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Your front row experience will be on iHeartRadio stations across the country and the free iHeartRadio app is Sunday at 3:30 Eastern, 12:30 Pacific. Then, after the concert, tune in to the Super Bowl 60 pregame show on NBC. Hello, Malcolm Glaube here. We're here in New York City with T-Mobile for Business recording another episode of Revisionist History about how 5G network slicing strengthens trust and connections across worldwide industries. Slicing can be used for so many different things.
We're here with our friends from CNN, from Siemens Energy. The ways that it can be used, frankly, are limitless and are really, really built to think through how can T-Mobile understand the pain points that our customers have, smash those pain points, and help you deliver very specific outcomes. This is Lee Habib and this is Our American Stories. And we tell stories about everything here on this show, including yours. Send them to ouramericanstories.com.
Up next, a story from Betsy and Elaine Brumley on their father, Bob. Bob Rumley inherited a lot from his father, Albert. Not only was Albert one of the most impactful songwriters in American history, Writing songs such as I'll Fly Away and Turn Your Radio On, but he also had a major music publishing company in Powell, Missouri. Here's the sisters talking about how Bob handled that. and went about living life.
Uh He was born in December of 1937, so January of 1938, he was in the business. It was pretty much like that. We did the same thing. I mean, once the kids were born, and we even have photos that had recently been posted in the late 50s, early 60s of the brothers before they went their separate ways, all working together, putting the books together. I mean, that's just part of your family business.
It supported you, it brought income, and it's what you did. But that's how dad was always a part of the business. Yeah. Dad never left. Um dab was really Very passionate about continuing the legacy for what grandpa brought to the world.
Bringing awareness, sharing it with people, selling books, performing. I mean, dad had his own. They all did the business, but they all sang too.
Now, I'm sure you know this story, Betsy, but one of my favorite stories of their singing was as a group that all the kids, when the boys were older, they would travel together in this car with barely any gas in it, barely any money, and they would stop at a general store somewhere when they got closer to whatever. Coon hunt or fox hunt or pie supper or whatever event's ever going to go play out and pick up some ring bologna and some saltine crackers and for you know and some Coke and that was they ate on that for days well because they didn't leave and then come back like we do now they left for a while because it was a thing to drive and you had to be able to you probably needed to get paid to afford gas sometimes when you're going around and I that's that's just how they ate plus they liked it Well, and Dan used to have to sit on the floor underneath his bass. Yeah, that's true. Because Dan played the right bass, so he was his player. Place in the car was on the floorboard of the back seat under his bass.
That's how he rode. For a frame of reference, for what I think about is when on Andy Griffith with Johnny Fleet, the beat or whatever comes through in that long, big old bus like Kathy's car. That's totally what they did. I mean, they all piled in there with their instruments. And just did it.
I mean, so you're, you know, you've got a couple guitars, you've got the big old bass, you've got the steel guitar, Jack's mandolin stuff. I mean, so there's a lot of instruments in there, plus their clothes, their outfits or uniforms, whatever they call them, stage clothes, and then their regular clothes.
So, I mean, if you think about all the space that takes up, that's a lot. They all played instruments because grandpa gave them instruments when they were around eight or nine years old to start learning. And dad was a guitar and the upright bass and the piano. And he kept being able to play those his entire life. They didn't take the piano back then, but they did take the bass and the guitars and stuff with them.
And that was part of being in the business too because that was grandpa's background. You traveled around, you sang your music, you let people hear it, took books with you to sell, you know, and that was how he was introduced and participated in the business. And then his brothers left.
Some of them went to the service, but in the 60s was something called the Bakersfield Sound that was being developed. And they wanted to be a part of that. And so Tom and Al and dad's younger brother Jack, they just picked up and moved.
Well, dad decided to stay to keep the business going because they really didn't have anybody working for him that did the things the boys did.
So he and Bill stayed.
So that was what happened where dad just made that choice to stay, but he also loved to perform because he had his own band. He had not with just his family and brothers, but his own that he toured around with. I can remember when I was a little specific fox hunt in Stella, which is where my mom grew up. But this was after they'd met and married. And then he played on the stage and we'd go do the hangout thing and then he'd pack up and we'd come home.
