Family band reunites for special concert
One band in Cass County has an almost unmatchable advantage. The Tyson family has been singing and playing together for 40 years. Few can say that.
“Music was all around us, guitars in every room, and we played nearly every weekend until the sun went down,” said Mary Tyson of the family experience she and her late husband, Charles Tyson, provided at their home in Atlanta.
“It was our recreation. All the family would come over, and we’d play.We didn’t have much else,” Mary said.
Many of the 40 years were spent on Saturday nights at the Huffines Community Center, where the Tysons would play for fun and food.
‘The people were good and so was the food,” Mary said.
Last week, the center held a special performance to bring back the Tyson band as a family, something that hasn’t occurred for several years now since band plays elsewhere, and Mary has been recovering from a shoulder injury resulting from a fall.
The band played to a full house at the community center—70 people or more. Four generations of Tysons were there— three playing in the band while the fourth, 4-year-old Elizabeth Boyd, slept in the laps of family and friends.
Mary’s son Wade led the band as he does the popular Captain Joe Band, which plays all over the county. Matthew Boyd and Paul Tyson played guitars while Beth Tyson and Katy Boyd sang, and Becky Tyson played the unusual drum instrument called the cajon. Mary Tyson sang songs, too.
The band has a way of making an accomplished, effortlessly beautiful sound.
“I think it’s how we play together and know what each other is going to do,” said Paul Tyson. “After all, I’m 46 now and have been doing this 40 years.”
The Tyson family’s first-time back would have to be called a success. The audience applauded before, during and after the songs.