My grandfather liked Mexican music, I guess that I inherited that trait

Most of us, from about 1880's  were born in the South in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, and those other Red Line States. In fact, I was born in Memphis Tennessee on Halloween of all nights.  I don't enjoy having a birthday on Halloween because somehow people end up celebrating dead people instead of remembering my birth.

My paternal cousin Richard told me the story of my grandmother's "babydaddy." Remember, my great-aunt Sugg was the owner of two bordellos. One in Mississippi, and the other in Memphis. My grandfather Booker Wade Senior was an entrepreneur who owned two juck joints. One, in Tupelo, and the other in Tunica. My maternal great grandfather, Toney Fowler, was the minister of several churches in the area. Mahalia Jackson would often sing at his churches. They were the rock stars of the black south.  They crossed the paths many well know legends. But, since Toney was a well-respected minister, he didn't attend either the bordels nor the juke joints. He had to maintain a respectful distance.

 I hear that my grandfather Booker Wade Senior was a successful early promoter, and featured many great blues artists at his joints. In fact, I hear that the young Elvis Presley had on several occasions either visited or actually sang and/or played with the visiting artists.

My dad's mother was named Flossie.  She was an extremely beautiful mixed American Indian and black girl. She was a lover of, also known as Leadbelly, and he was the Baby Daddy of two of her children. She loved the way he played the accordion. In fact, that's how I came to play the accordion. On his last visit with her, he left an accordion, and promised to come back and get it. She never saw him again.  I later picked up the accordion which he had left.

The accordion is a sound you have to acquire, or just have in your physical make up.  African American's don't generally like the sound of an accordion.  My grandfather liked Mexican music, and I guess that I inherited that trait.  I became quite good, and won a few accordion contest!