|
Local musician dies at 82 |
|
Written by Staff Reports
|
|
Thursday, 10 December 2009 |
Thomas “Tommy” G. Harvell of Oak Creek, 82, died Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, at a San Angelo hospital. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by Shaffer Funeral Home.
Harvell was recently received into the Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest, 2009 Western Swing Music Hall of Fame. He was nominated by the Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce in October of 2008.
Tommy Harvell had lived in many different places. He started out in Merkel, traveled to Colorado City and then on to Big Spring. He worked at the Cosden Refinery, now Alon USA, for 40 years. He retired in 1984, and spent some time in Alaska. After he returned, he moved to Sweetwater. He had been married to his wife, Elsie, for 61 years.
Tommy Harvell had been involved with music for 70 years. He first started playing when he received a guitar for his 10th birthday.
"I've been playing since I was 10 years old, and I've been getting paid since I was 12 years old," Tommy Harvell said. "I would get paid $5 to play from nine until midnight."
Since he started playing, he had played with numerous bands and musicians. He had even had the opportunity to be on stage with numerous big named musicians such as Hank Thompson, Lefty Frizell, Sammy Duncan, Louis Tourney, Luke Wills, Jody Nix and many more.
He hadn't just played with big names, but has also performed in prestigious events.
"I played at the Inaugural Ball for the first George Bush," Harvell said. "There was five thousand people and no chairs."
He started out touring with the Bennie Brush Band featuring Jelly Teagarden, and went on to play with the Nix brothers.
To add to his accomplishments, he wrote "Stamped Blues" for guitar, which was recorded by the Nix Band on the Oil Patch Label.
"I would get invited to play this song with alot of different people, but I never got the chance to play it more than once," Harvell said. "When we played it though, people moved."
Harvell was skilled at many different instruments. He played guitar, electric guitar, banjo and more. When he was younger, he would even got on stage and sing.
"Everyone has told me that I have a wonderful voice, but I don't sing anymore," Harvell said. "Ever since February 1947, I don’t sing. It was the end of the night and we were speeding it up and I tried to hit a high note and I pulled something. Ever since then, I haven't sang."
Harvell had always had a love for music. His mom played the harp.
Another important accomplishment that Harvell held near and dear is that he was part of the making of "Big Balls in Cow Town." He played steel in the recording of the song.
"I was there and invited to play when they recorded that song. They had the idea and it took about 30 minutes before it was written and started recording," Harvell said.
Harvell had even spent time in Puerto Rico
"We went over there to teach them how to do the Cotton Eye Joe," Harvell said.
Survivors include his wife, Elsie Harvell of Oak Creek; his sons, Edward Harvell of Canyon, TX, and David Harvell of Carlsbad, TX. Services will be announced at a later date. |
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 11 December 2009 )
|
