Clyde1

My father, Conard Pellom, shall I say, was absent from the family, and detained for a period of time. That left my mother and older sisters to fend for the rest of us for about six months. One way they made money was to turf bedspreads. Clyde's father, Reece Beavers, for a while was connected with a company in Dalton where he obtained spreads with patterns on them and thread, which he dropped off around the country-side for people like my mother and sisters to "turf" the spreads. He would return for the finished products and leave the family more work to do while he was gone.The chenille industry was in its infancy then in Dalton. It eventually morphed into a world leader in carpet and rug manufacturing. In those days it was rather common to see bedspreads waving in the wind on the sides of highway 41, which had a pretty good flow of northern people passing through on their way to Florida.

My grandfather, John Simpson Pellom, with whom Clyde and I are connected, was born in 1848 so far in the mountains that there was no school for him to attend. The irony in it is that his father was a lawyer, and inconveniently married to someone other than his mother. Anyway, Grandpa would smile down on Clyde's accomplishments, and some others descending from him, that I will write about a little later. ~ Ben

A little about Clyde: Clyde was raised in the Tennga, GA (TN-GA State line, U. S.hwy. 411). He grew up with less than a chance at life, but in spite of the obstacles that would surely confront a young, unprepared boy trying to make a way for himself, he struck out to find a way out of the abject poverty, like so many of us in this region experienced in our younger lives. Clyde related to me that he remembered seeing his Dad leave home and family for the T.B. sanitorium. The family had one solitary dime to send with his dad. In time Clyde's mother would also succomb to T.B., leaving the kids in a desperate situation. Relatives and friends helped care for them. In time Clyde, a man named Tommy Peden and a couple more guys, played music each Saturday on the Otis Head Radio Show, WBLJ, Dalton, GA; He worked as a disk jockey at a radio station in Calhoun, GA. Clyde got his first recording contract with Mercury Records, and began playing the Georgia Jubilee Show in Atlanta, GA. Later on he scored a "hit" record with Decca Records. At that point he and Otis came up with the idea for Clyde to ride a mule all the way from Dalton, GA to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. The plan worked to Clyde's advantage as it prompted the disk jockeys in Nashville to talk about about him days in advance of his arrival, giving his progress daily as he made his way toward the Opry - every Country singer's dream. The man, Otis Head, who helped Clyde get his start all those many years ago, believe it or not, at age 91, is still doing his Gospel Bluegrass Radio Show in Datlton, GA on WTTI Radio. As it turns out, Otis and I became friends several years ago. Through that friendship I found that he figures in my family's story: Many years back Otis decided to tell his life's story, a little each week on his Radio Show. To hear him talk about an episode involving my father, Conard Pellom, click the following link:

I am sorry to say that Otis is now deceased. His story will live on because I have placed quite a bit of information about him on this website.

CLICK HERE for information about Otis.

Take a listen to Clyde singing "My Friend's Friend." In my opinion this song is the best "cheating" song of all time - maybe the best Country song of all time. From the CD "Clyde Beavers Sings Love And Hurting Songs." ~ Ben

I am sory to announce that Clyde passed away February 29, 2015. Clyde was an interesting and accompolished person who was mindful of God and his family and friends. I only wish I could have known him longer.

Learn more about Clyde's legacy at: www.LaymanLessons.org

www.MoonShineOn.com