Larry Murante
It’s not every day that a little old lady from Oysterville has a date with a handsome young musician – a date that involves crossing the state line and going public with their relationship. At least not in my world. But, on Friday afternoon that’ll be the story and it will be broadcast on our favorite community radio show, “Arts, Live and Local” with Carol Newman on KMUN. I am that LOL and my escort for the afternoon will be none other than singer/songwriter Larry Murante!
Actually, that’s a bit backward. Larry is the one who will be Carol’s guest. I’m more-or-less going along just for the ride – and to tell true story behind Larry’s introduction to our resident ghost, Mrs. Crouch. (Never mind that Larry says it’s just my version; my memory of that first meeting among us is crystal clear.)
Baptist Church and Parsonage
Larry will be on the radio to talk about his (almost over) month-long residency at Willapa Bay AiR and about his upcoming Oysterville House Concert (Sunday afternoon at four o’clock. (If you are interested, call me.) He will also be singing “The Ballad of Mrs. Crouch,” his wonderful musical account of one of Oysterville’s beloved historic characters.
I can’t remember when Larry wrote the ballad. Five years ago? Ten? It’s one of those perfectly synchronistic occurrences that transcends time. It’s as if Mrs. Crouch had been lurking around for more than a century just waiting for her story to be told. And not just told. Told to music! After all, that’s one of the few ‘facts’ we know about her – she had a lovely singing voice and was often heard by passers-by as she sang hymns in this house that was once the parsonage. (In case you don’t know, she was the preacher’s wife.)
Carol Newman
I’m not exactly sure when Larry is scheduled to be “on.” Carol’s show is from 3:00 to 4:00 and I heartily recommend listening to all of it. She and her guests never fail to entertain and inform. And I can’t help but wonder if Mrs. Crouch will be accompanying Larry and me, as well. I don’t know how she would feel about an afternoon outing but, somehow, I think she’d love it and might even make her presence known. I bet that would be a first for “Arts, Live and Local!”
I will definitely be listening whether it’s on the radio in our kitchen or on the computer! I can’t wait for the Sunday house concert and the beginning of a week on the Peninsula!