My father was what you might call a good family man. He was always there for us. He was a gentle, tolerant, patient, fun loving and a hard worker. That's a hard act to follow. I say these things without fear of contradiction by those who know him.
He was born in 1902 in New Neely Arkansas and was named for two neighbors, Herman Hammock and Arthur Crow. The family lived and farmed in the Carden Bottom area until about 1924, when his father, P.A. sold out to Charlie McElwee and retired to Dyer Arkansas. Dad had a blacksmith shop in Dardanelle at that time. Shortly after that he and many others of the family moved to Detroit Michigan for better work opportunities.
It was in Detroit where he met and married my mother. Times were very hard then, during and after the Depression. From the stories I've heard about that period, there were many friends, house parties, and music; always lots of music. Dad played the guitar then and his brothers Alonzo and Bo both were fiddlers. I know there were many others who played with them, but I don't have the details. He worked in the automobile factories until his retirement in 1964. Although he never gave up his day job, he continued studying and playing music the rest of his life. He became quite an accomplished bass player of jazz, blue grass and rockabilly. Back in 1940s, I recall him studying music theory and composition in the evenings at home.
After his retirement he and mother moved to Dardanelle Arkansas. They lived out their remaining years there, traveling, playing music and visiting family and friends. They are both buried at the Mt. George Cemetery, where so many other family members are.
Al Evans Sr.
He was born in 1902 in New Neely Arkansas and was named for two neighbors, Herman Hammock and Arthur Crow. The family lived and farmed in the Carden Bottom area until about 1924, when his father, P.A. sold out to Charlie McElwee and retired to Dyer Arkansas. Dad had a blacksmith shop in Dardanelle at that time. Shortly after that he and many others of the family moved to Detroit Michigan for better work opportunities.
It was in Detroit where he met and married my mother. Times were very hard then, during and after the Depression. From the stories I've heard about that period, there were many friends, house parties, and music; always lots of music. Dad played the guitar then and his brothers Alonzo and Bo both were fiddlers. I know there were many others who played with them, but I don't have the details. He worked in the automobile factories until his retirement in 1964. Although he never gave up his day job, he continued studying and playing music the rest of his life. He became quite an accomplished bass player of jazz, blue grass and rockabilly. Back in 1940s, I recall him studying music theory and composition in the evenings at home.
After his retirement he and mother moved to Dardanelle Arkansas. They lived out their remaining years there, traveling, playing music and visiting family and friends. They are both buried at the Mt. George Cemetery, where so many other family members are.
Al Evans Sr.
My father was what you might call a good family man. He was always there for us. He was a gentle, tolerant, patient, fun loving and a hard worker. That's a hard act to follow. I say these things without fear of contradiction by those who know him.
He was born in 1902 in New Neely Arkansas and was named for two neighbors, Herman Hammock and Arthur Crow. The family lived and farmed in the Carden Bottom area until about 1924, when his father, P.A. sold out to Charlie McElwee and retired to Dyer Arkansas. Dad had a blacksmith shop in Dardanelle at that time. Shortly after that he and many others of the family moved to Detroit Michigan for better work opportunities.
It was in Detroit where he met and married my mother. Times were very hard then, during and after the Depression. From the stories I've heard about that period, there were many friends, house parties, and music; always lots of music. Dad played the guitar then and his brothers Alonzo and Bo both were fiddlers. I know there were many others who played with them, but I don't have the details. He worked in the automobile factories until his retirement in 1964. Although he never gave up his day job, he continued studying and playing music the rest of his life. He became quite an accomplished bass player of jazz, blue grass and rockabilly. Back in 1940s, I recall him studying music theory and composition in the evenings at home.
After his retirement he and mother moved to Dardanelle Arkansas. They lived out their remaining years there, traveling, playing music and visiting family and friends. They are both buried at the Mt. George Cemetery, where so many other family members are.
Al Evans Sr.
He was born in 1902 in New Neely Arkansas and was named for two neighbors, Herman Hammock and Arthur Crow. The family lived and farmed in the Carden Bottom area until about 1924, when his father, P.A. sold out to Charlie McElwee and retired to Dyer Arkansas. Dad had a blacksmith shop in Dardanelle at that time. Shortly after that he and many others of the family moved to Detroit Michigan for better work opportunities.
It was in Detroit where he met and married my mother. Times were very hard then, during and after the Depression. From the stories I've heard about that period, there were many friends, house parties, and music; always lots of music. Dad played the guitar then and his brothers Alonzo and Bo both were fiddlers. I know there were many others who played with them, but I don't have the details. He worked in the automobile factories until his retirement in 1964. Although he never gave up his day job, he continued studying and playing music the rest of his life. He became quite an accomplished bass player of jazz, blue grass and rockabilly. Back in 1940s, I recall him studying music theory and composition in the evenings at home.
After his retirement he and mother moved to Dardanelle Arkansas. They lived out their remaining years there, traveling, playing music and visiting family and friends. They are both buried at the Mt. George Cemetery, where so many other family members are.
Al Evans Sr.
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