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Meet...
CHARLES WARD Clarinet, sax Starting with his own group, the "Hoosier Melody Five", Gabe went on to be a part of Ezra Buzzington's Rube Band working the Vaudeville circuit. He appeared on radio as early as 1923 on KDKA with the Buzzington Group. In 1925 he appeared on KFOA (often mistakenly reported as KOMO) in Seattle in a live performance with the Rube Band. The depression and movies finished off Ezra's band around 1929. Gabe went on to Montgomery Ward selling those new fangled porcelain enamel washers while still keeping his music career alive with weekend and evening gigs with the Treitch Brothers and Ward. A WOWO radio show soon led to WLS and history. On the move to California he chose Encino. Gabe retired to Oregon and stayed active on the entertainment circuit as a speaker and clarinet player until his death in 1992. For a great article on Gabe check out Standby Magazine September 1935 Gabe's clarinet is on display at the Indiana State Museum. Click here to see it. Gabe was a great letter writer and his granddaughter, Christina, has provided us with some. To see them click here. How about some newspaper clippings, show ads and even a "resume"? Then click here. A check of the resource center will provide hundres af articles, ads and notes from Gabe's personal collection (with thanks to Tim Ward - the son, father of the musician). Gabe on the Dr. Demento show in 1979. Recorded off the radio by Gabe. 1. Intro/From the Indies to the Andes 2. Dr. D and Gabe 3. Ever So Quiet 4. More with the Doctor and Gabe 5. The Cheer Parade - earliest known HHS record 6. Gabe and Dr. Demento chat. 7. Bob Skyles and the Skyrockets - We Are Not The Hoosier Hot Shots 8. They wind up he show. THE HOMETOWN ORATOR Gabe's deadpan humor has to heard to be believed. Picture Henry Gibson as a farmer with less confidence and you might be...oh, heckshucks, listen below. 1. Basket 2. Brooklyn Bridge 3. Cow 4. Farmers 5. High School 6. Aunt Minnie 7. Mother 8. Petunia 9. President 10. Relativity 11. Unfinished Oration |