From e-mail received 12-21-02

 

With regards to "Eddie".  I worked with "Al Rollo's Hammond Organ
Studios" from about 1970 until the early 1980's.  During that time I had
the distinct HONOR of becoming a very close friend of  Ethwell "Eddie"
Hanson.  Through this time frame the Hammond Organ Company sponsored a
group called "The Hammond Organ Society".  There were many chapters
across the United States and the purpose was to create a genuine
interest in organ music across the USA.  Al Rollo had Studios in
Appleton, Green Bay, Oshkosh, and Fond du Lac with society groups in
each of these cities.  Each month of the year Eddie would be the
featured organist at one of these meetings.  At each of these meetings
Eddie was always accompanied by his "Entourage" of  female companions,
normally 4 to 6 in number..  In private we would ask him which one of
these fine ladies hew would marry and his response was always the same.
His response was always the same.  "When the state allows it - all of
them,  until then, none of them."

The one trademark that stands out the most in my mind is his "Beret".  I
doubt that I ever saw him without it.  I would be on calls in the
Waupaca area and stop by just to say hello and he would be sitting in
the house alone but he still had that Beret on.

The proudest moment of my life was when he asked me to record one of his
songs for him.  Someone had asked for a recording of it and he said that
when I played it, it even brought tears to his eyes.  It was what he had
always wanted it to sound like but was never able to do himself.  The
song was titled "Angels With Broken Wings".  Over the years I have lost
the music to this song and I would really like to obtain a copy of it.
I had contacted ASCAP about 10 years ago but they did not have it in
their files.  Evidently it was not one of his registered songs.

With regards to the records Eddie recorded.  Most of these were done
through Al  Rollo Studios.  There were a total of 8 to 12 records cut.
The records were sold at the concerts he did for the Society meetings.
They sold for about $10.00 - $15.00 each which was a little high for a
record in that time period.  Al Rollo had only one daughter and I am
sure she would have copies of all of these records.  The only problem
would be to find her and see if she would let me make copies of these
recordings.

Please forgive me for going on so much on this topic.  I do tend to get
carried away when I start talking about Eddie.

If you could tell me the hours for the Holly Center perhaps could go
there and see for myself what they have.  I live in Green Bay so it
would not be such a long trip.

Glenn Cleereman