Friday, September 04, 2009
Freda Fry's CD releases just in time
The cover art for "It's About Time" is by Bobby Fry.
Emily Paine Carter is columnist So Salem. You can contact her at 981-3430 or via e-mail.
Emily Paine Carter
Recent columns from Salem, Glenvar and western Roanoke County
"It's about time."
That line resonates in oh-so-many ways for Freda Fry. The retired teacher but never-retiring singer eagerly awaited today's release of her first solo CD.
Her 1960s Glenvar student Steve Clemons can claim the name: when she told him about her project, he responded "it's about time."
The songs relate to times of her life: "from the time my dad [Lee Crosswhite] sang to me 'Come Little Leaves' in the swing when I was but a wee lass till right now when I wonder where all that time has gone."
Music was and is her family's blessed tie: Lee's Cherokee mom played banjo; his brothers, guitar and fiddle.
Freda emailed that about three years ago she started seriously considering the project, when her chemical sensitivity to singers' perfumes forced her to quit four choirs in one year.
Urged by daughter Leigh Anna, Freda had already recorded the lullabies and children's songs she'd sung to her and brother Ben. Not fancy: taped at home; converted to CD by nephew John Baldwin (she'll be on his internet radio show tonight, 8-11 p.m., www.doowopcove.com).
"Just-me-and-a-guitar grew," she bubbled with delight and gratitude. Musicians were "sent by God" through her Salem / Glenvar connections. "And we had a ball!"
She marveled over those who shared "talent, friendship and enthusiasm": Kerry Addington Morgiewicz ("amazing pianist"), Les Switzer (guitar), retired Salem City Manager Randy Smith (drums, percussion), Kevin Largen (guitar, bass, vocals) and Allie Longworth (viola).
And Tom Ohmsen, sound engineer and owner of Salem's Flat Five Press, which recorded the CD. "He asked to play mandolin: an excellent touch," Freda beamed.
She kept the songs in the low register that her long-ago fans had favored. She had recorded a folk-song album with "The Town Criers" in 1964.
On this CD her warm, honeyed voice eases through international folk songs (she had loved teaching French and Spanish), as well as country, childhood and love songs. Must-haves: Hank Williams, Elvis, gospel tunes. "Country Roads" honors her five W.Va.- born siblings and mom Ethel. Plus "Time" (think 1960s' Pozo Seco Singers).
Handy husband Bobby did the cover art: our beloved mountains. They recall a favorite Bible verse remembered even as she exits Wal-Mart and beholds 12 O'clock Knob: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills...."
The "business-part" threatened to turn her dream to a nightmare. "But now I'm riding a rainbow again. I hope I don't fall off!
"Selling? Not so important -- though some recouping would be nice, and 22 songs for $10 IS a bargain! I'd rather 'sell' foreign language, my faith, how-we-should-all-get-along.
"Besides, how can you put a price on a dream?"
