Hommel Mangas
I’m listening to an old black cassette tape that’s been laying next to my Victrola record player-slash AM/FM radio-slash-cassette and CD player. This standard audio cassette tape is about 4-inches by 2.5 inches — a plastic, magnetic ribbon that you rewind or flip over to hear side B.
Back in the day, automobiles had audio cassette players built in and were especially popular in the ’70s and ’80s. I remember having to use the eraser-end of a pencil to rewind the cassettes if the magnetic tape got unraveled out of the case. Those on the cutting edge of technology used these same audio cassettes while walking or exercising when the first personal stereo tape deck debuted in 1979 as a Sony Walkman.
The cassette that I’m listening to is in my dad’s handwriting. Side A reads, “Boggstown Cabaret – Sept. 1986.” Side B says, “Jimmy Atkinson & Terry Parrish – Piano, Bob Evans – Clarinet, Frank R. Hommel – Guitar.”
Oh my goodness, the talent on this tape! It sounds like any music award background or grand ball music on an award-winning movie.
Initially when listening to all the talent on this tape, I felt a bit guilty that mom and dad had wasted three years of piano lesson money on me in elementary school. I had probably caused my piano teacher, Sister Louise Cecile, to pull her hair out under the perfectly-fitted black head underveil part of her habit.
My older sisters Leta and Debbie lasted longer in the piano game, which took the pressure off my lack of music abilities. I did enjoy singing as part of the Hommel Sisters and later the Hommel Family, when my younger brother Kevin took up the snare drum and cute, blonde-red-haired sister Jerri awed all audiences with her 6-year-old, shy, off-key version of Bobby Darin’s “Babyface.”
I enjoyed the stage immensely, but let’s just say my music ability was not the same as my father’s natural ability and hard work ethic on guitar, piano, vocals and more. When this cassette was recorded in 1986, my dad was working at Eli Lilly, and with mom guiding seven adult and teenage children to be good, God-loving citizens, playing basketball and softball, and playing music in many different venues.
But what I remember most is that dad practiced. Dad practiced his entire life — guitar and piano and singing as we fell asleep as infants. Guitar, piano and singing as he readied for a gig. Guitar, piano and singing as he prepared for a guitar mass. Guitar, piano and singing with other talented musicians as they shared music around central Indiana.
Frank modeled practicing. He also practiced his left-handed Hommel hook shot in basketball. He practiced storytelling and joke-telling in between music sets.
I never developed the music-talent gene, except for appreciating it and encouraging it in my children. But from my mother and father, I received the gift of creativity. And for 2023 — I am practicing being a creative, in whatever form that takes.
How are you being creative in 2023?
Janet Hommel Mangas grew up on the east side of Greenwood. The Center Grove area resident and her husband are the parents of three daughters. Send comments to [email protected].
