I gradually became aware as a child just how small our town of Tyler where I partially grew up was. If we wanted to go shopping, we had to drive to Dallas. When family flew in, we had to drive a hundred miles to Love Field to pick them up. My father found fine dining at Johnny Cace’s in Longview about a half hour away, especially when his mother came to visit.
Kilgore, was another small town only thirty minutes away where Sunday drives found us surveying the oil wells there. They were everywhere. They were in church yards, back yards and downtown. They were in a word, ugly, their greasy pumps always humming and pumping, pumping for oil in the hopes of hitting paydirt.
Yet there was something else in Kilgore that loomed taller than those oil wells, higher than Johnny Cace’s located on the second floor of an old
downtown building and definitely did not hum. There was someone who struck oil of a different sort.
Book by Abram Chasins and Villa Stiles
Van Cliburn. It was my mother’s mother in Alaska who sent me a book that made me aware of him just a Sunday drive away. The book was
The Van Cliburn Legend. He was a legend to me as we never saw him. After reading the book I became aware everyone was excited that this twenty-three year old Texan had won the Russian Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow at the height of the Cold War. We laughed and smiled over the photo wire of the vertically challenged Khrushchev hugging this very tall Texan. “Why are you so tall?” he asked him. His reply, “Because I’m from Texas” the story goes. Such was this tall Texan’s manner that warmed the world during scary times when Cuban missiles pointed at our American Gulf Coast.
This past week, at the age of 78, Texas lost this favorite son. In the years that passed after reading that biography, I noticed any mention of him. But the mentions were few and far between. Still I remembered the cover photo of him from the book, sitting high on the back seat of a convertible, handsome with his large gifted hands waving to the crowds with ticker tape falling all around him in a NY parade celebrating his triumph. He retired early in the 70′s from concert performances, but I always returned to the thought that at least there’s the Van Cliburn piano competition that was founded with his name that could unveil future talent. He died in his home of Fort Worth just over a hundred miles away from Kilgore and about two hundred miles west of his birthplace of Shreveport, Louisiana.
I saw his obituary in the paper. Such a talented musician!
He was a legend for our times. I only found out the news upon reading a blog comment at Susan’s blog, Coming East, then Rick and my mother mentioned it to me.
Oh, my. I know your old stomping grounds like the back of my hand. When I drive from Houston to Kansas City, it’s 59 to 259 up to Kilgore, then across Houston Street with its fine houses to 135, a great back road up to Mt. Pleasant and then Paris. I do believe I have some road fever, just thinking about it!
I had no idea Van Cliburn was from Kilgore. I knew he’d died, and spent more than a few minutes remembering the excitement of the competition, and his reception back in the U.S. Amazing to remember now how important such things were, and how exciting it was to watch the footage on the evening news. No 24/7 news cycle then, let alone Drudge, Twitter and Facebook!
One of the best things about Kilgore is the tall oil derrick that still has the star on top. Sometimes at Christmas, I’ve seen them wrap the entire thing in greens and lights. Small town texas at its finest!
Yes, he was born in Shreveport but left for the Tchaikovsky competition from Kilgore. He was born Harvey Lavan Cliburn. I’m so glad you can learn about his roots now. I had scheduled another post, but immediately had a change of plans when I reflected on this great musician, a bright Texas star during the Cold War.
Deep East Texas is a lovely drive especially this time of year with the azalea trails and dogwood trails coming up. I wonder if all those oil wells are still there in Kilgore. You mention the one tall one, but you certainly couldn’t miss all the oil wells all over town…and I mean all over the place.
My photo of Abram Chasin’s book will be replaced next weekend with a photo of the book my grandmother gave me. My mother located it yesterday on one of her bookshelves, but alas doesn’t do smart phone to send me a photo or take a photo, download, attach, etc. to send to me.
Bless her.
i was sad to hear the news this week. i know he was a legend in these parts.
and across the world.
