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• Please begin by telling us anything you would like to about yourself. Age, place of birth, residence, etc.
Hi, everyone. My name's Kenneth / Ken Johnson, I'm soon to be 69 years old, was born in Highland Park, Michigan, grew up in Royal Oak, Michigan and now reside in Davisburg, Michigan, about 40 or so miles north of Detroit. I'm a retired Union carpenter for the past three years and absolutely bored. I spend a great deal of time reading posts now and working in the yard. I have 2 children / adults. My son will be 49 yrs old June 16th and my daughter just turned 43 yesterday, May 8th. I have 4 grandchildren, 2 girls by my son and 2 boys by my daughter. My son in-law is a Michigan State Trooper and also in the U.S. Army and is presently stationed in Afghanistan, his second tour there. My daughter owns a beauty salon in Frankenmuth, Michigan and my son is a carpenter contractor.
• What made you decide to play the violin? I have always loved violin and when I found "Fiddlerman's"…
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I love the old picture! Nice interview Fiddlestix, very musical family, wold love to hear you playing something on the organ 
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
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Great interview, Ken! It is great that you are able to spend so much time enjoying your hobbies. It must feel pretty neat to play on a 130 yr old violin. I love the look of older string instruments. I'm in the process of making an old family violin playable. Mine is only about 60 yrs old, but I love the finish on it.
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Good to get to know you Ken.
I'm dying to know, did you ever go scuba diving?
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
King
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Thankyou, NV... I haven't had the organ in about 15 years, I had to sell it when my mother passed in 96, I had no room for it.
Thankyou, SaraO.... I'm not sure about the old fiddle though, it sound's great in person but when I record, sound's like i'm playing in a tin can.
I wish you luck in your restoration project.
TerryT,,, thankyou also..... and yes, I dove the Carrabean and lot's of Great Lake's ship wrecks. I 
ship wreck diving.
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Hey! Nice to meet You, Fiddlestix!
You are absolutely recognisable on the photo - haven't change a lot since then =)
As for me playing organ requires much more coordination than even the violin 
Really curious about You playing on it 
And sky diving 
- my dream!! You're so cool, Fiddlestix!!
King
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Naska,, thank you so much, but I got rid of the organ many year's ago and haven't jumped in awhile either. I still have a piano, guitar, two ukelele's and two fiddles. Only playing violin now.
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LOL! You got rid of organ .... Wait, .... Do You mean it was RIGHT IN YOUR HOME
?? How much levels did it take in the house? I think i don't understand something... XD
King
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Naska, I sold the organ when I sold the home my mom lived in after she passed away. The organ was in her living room, I didn't have room for it in my home because I already had a piano. 
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I'm taking a guess here for the sake of Naska's sanity 
Fiddlestix organ might have been like this?
instead of this?
No matter which size it was, I'm sure it's quite an experience to play the organ, do you have some old pictures of you playing it?
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
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Ha, yes. Unless Fiddlestix mother lived in one helllova house!
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
King
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No, actually, NV, it looked like this, but I did have a chance to buy the old pipe organ in Orchestra Hall in the early 70's. One of my uncle's who was vice president of General Motor's of Canada called me one night and asked if I was interested in a pipe organ for $500.00. General Motor's contracted him out to the "Rebuild Detroit Committee" at that time, he was in charge or raising money for the fund.
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Sweet!
Abd thanks, NV! You saved my sanity =)
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Five strings and a bow!
how the hell would we be able to control all those keys, knobs and buttons?
my hat comes off to anyone who can play one of those beasties!!
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
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Mad_Wed said
Sweet!Abd thanks, NV! You saved my sanity =)
Naska, I think we were already too late! 
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
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TerryT said
Mad_Wed said
Sweet!Abd thanks, NV! You saved my sanity =)
Naska, I think we were already too late!
Damn! You're right! 
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Ken,
fancy getting your hands on one of these?
I was looking for some piano accompaniment to go with my "Air on the G string" practice.........
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
King
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That's quite the pipe organ, I can't even imagine playing something like that. Wouldn't it be nice to play violin in that church? Would be awesome acoustics, even a cheapo fiddle would sound good in there.
Thank's for sharing that, i'm impressed with that piper. Just wondering how to reach the top keyboard, with out standing up. All the knobs, button's and switche's are mind boggling. 
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Always loved your story Ken; you've got a LOT to share with us!
Btw, what a dapper lad you were, lol, I think I had that same outfit when I was 8; plaid was mighty fine back then.
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Enjoyed reading the interview, Fiddlestix. Even though you had to give up your early violin training, I'm sure it helped you to play as well as you do now. The old photo is priceless!
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