The impetus for Bobbie Nelson’s debut album, released as 2007 came to a close, was a conversation with Justice Records founder Jamail Randall. When asked if she had considered writing her autobiography, the pianist told Randall that her story would be better told in song. Audiobiography thus presents her history through the songs that have shaped it, so Bobbie related the significance of some of the songs in her life.
“Boogie Woogie”
“Boogie Woogie” was just something that I had always heard. It was written by a fellow called Pinetop Smith and recorded by Tommy Dorsey, whose record was a real big deal while I was in high school, so I got the sheet music and learned it. Kids at school would come over to my house, and that’s the first thing they wanted me to play. I learned “Death Ray Boogie” after that, and I played some more boogies too, but those two have remained.
“Crazy”
Patsy Cline, of course, did that one. I had heard it, but Willie was living in Nashville at the time, so the real record I heard of it was Patsy Cline. He had “Night Life” and “Funny How Time Slips Away” and “Hello Walls,” and those were huge hits right off for Willie. I was so proud and so excited. I’d say, “My brother wrote this song!”
“Stardust”
When they asked me to audition for the job at Hammond Organ, that’s the song I played on the piano. So that was something I knew, and I learned “Laura” and “Deep Purple” while I was working for Hammond. That was during the era that I played a lot of dinner music and supper clubs.
“Sabor a Mi”
That is my newest love song. I kept hearing this melody, and it was just so beautiful, so I started to find out what this song is. Then there was this man playing accordion in an Italian restaurant, and I asked him about this song, and he told me what it was. His English was real broken, but he gave me the music to it, gave me a fax copy. And I just fell in love with this song. That’s the newest song I learned that’s on the album.
This article appears in January 18 • 2008.
