponsor, Miles Laboratories (the producer of Alka-Seltzer). The trip took three months. I always tell everybody its 3975 miles on horseback, he used to say, and Ive got the calluses still to prove it! 79-year-old Ken Carson died on April 7, 1994, in St. Lukes Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida. A funeral and viewing were conducted in Florida, but he was buried in the Sunshine Terrace of Rose Hills Cemetery, Los Angeles, California. Brother Ken Carson was raised a Master Mason on November 2, 1946 in Hollywood Lodge 355, Hollywood, California but shortly after took a demit. This Masonic Did U Know list is strictly voluntary. If you received this message in error or you wish to be removed, please reply to the author only and you will be removed, no questions asked. If you know of a Brother who would like to be added to our list, reply to author with the Brothers e mail address and it will be added immediately. May We Meet Upon The _|_ Act By The ! And Part Upon The |_ W. Bro. Dwight D. Seals Camden Masonic Lodge #159 Camden, Ohio
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 05:25:49 +0000
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