I know you probably heard and/or watched coverage looking back on his influence in so many ways: world class musician, patron of the arts, sponsor of talented musicians, educator and amazing ambassador who cut through the Iron Curtain.
Enjoyed your lessons this morning. It made me go through my settings again. I changed a few things…I agree that word verification thingy is tedious. My husband and I both LOVE your blog. You are so dedicated and always there’s a delightful post. Thank you for all you generously contribute.
I was familiar with the name, but didn’t know of Van Cliburn’s history. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for reading. He is leaving a legacy.
Georgette – I just tried to open your Tinkerbell post but I get an Ooooops message that the link doesn’t exist. Just a heads up.
Dor
I’m having a terrible time with my mouse…it published Thursday’s post twice activating the publish button while I was only uploading a photo, so I quickly trashed it. So sorry. It’s a mystery.
That happened to me once. I accidentally posted before I was ready, and did the same thing, deleted it, and started over. Haven’t made that mistake since.
I’m having issues with the computer or mouse. I will comment on my desktop for now but will work posts from my laptop until it’s resolved. sheesh…in uploading a photo and at the insert photo prompt the publish activates???? I did it twice to see if it was me or the computer.
“Why are you so tall?” he asked him. His reply, “Because I’m from Texas” the story goes. ” What a remarkable, amazing man. Sorry to hear about his passing. He does represent the warmth, adventurous and generous spirit of every Texan. It’s an honor to read about him through your post.
I was going to post something else, but I stopped to write this and share about this Texan — world citizen. How wonderful we could live during the time of his triumph that the whole world relished and delighted in when it happened. Thank you for reading, IT.
I love reading about people like this. It wil be the creative people that will eventually solve the world’s crisis I am sure. I love the cover of the book too!
I agree, Darlene, the arts and athletics can humanize our global community. We are so polarized on daily politics.
I heard on NPR that he’d died and am glad to learn some of his history. I didn’t know that he’d won the Russian Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow when he was only 23! Wow.
There was a thaw in the Cold War when he won. I wish Jimmy Carter had learned from what artists and athletes can do to serve as ambassadors. It was too bad our athletes didn’t compete in Moscow back in ’80. I know…old history…but still…
Georgette, I hadn’t heard that he died. Thanks for sharing your feelings and pride in this amazing Texan. I loved his music.
Although born in Shreveport, I would say he was a Texan having spent most of his life here.
What a sweet tribute to this man, Georgette … you have a world book full of knowledge & I learn a lot when reading your blog!! Thank you, my friend.
Thank you for reading, friend. Just wanted to pause and remember.
I read that he passed away in our newspaper too. I remember him and his amazing gift on piano. I could only dream of playing like that! He certainly was a legend and I love that line he gave Khrushchev! Spoken like a true Texan!
He was brilliant on the piano and a very warm person. Having lived in OK – right?- you probably know about these NE Texas towns.
Yep, I do recall Tyler. Don’t think we ever went there though. Our trips to TX were usually to Dallas and Wichita Falls.
As you can see at
http://www.101iq.com/vc2004/pages/464.htm
my brother-in-law Mark Cannon has competed a number of times in the outstanding amateur (as opposed to professional) Van Cliburn piano competition in Fort Worth. I attended some of the performances and awards ceremonies, thereby getting to see Van Cliburn and hear him speak (but not play) several times in the past decade, the last being in 2011. I did attend a performance of his in Austin in the 1970s. Too bad he’s gone now.
Thank you so much for sharing! Does he have a youtube performance link?
My husband took piano from Mrs. Yazbek, a Shreveport friend of VanCliburn’s mother. He loves to tell of Van Cliburn and his mother attending Mrs. Y’s recitals when he was just a boy.
It’s very sad to think he is gone now.
In answer to your question, yes. (The performances begin about a minute into each video.)
Oh my gosh…I did pause to read but apparently not long enough to listen. My bad…I shall be returning this afternoon. Gotta go to class this early morning after a wonderful spring break!
Thank you! I returned to this tonight and found two videos!