The Music Man

Jim "Red" Pope 

1929-2009

That’s my Dad, looking rather rakish, back in 1949. He was an accomplished musician from an early age.
He played the guitar, the piano, the violin (fiddle) and bass violin (known as a bass fiddle in bluegrass/country music).

At the age of 5, he played the violin in a symphony orchestra! Mom couldn’t find the photo but I bet he was a cute little stinker. He grew up winning many County Fair fiddling contests across New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

During the 1940’s he played with the Lee Bell band. They had their own radio show. In 1954, they had their own television show on KSWS in Roswell, New Mexico.  We moved to Indiana where he played with the Ray Kizer band then, later, with the Dixie Drifters. He played with them until 1970.

The uniforms they‘re wearing, in all the photos, were designed by Dad and sewn by his aunt Esther.

The Lee Bell Band

Fiddling duo- Lee Bell band (I found this photo on the internet)

The Ray Kizer Band

The Dixie Drifters

Then, he moved to Lubbock Texas to play with former members of the Lee Bell band who formed a new band headed by Jimmy Blakley. Jimmy owned the Palm Room nightclub and they played there until the late 80’s.

Over the years he was invited to sit in with many famous bands such as Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Tex Ritter, Rex Allen, and Eddy Arnold.

I remember my favorite song that Dad played on the fiddle. It was “Pop Goes The Weasel”. He would play a line, then move the fiddle to the top of his head, play a line, move it behind his back, behind his knees, under one leg, then the other-- never missing a beat. It was such fun to watch and a real crowd pleaser.

We all miss him and his music very much.
 
Further reading:

http://www.bigvjamboree.com/LeeBellStory.htm

http://www.hillbilly-music.com/groups/story/index.php?groupid=13527