Bobby Helms

I was raised by my grandmother in Bloomington, Ind. She loved going to fish frys where they had bands come and play for the entertainment. I was very little and she would take me to these gatherings and talk to the singer I just saw. I remember this singer would pick me up into his arms and talk to me and sing just a little few tunes here and there to make me smile and laugh. Grandma told me that he was tired and that he had to go and to say bye to Bobby. As usual I ran up and gave a big hug and he said see you when I get back. Years later after this same routine, when I was old enough to understand, she told me that they had been friends for a long time and they attended the same Christian center when they were kids.

When I was in second grade it was Christmas time and my class was in our usual music class and my music teacher told us that we was going to do a program and when she passed out the music sheets of the songs we were singing I got really excited because when I turned to the second page there was one of the songs my friend Bobby would sing to me, "Jingle Bell Rock." I got even more excited when I saw that it was written by my longtime friend. When I got home and showed my grandmother, she smiled and said that's Bobby. Then she told me the whole story, how he made it big and that he sung in Nashville and everywhere else.When I saw him again, I said I know who you are now! You sang "Jingle Bell Rock" didn't you? Bobby smiled and said yes. I told him how I found out and that I sang his song on stage.

I remember through the years I saw less of him. I also heard that he sold the rights to that famous song. I knew he was getting old and tired and then my junior year in high school, in 1997, I got the word from my grandma that Bobby passed away. I was really sad. We attended the funeral services and said goodbye to my famous friend, but he will always live on in my heart and memories forever.Bobby Helms1933-1997