And so he was always part of the music, whether it was behind the scenes like what we do mostly now or on the stage. And he had a great voice. He's really good with his pitch. I mean, he's really good. until he was gone he could sing really well.
And then in 1976, Bill and Dad bought the company from the publishing company from Grandpa. Grandpa was ready to retire because he was in his 70s, so they bought the company. And then Dad purchased Bill out in 1983, and then it's been, we've run it ever since. You know, dad just has always, like Elaine said, had always had a love for The music and the industry side, but having a passion for the publishing is different than having a passion for the music because publishing is such a unique animal. And there's like five people in the world that understand publishing and copyrights.
Right, and thank goodness we're one of them. But it's which is part of the reason we've lasted so long because we actually do understand the business, we know how it works. Because we've been around since it was invented, basically.
So, yeah, I mean, dad learned those things and kept our business relevant.
So, you know, understanding, seeing the trends, keeping it up, keeping his finger on the pulse with the old stuff, too, because understanding that the nostalgia, you know, that the ages, as we age, our tastes change, knowing that. The older generation, as they come into being, the baby boomers or whatever they're called, are going to be looking for those old songs that they grew up with.
Well, we have those. And then that's going to be passed on. There's always, it's always going to be there.
So we've always kept the books, but we had the singings and we did the when we upgraded to different things, you know, and just got involved with movies and television and streaming and all the stuff. But his main goal was to keep that legacy alive to make sure that people, because as time passes and generations come anew, the name is not associated with the music anymore. And that's part of the thing that we're trying to do is. Bring him to people's minds and what he contributed, at least in my mind, that's what I think about, and making sure that they know. The song that was in O Brother Art Thou that sold millions of copies.
was done by this amazing human being. A long time ago, and people still love to hear what he had to say from then. And dad really was bigot on that. Yeah. Well, he wanted to do that too.
And you're listening to Betsy and Elaine Brumley tell the story of their father Bob. And by the way, they told a brilliant story of their granddaddy, Albert, the composer of I'll Fly Away and Turn Your Radio On, and so many others. When we come back, more of this remarkable family and musical story here on Our American Story. Folks, if you love the great American stories we tell and love America like we do, We're asking you to become a part of the Our American Stories family. If you agree that America is a good and great country, please.
Make a donation. A monthly gift of $17.76 is fast becoming a favorite option for supporters. Go to ouramericanstories.com now and go to the donate button and help us keep the great American stories coming. That's ouramericanstories.com. Tonight.
Kick off the Winter Olympics in style with the opening ceremony from Italy featuring a special performance by Mariah Carey. Celebrate the greatest athletes from around the globe as they come together to go for gold. Let's see for sensational! The opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics. Redefining the sport tonight at 8 Eastern 7th Central on NBC and Peacock.
This Sunday, iHeartRadio brings you live to Levi Stadium in Santa Clara for the Super Bowl 60 Tailgate Concert. Presented by NetApp, it's the ultimate pregame party featuring an exclusive performance from Teddy Swims. Seven. Your front row experience will be on iHeartRadio stations across the country. And the free iHeartRadio app is Sunday at 3:30 Eastern, 12:30 Pacific.
Then, after the concert, tune in to the Super Bowl 60 pregame show on NBC. Hello, Malcolm Glaubel here. We're here in New York City with T-Mobile for Business recording another episode of Revisionist History about how 5G network slicing strengthens trust and connections across worldwide industries. Slicing can be used for so many different things. We're here with our friends from CNN, from Siemens Energy.
The ways that it can be used, frankly, are limitless and are really, really built to think through how can T-Mobile understand the pain points that our customers have, smash those pain points, and help you deliver very specific outcomes. Insurance may all seem the same on the surface, but having insurance isn't the same as having a state farm. As the leading auto and homeowners insurer in the U.S., State Farm is there how and where you need them, whether it's in person with a local State Farm agent, on the phone, online, or through their mobile app. Don't take a chance with insurance coverage that may not meet your needs, and don't settle for insurance that may only be halfway there when you need it. Get State Farm, like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
And we return to our American stories, and the story of Bob Brumley is told by his daughters, Betsy and Elaine. When we last left off, the sisters were talking about their father's mission to preserve and honor the legacy of his father, Albert E. Brumley, who was a composer and music book publisher. Let's continue with this great family story. Uh Part of the book part and the printing and all that stuff was they were raw books, which they had raw edges.
