September 2, 2008 was the tenth anniversary of the death of my husband, Charlie Tilson. We were married for 19 years. He had enormous musical talent, possessed a rapier wit countered by an endearing and sentimental side. He faced his illness, and its initial poor prognosis upon diagnosis with equanimity and bravery. His 53rd birthday would have been October 20, 2008.
For those of you who knew him, enjoy the pictures & narrative - including words from Charlie. If you are so inclined please, please share your thoughts and memories here. Just a line or two from friends would mean so much. Charlie is also survived by his mother Margie, sister Kay, nephews, and cousins. Your sharing on this forum will be a gift to them.
Margie, Charlie's Mother; Kay, Charlie's sister; and Charlie at Kay's home
For my many friends who never met him, my hope is that I can acquaint you with him hereSally Woodward Harris
Houston, Texas
October 19, 2008
Katie Melua wrote a beautiful song, Faraway Voice, about Eva Cassidy, a singer who, like Charlie, succumbed to cancer at a young age. Turn on your speakers then click on the arrow to play the Youtube Video and while Katie is singing, scroll down and read her lyrics and enjoy the pictures...
Faraway voice,
We can hear you voice,
What's it like to be heard?
But from you not a word.
Are you over those hills,
Do you still hum the old melodies,
Do you wish people listened,
Over here with me?
Faraway voice,
What I would give, would give to hear that voice,
What's it like to breathe?
My ears deceive me, voice,
And I will walk with you on a summers day,
And I will talk to you,
Though you're far away,
And we'll sing through the years.
Are you over those hills,
Do you still hum the old melodies,
Do you wish people listened,
Over here with me?
8 comments:
This is from a dear childhood friend:
Sally, Your blog about Charlie is beautiful. I wish I had known him.I only met him that one time and it seems so very brief and fleeting. I am sure I didn't pay him the quality of attention he deserved and it is my loss. It sounds like you had a very deep connection and love that endures. I love the pictures of you two together as well as your writing and your brother in law's eulogy. I am glad you put this blog together to allow yourself and others who knew and loved him to have a meaningful gathering together again. This is the kind of thing I love the internet for. Much love to you as you revisit your life together
"I'm just now looking over this memorial site to Charlie, but I'm already close to tears. The immensity of your loss is achingly clear, but reading the tributes ("Faraway Voice", for one) is somehow comforting and inspiring for someone like me who hadn't had the honor to know him. Thank you for sharing this - I look forward to learning more about this obviously remarkable man."
Allman
Sally, so sorry for your loss. I knew Charlie in High School (Friendswood), and we played a little together. He was 10 times the player that I was then. It was obvious he was destined to be a real piano man!
Frank Young, Nashville TN
I knew Charlie for about a year, (June 1968-June 1969). We were both Air Force brats. Our fathers were stationed at Myrtle Beach Air Force base. We were great friends, inseparable even. There was one difference between us. Charlie had ennormous musical talent, and I didn't. He couldn't stay away from the piano. If we didn't have anything to do, or talk about at the moment, he'd start playing something. He had his favorite pieces, and I'm trying hard to remember what they were. (Hey, it WAS 45 years ago!!)I DO remember this. One day he bought a 45 RPM record of Mason William's "Classical Gas". There's a chorus of trumpets in the bridge, that just blew his mind. "WOW, just listen to those horns", he'd exclaim, and play it over again. To me, that's Charlie's tune. I think of him whenever I hear it!!
John Watras
John,
I can hear him saying, "Wow, just listen to those horns" right before he went to the keys and played the bridge perfectly just from hearing it. He made it look so easy.
He was bestowed with a gift that will remain through the passages of many lifetimes.
Thank you for sharing.
It was the summer of 1968. As I mentioned in my previous post, Charlie & I were Air Force brats. Our Dads were stationed at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, in South Carolina. This place was incredible. It had a youth center where we could hang out, and a movie theatre where the admission price was a quarter. Everything was within walking distance, including the two swimming pools on the base. One afternoon we went swimming. So while we were goofing around, Charlie spotted a real pretty girl on the other side of the pool. I was kinda shy, but Charlie sure wasn't. He loooved flirting with pretty girls. After a little small talk, (from him that is, I couldn't get a word in edgewise), Charlie asked, "Can I have your phone number?", and Suzie said, "Ok, you really wanna know?" Charlie said "Yeah", and she gave him her phone number. Now, I hadn't said much of anything so far, but I must've written that number on the inside of my eyelids, because I called her soon thereafter. Suzie and I saw a lot of each other that summer. She became the first real love of my life, and I never would have met her if it wasn't for Charlie. Oh, and if you think that this started any kind of jelous rivelry between Charlie & I, think again. I cannot recall one instance where we argued over who saw her first, or any nonsense like that. It was never something that came between us. The only thing that came between Charlie and Me, was our Dad's careers. Military families move around a lot. I can't really recall the day Charlie and his family shipped out. I guess Suzie helped keep my mind off it, somewhat. But I know that I missed him. I got one letter from him in 1972, which I still have. I have thought about him every now and then, over the years. You know, when I think about that year on the air base I think about that TV show, "The Wonder Years". That's what it was like. I'm Kevin, Charlie was Paul,(I'm sure that Charlie would have reversed that, and made himself the star of the show), and Suzie was Winnie. It was the most perfect year of my life, and Charlie was a perfect friend. And he will always live on in my heart.
Here is the letter I recieved from Charlie, approximatly four years after we had last seen each other.He was living in Texas, and I was back in my hometown in New Jersey. I have attempted to present Charlies letter here exactly the way he wrote and punctuated it. The only liberty I have taken with the text is the omission of a few last names, so as to protect the privacy of these individuals.
"Dear John, "Aha!" he exclaimed as he opened the envelope, discovering the letter. "I wondered what happened to that screwball Tilson" Yes, this is it: the long-awaited (?) letter from your long lost friend and lifetime hippie Charlie Tilson. Aren't you thrilled?
John, the reason I haven't written before now is twofold. (1)I did not know your address, (2) I have been extremely busy. In the four years since I have seen you many things have happened to me. I am now a published songwriter. The music and words to one of the 73 songs I have written (What's in Tomorrow? is the name of the song)/ was heard by a publisher, and he liked it and is going to publish it. He is also interested in about a dozen of my other songs.
Another thing, I have done a great deal of stage acting.In The Music Man and The Sound Of Music and Up the Down Staircase I played relatively small roles but recently I played the lead in a play called My Sister Eileen, and now I'm going into rehearsal as the male lead in Hello Dolly!
I have also been recognized and now I am a professional pianist and singer. I'm about to go into business recording background music for television and radio. My job is in a music store demonstrating and teaching instruments.
But enough of this. I'm not trying to brag, it's just that its been such a long time....
You know something. It's weird, just my imagination, I guess but although I have dated many many girls here in Texas, Suzy (last name omited) is still on my mind occasionally. She was one of the most wonderful girls I ever met. I mean, I'm in the 11th grade and I still think about her. I sure would like to see her again.
I'd also like to see the whole gang again. Remember how me, Suzy, you, Julie(last name omited), Jerry (last name omited), and others whose names I can't recall had so much fun in junior high" Well, I'd better be going, with apologies for not having written sooner, and hopes that you will write soon.
Your old buddy,
Charlie
P.S. I hope you can read my chicken scratching"
And at the bottom of the page he wrote his address. He also drew a peace sign, and two little chicken feet. (I guess Suzy made more of an impression on him than I thought).
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