Alexa Dee Crooks
Cedar Chopper Serenades
performed by:
Alexa Dee Crooks
"Back in the 1940s, my Granny grew up with her family living in tents in the hills of Central Texas chopping cedar posts, and also picking cotton, pecans, and peaches. I call my Granny Mama bc she raised me. I grew up with all her amazing stories and beautiful songs she learned as a girl around the camp fire in the cedar breaks. They range from Ballads hundreds of years old from the British Isles, Appalachian mountain ballads, traditional American folk songs, old cowboy songs, and popular songs from the 1800s-1940s. In Mama's family, kids got their first ax at the ripe old age of 7 years, and were expected to keep it oiled and razor sharp at all times. Before then, she had many years picking experience of all types but cedar was the best money by far. Her Mama grew up in a covered wagon living the same lifestyle. They were tough as nails and sharp as tacks. Not people you'd wanna do wrong but they also really knew how to have a good time, especially since they had plenty of moonshine to drink." Alexa Dee Crooks
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Clyde and Ruby Dee Crooks
ButtonAlexa Dee's great grandparents
Little Blossom
Little Blossom is a ballad that came from the British Isles, over the Appalachian mountains all the way to Central Texas. In the original version, the last verse warns listeners of the evils of alcohol. I'm not sure if my family ever knew the verse, or just simply ignored it as they were expert moonshiners.
Two Little Orphans
Two Little Orphans came from the British Isles, over the Appalachian mountains all the way to Central Texas.
