1964-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1964 September Voice | Page 10

PROFILES
^
SOUNDS OF THE
CELEBRATION
peAT"^
from dixie
Featuring
JIMMY
RICHARDSON
By Gloria L. Spencer
There are many distinct sounds
of the Celebration . . . the clip-
clop of the horses hooves, the com­
mands of the riders to the horses,
the voice of Emmett Guy over the
microphone, the rumble of the ap­
plause from the stands . . . but, one
sound that is ever constant from
the minute the flag horse goes
through the gates until the last
class has been tied ... is the sound
of the Hammond Organ from the
center of the ring. This is an ac­
cepted tradition of the Celebra­
tion ... so natural that without
it, the Celebration would not seem
the same. And behind this sound
is a man, who for 18 years has
been providing music for horse
shows all over the country, Mr.
Jimmy Richardson.
Jimmy Richardson was born in
Shelbyville, Tennessee, 39 years
ago and has been playing the piano
for 30 of those years. About 18
years ago he purchased a Ham­
mond Organ, specifically for his
horse show activities and is still
playing this same organ. It has
10
been transported over one-half mil­
lion miles to horse shows from
Miami to Canada and from the
Eastern coast to Kansas City.
Jimmy plays for Gaited and Walk­
ing Horse shows alike. The spec­
tators tap their feet to his rhythm,
the horses as they are walking or
cantering seem to be keeping time
with the music, but Jimmy has
learned to change the tempo of
any melody he plays to keep a
steady beat with the horses feet.
Jimmy does not own any sheet
music, but rather learns from lis­
tening to a song played or hum­
med. He plays most popular and
country music, changing styles
during a tune to keep pace with
the showring activities. He grew
up going to square dances and
says that it is a rare coincidence
that the Walking Horse gait and
the square dance step (also so very
popular in this Tennessee area) are
very identical.
Among his many other activi­
ties, he operates the Nationwide
Insurance Agency in Shelbyville;
owns and operates the Shelbyville
School Bus System; he has a Ten­
nessee Real Estate License and is
a partner with his brother, Fred
Richardson, who renovates antique
organs and pianos. Also, he and his
brother own a private recording
label, MARCILE, that has eight lp
albums that are custom pressed
using R.C.A.’s finest materials.
They have plans to establish direct
dealorships to record shops in
towns throughout the country. The
records now in circulation are:
“Jimmy Richardson and His Swing­
ing Hammond Organ,” Jimmy
Richardson Plays The Organ Ten­
nessee Style,” “Silver Anniversary
Music,” “Jimmy Richardson Ram-
blin On The Organ,” “Jimmy Ri­
chardson and Sounds of the Cele­
bration,” “Sweet With A Beat,
“Jimmy Richardson Plays Santa
Claus Songs” and “Jimmy Richard­
son Plays Just Plain Ole Organ.”
Jimmy is married to the former
Margaret Brown from Charlotte,
North Carolina. They live in Shel­
byville with their two children;
VOICE of The Tennessee Walking Horse