circa 1953 Empire, CA. My uncle Glen Allsup and soon to be wife ... Doris (House) Allsup. Note her "bobby sox". Uncle Glen used to sing songs with my uncle Bill. Glen was such a handsome guy with this great voice. The entire family would sing gospel songs, but in my opinion, aunt Doris injected a new element: THE JOY OF MUSIC. Although her brothers have told me "hell" stories of her sitting them up on the kitchen counter and "making" them learn harmony parts ... still, she was the first that I encountered that projected, with confidence, the sheer fun of it. She was a great inspiration to me. So was uncle Glen. If you look closely you can see some definite "high grade" dimples in both these good looking faces. You should see their kids and grand kids. Surprise surprise: Dimples all the way down the line. Some things just don't fade out in the lineage. Is there such a thing as a "dimple gene"? There must be. There's tons of musical talent in all their kids and grandchildren. I try to keep quiet about this sort of thing. Makes me look better. "Keep 'em down on the farm" ... as they say! (Just kidding.) One of their sons, Bob is the bass singer of a killer gospel quartet (Sweet Inspirations) that are really incredible. They've made a few great CD's and more are on the horizon.

    At any family reunion you can find Uncle Glen and Aunt Doris and all their kids and grand kids just lined up whipping off gospel tunes, one after the other. 3 part harmony as thick and pure as good home made potato salad. I AM NOT LYIN'! Listen closer and you'll find my Dad, Fred, holding down the traditional "Anglo Gospel" bass vocal part. All the relatives join in, at one time or another. 'cept the young kids. They'd rather swim. Actually, Aunt Doris makes them sing, too. Honest. They're good, too. Course, there's a few others of us in the family that consider ourselves the "wild hairs" in the family. We try setting a different pace with guitars and such. (Me, Ed Parrish and a long line of new Parrish/Allsup guitar players including Ed's son Glen Parrish, and 2nd cousin Bret Parrish. Our latest guitar prodigy is 9 year old Elliott (Ed and wife Barbara's grandson). Using guitars we do a kind of campfire style, hootenany, folk music, "anybody and everybody can join in" kind of a deal. Cousin Andy Crowe also does a good double hand-jive slapping the chest and legs routine, on ocassion). It can get to be "gang warfare" on a musical level at times, but, boy do we have fun. Aunt Doris may dispute who is the "wild hair" and who isn't. I think she has laid claim to that title herself a few times. In fact ... a number of us have. Do we get good and ignorant with the music? You bet we do. Every time. That's the whole idea. Make it sweet. Make it pretty. Make it sad. Make it move ya. But always get ignorant about it! It's how you get good. Having fun with it. Best thing in the world for what ails you. One of the best things God gave our family. The Music. Speaking of God; Uncle Glen has, for years led the good life. I'm very proud of him. A real role model of Christianty, We all love and respect him. I certainly hope I haven't slighted him in anyway by including him in this book that includes a few tales of somewhat suspect nature and less than reverent language at times. I really should have consulted him first. Aunt Doris, too.

    My Uncle Glen and my Aunt Doris. Part of my musical heritage. I'm very proud to be their nephew ... and proud to keep the music going. I see no good reason to EVER stop.

--THEY DIDN'T--