Singing Bob

I have been thinking lately I need to write another story. It has been almost a year since my last story. No ideas would come to me. I had no idea what to write about. Yesterday an idea hit me right between the eyes.

I was listening to George Beverly Shea on my Alexa and I started thinking about my old friend Bob Kreigh. He used to tell me how much he love loved George Beverly Shea and how much George influenced him.

George was born on Feb1 1909 and died April 16 2013. he spent most of his career singing with the Billy Graham crusades. When he was interviewed for the job he told Billy I will sing but I will not preach. Billy said that is okay preaching is my job.

When I wrote the first story I had to change the names because our friends did not want their names used. The only name I am using today is Bob's. I don't think Bob cared about his name being in my story. So I called it Singing Sammy.

Bob was born Washington D.C. In 1925. When he was a teenager he had a paper route. He would fold his papers in an apartment complex. He made a deal with the man there. Bob gave the man some money and the man would come back with beer for both of them. Bob used to go to school drunk.

Bob had a great singing voice that ended in a great bass voice. He sang every chance he could. He started getting a career going then met a girl and got married. The girl told Bob you have to make a choice either me or singing. Bob decided to stay with his wife. They moved near Los Angeles.

Bob had a service station for a while. Then he got a job with Rockwell. They used to love to go to Laughlin Nevada and get drunk and gamble. In 1995 his wife died of drinking and tobacco problems. Shortly before his wife died he went to AA and quit drinking. He started having trouble singing and it scared him so much he gave up smoking. The Lord gave him his voice back. When I started at Hope Methodist Church in Bullhead City Az. Bob was lead mail singer in the choir. He did a lot of solos. Once he asked me my favorite hymn and he did it as a solo a few weeks later. I was really shocked that he would do it for me.

There was a group of old men that got together once a month. Bob let me come even so I was only about 50 that the time. I really enjoyed the group.

There was one thing that Bob did that I never liked. His oldest girl got pregnant while living at home. Bob kicked her out for breaking his rules. A few years later they made up.

The last time I talked with Bob he was telling me he wanted to do one more solo before he moved to Oregon with his family. He was afraid his voice might break and people would not like it. I said “Do it, if your if your voice breaks no one will say a thing. They are all your friends and would really like to hear 1 more solo. I left Arizona shortly after that so I don't know if he ever did the last solo. I heard he was living in a care unit and having a great time with the other people there. I don't even know if he is still alive. He wanted to be the last serving WW11 veteran. If he is still around he would be 98 I think Knowing him he just might make it. I know I will see him when I go home to heaven. When I get to heaven I will have a good voice and we can sing together.

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