to sing and dreamed about being entertainers. Before they had real instruments they’d sing accompanied by a simple aluminum tin pie pan and wooden spoon. Both girls coveted a mandolin, like the stars that sang live on air at the WNAX radio station, at the Gurney building in Yankton. When Marie was ten years old, her mother bought her that beloved mandolin and then Elva got to play rhythm on the prized guitar. The duo played at birthday parties, school pageants, plays, local bars and events in the area. Elva still has recordings she made as a young teenager, of her and Marie playing together. Elva says “It wasn’t until we were boy crazy and more interested in getting boy friends, that we stopped playing together.” It didn’t stop Elva though and she joined her first band in 1967. The cousins remained close as sisters throughout their lives and continued to visit regularly even after they both were married. Marie moved around more, but would jump in and sing with bands from time to time. Some of the best times for Elva were playing and singing with various bands such as “Carrol and his Country Cowhands.” She also played with other groups throughout the years such as “The Bill Craven Band, the Gullickson brothers’ band: the Travelers, and “Jimmie and the Country Gals.” Elva also helped out doing impromptu sessions for other musicians when band members were sick or couldn’t play. When Elva was fifteen she shared her passion for playing guitar, and was paid $5 a lesson by aspiring neighborhood children. Elva also taught her daughters Colleen, and Arletta to play at a very young age too. Colleen in particular, enjoyed playing and singing. She sometimes accompanied her mother at local gigs as a child. Elva recalls what beautiful harmony they made together. “We sang so good together, we could’ve been like the Judd’s!” Elva married her husband, Dean in 1952. He was always supportive of his musician wife, and helped set up and break down all the equipment for her performances. He never would sing though, claiming he didn’t have a good voice. But much later in life he began to when he was alone with Elva. “He actually had a really good voice” Elva shares. Elva got to borrow various guitars from people to practice on over the years, but slowly has come to own some permanent favorites. Her first a Bob West from Del Rio Texas, was bought by her parents when she was a young teen. As Elva shows me her guitars she points one out in particular, “My dad bought me that one in 1962, a brand new Silvertone electric guitar, and amplifier. It was from Sears. “It was actually my husband’s birthday, but I got the present!” Buy Women Owned... guitar. teen with first va as a young El e andmhadove! H it l w vCOUNTRY continued on page 24 Get hooked on a brand-new hobby. Not only is knitting fun and relaxing, you’ll be creating handmade, one-of-a-kind gifts and fashions. •Huge Selection of Yarns •Crochet Cotton •Specialty Magazines •Knitting Needles •Crochet Hooks •Patterns & Supplies 909 Broadway, Tripp Park Plaza 605-689-3999 • www.eweknitit.com Open: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm • Saturday 9am-3pm Elva’s Guitar Family n Owned... Buy Wome r oducing... Int rdsma Connie Tjeetner ar Dealer/P icle hasing a veh p make purc “Let me hel ore.” ther than a ch a pleasure ra 605.589.3362 30320 Ford Ave., Tyndall, SD • connietjeerdsma@hotmail.com HERVOICEvJULY/AUGUST 2019v23