And there was something called a book press and something called a book cutter.
Well, dad was, ended up being the champion book cutter and he developed this amazing muscle that rode right across the top of his elbow that not many people develop. And he was really strong hands because you'd put the books in, you'd smush them back, you'd cut the edges, turn them, cut them. You had to cut three of the edges off. And we would play in the pilings of the paper like they were leaves, like fall leaves. Did we get paper cuts?
I don't, I was just thinking that. I don't know. Maybe we did, but it was just so much fun. It was fun. He had his own way of looking at things, just like grandpa did.
And it wasn't exactly like grandpa's. It was a little bit different. It was different. Yeah. Dad's favorite stuff, though.
I mean, dad, it was Christmas time. Dad was like a five-year-old at Christmas time. The magic of Christmas always touched him. And we had some amazing stories from our childhood with Christmas. You know, he left footprints for you guys, right?
Yeah, Santa Claus footprints, yeah, the powder. Yeah, he put lights up. I mean, the man put so many lights up. It wasn't like it wasn't Christmas vacation lights, but but he loved lights. He loved all the stuff that came with Christmas.
And we always had stockings and we always had a toy. and oh, but we would have the same candy.
So mom and dad, we have Christmas stock. Just this every year. Every year. It was literally the same candy. Literally the same candy.
You know, you get growing up because there's German parts, you would get an orange and apple and candy in your stocking at Christmas time.
Well, it got to be, because we never ate it because it was gross candy, but they had to put it in there.
So literally They would put the candy in plastic and just drop it in our socks, the same candy every single year. Because it stuck together. It stuck together. Because it was above the fireplace. It melted and it stuck together.
Because we never ate it. Even when we little, we never ate it. But that's one thing about him, and I think grandpa as well, and my mom and grandma. There were a lot of traditions like that. That really.
Because it didn't matter what it was, it was a matter that it was year by year. I mean, he really liked following certain traditions like that. It meant nostalgic, it meant something to him to do those kinds of things every year. And it didn't matter if the candy stuck together or not, or if we ate the orange or the apple, because we didn't eat those either. No, we didn't.
And, you know, we discussed the stocking present. But those kinds of things, he did that with a lot of aspects of his life, you know. And literally, as we got older and he got older, if you lived in Powell, you could set your watch by dad. And I mean that because every single day at eleven thirty he went to get the mail. It doesn't matter where.
He went to get the mail. And I mean, people wouldn't, they knew what his schedule was. I mean, people would know. And if dad wasn't getting the mail or whatever, people would call and say, is Bob okay? Because he wasn't there to get the mail.
Tradition, his routine, everything was very precise and scheduled for him. Oh. He did have a fabulous sense of humor that was very corny. And I guess we even used that in his obituary because it was part of his personality and it's how he connected with people. He would tell you this corny joke and you'd roll your eyes, but you find yourself telling it 10 minutes later because it's kind of funny and silly.
And that was that's how I remember a lot about him. And it doesn't, he never meant to be, he was never disrespectful, but he told them at all the weird times, you know, at visitations for funerals or at a funeral or some serious event.
Some serious event, he would come up with this corny joke that he remembered. And it's relevant somehow. And somehow it connected to the situation you were in. He was, I remember, he's really smart. That's what I really have a great memory of: how smart dad was.
His brain, he was a very internal person, but he had. He had a way of and a perspective of viewing things.
Now, it took him 15 minutes to get there, but once he got there, it made a lot of sense. And you ask how I'd want him to be remembered. I just wanted to be remembered as dad, as Bob. Yeah. Oh.
He really cared about everything he did. Dad. You know, he never met a stranger. And he was like Grandma Brumley like this. If he met you once, he remembered your name.
