Charles “Charlie” Stallcup
Nov 25, 1906- Dec 19, 2007 … 101 years old.
My friend Charlie!
He encouraged me in my music so much!
He was retired from Burlington Northern Railroad and talked
a lot about that. He was with them for
30 years. He went to a lot of fiddle
contests and was a frequent fiddle contest judge. He most always carried his tape recorder and
had a few tapes in his pocket that he would loan to people to listen to.
I didn’t know until his death and I read his obituary that
he also was a guard at the Louisiana Ardinance Plant in Louisiana during World
War II. He also worked as a guard at the
Jefferson City Prison in the 1930’s.
I remember going to his birthday party at Mark Twain Dinette
and we all got free root beer. There was
quite a crowd and he had lots of friends.
He really encouraged me when I was learning to play the
fiddle. He always wanted to hear what I
had been working on and gave me tips on how to make it better. Even when it was a very rough work in
progress he would still encourage me. He
always had suggestions for what songs I should learn next. He would loan me cassette tape recordings of
fiddle contests so I could hear how the songs were supposed to sound. We always greeted each other with a
kiss. It always made my heart smile when
I saw him.
When we played Celtic and Old Time music at Breadeaux Pizza
in Hannibal, MO with Chris Foss on Monday nights, Charlie was an honorary
circle member. You see, to sit in the
music circle with the musicians you had to be playing an instrument. Charlie sat right in the circle. Charlie brought his smile, his recorder, his toe
tapping and his knee slaps … and “That was a good one” when we played one of
his favorites. Mainly it was his smile
and those twinkling eyes of his.
One of the things he taught me that has helped me the most
was to move while playing my fiddle.
This sounded so strange to me and was actually difficult to learn to do …
but once I did … I could see exactly what he was talking about. The movement kept my body relaxed me and kept
my arms from tensing up … which made playing so much easier. Thank you Charlie! He’s been gone almost nine years now and I can
still see him smiling at me and nodding encouragement in my mind when I’m
playing something he liked or when I’m learning a new tune.
So Charlie … I know you’re up there watching and listening
to our music. I know you’re still
smiling and nodding when I play or learn a new tune. Since your passing I have learned “Molly Put
the Kettle On” and “Jerusalem Ridge” for you on my fiddle. I think of you every time that I play dear
friend.
This one’s for you Charlie!
Happy Music To You!
Ava Potterfield
12/4/2016
