by Drew Holmes Bleary eyed and not quite awake, I heard the phone buzzing on my nightstand. This was odd for two reasons — first, it was 6:00 am, an hour before my phone would exit night mode and start notifying me of new calls and messages. Second, it was…

by Drew Holmes Picking Sam up from kindergarten it was obvious that something was wrong. His teacher indicated that he had had a rough day, but was thin on details. Walking home with the enthusiasm of a kid preparing to receive a round of vaccinations, Sam was not eager to…

by Drew Holmes Harold was interested in music at an early age and his father nurtured this curiosity by gifting him a guitar at age 7. Piano and guitar lessons followed, and he enthusiastically learned to play, dreaming of someday becoming a star. While in school, he stumbled across a…

by Drew Holmes “I’ve decided. I’m not going to school today,” Timothy announced Monday morning. The previous day was his eighth birthday party, something he had eagerly anticipated for months. …

by Drew Holmes “We’re going to fall!” “Buddy, we’re going to be fine! Look at those animals to the left, and over there on the right! There’s an airplane inside the building!” “I can’t look, I’m too scared!” The conversation continued like this for a few more minutes as I…

by Drew Holmes Lester bolted upright in the passenger seat as he woke with a start. Hearing the driver of your car scream in panic will do that to you. It was January and he and his girlfriend Mary were traveling down Route 66 near Davenport, Oklahoma. Lester was running…

by Drew Holmes Bob was at a crossroads. His stepfather had moved his large family to Memphis from Mississippi after a run in with a lynch mob. The family was well off financially, as his stepfather was a landlord and furniture maker, but all the same it was time to…

By Drew Holmes Davie Jones was searching for an identity. In 1962, he started his first band, The Konrads, which played guitar-based rock for weddings and school events. …

by Drew Holmes After the performance, the violin soloist was approached by an enthralled audience member. “I’d give my life to play as beautifully as you do!” she gushed. “Madam,” he replied, “I did.” That story has been attributed to numerous virtuosos from Fritz Kreisler to Issac Stern, but regardless…