He remembered what your kids' names were. He remembered what illnesses you have. I mean, the man remembered. everything about you. But everything about him was authentic.
Dad didn't even know how to put on airs. If he tried, he wouldn't know how to put on airs. And it was an old saying, never get above your raisin or whatever. Dad never did. He never forgot where he came from.
He felt that he earned everything, and I think he absolutely earned everything he did. And just that passion he had for that legacy. I mean, it was the drive behind his business life. He made sure that it was in a place of honor. People in the industry recognized that.
So he was recognized for. for respecting The southern gospel roots, the gospel roots, when a lot of people tend to push them aside, he kept them alive. And a lot of people in the industry and in the music industry really respected him for that. And so he had his own accomplishments like that. A lot of it, We talk about because grandpa's legacy was so big, but when you live in the shadow of someone.
With a name like Albert E. Brumley, and his works are considered part of the fabric of America. It's hard to have your own because you do find yourself preserving. Just like even for Elaine and I, it's hard. I mean, we're still living in Grandpa's shadow, if you will, but we're making our own way.
Dad did his. Yeah, and he had his own set of awards and accomplishments that he achieved after Grandpa passed and he bought the business. And to me, this is a thing that always meant something to me. One thing that Dad always made sure of, because of the respect he had for the industry. Was to make sure he paid his people now.
If you know the industry, that didn't always happen in events and things like that. There it was a tough business. Music can be tough, and I, if you're in it at all, you probably understand that. But he always made sure to respect the people he brought on, whether they were talent or to we paid a tribute every year to the volunteers that helped at our events with this delicious food because food is fun and it was something they could all gather in and appreciate. He appreciated what the people contributed to his whatever it was.
But he also respected the fans. And he appreciated the fans. Absolutely. I mean, one of my favorite stories is when one of the groups wanted to leave early from the singing one year, and he pulled him over from backstage and pulled the curtain back. And he said, You see all those people out there?
And he said, Yeah. He said, Now I can't do without them. You? I can do without. If you want to leave, you're not going to get paid.
And you're not coming back. You're not coming back. Because you're disrespectful. Because you're disrespecting these fans who came to see you. And paid to see you.
But if you want to stay, I'll be happy to pay you. And that's exactly what they did. Because dad understood the relationship of these are hardworking people. These are your fans who have taken their hard earned money and paid a ticket to see you perform. And if you are going to disrespect them by not thinking they're worthy or whatever your problem is, then I'm not having you back.
Because this is an equal respect back and forth between the artist and the fan, and then also as the promoter, the person who put the art. We all respect each other. Everybody adds something, nobody's better than anybody else. I love that about Danny. He's always, everybody had a place, and everybody had.
A job, you did your job, you got paid for your job unless you were volunteered, which you still got paid for because, man, we took care of everything. You know, that's what you did.
So you're exactly right. That was a very big factor of dad's personality that I really always greatly appreciated. And I carry that with me now. I'm very aware and very particular that when I do something with people, I treat them with that same respect to the best of my ability. In the situation.
So that to me was pretty cool about him because that kid was that way in everything he did. And a great job as always by Monty Montgomery on the production and the storytelling. And a special thanks to Betsy and Elaine Brumley sharing the story of their father, Bob, this time. Last time it was of granddaddy, Albert. And my goodness, if you can have two daughters.
Tell the story of your life as a mother or a father.
Well, blessed are you and lucky are you. The story of the Brumley family, and this time Bob Brumley, as told by his daughters, Betsy and Elaine. here. on our American stories. This Sunday, iHeartRadio brings you live.
The Levi Stadium in Santa Clara for the Super Bowl 60 tailgate concert. Presented by NetApp, it's the ultimate pregame party, featuring an exclusive performance from Teddy Swims. Seven free. Your front row experience will be on iHeartRadio stations across the country and the free iHeartRadio app is Sunday at 3:30 Eastern, 12:30 Pacific. Then, after the concert, tune in to the Super Bowl 60 pregame show on NBC.
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Mm-hmm.
