In the late 1950s while I was a student at Tulane in New Orleans, I hosted the iconic evening radio program on WWL-AM called, "American Airlines Music 'til Dawn." My studio was in a furniture store's show window on Royal Street.
About four blocks away, a young talent named Al Hirt was entertaining nightly with his group at Dan's Pier 600, on the corner of Bourbon and St. Louis.
I loved Al's group's music, so I frequently wandered in there after my radio show for a drink. Sometimes I would be invited to sit in on the piano for a couple of tunes. I loved doing that. But the group's pianist, Ronnie Dupont was much better than I.
There was a very attractive and sweet young blond lady who worked there. She was my age. Her name was Evelyn Hughey, and it didn't take me long to develop a major crush on her. When I played the piano, I was secretly showing off for her. After all, I thought, my rendition of "Little Rock Get Away" was star quality.
Our acquaintance never developed into anything more than as good friends. I moved on, Evelyn stayed in New Orleans.
Some years later, I asked about Evelyn and was told that they thought she had married either a policeman or fireman.
Some years after that, I asked another person about Evelyn. This time the answer was that they had heard she had died in childbirth.
Every Christmas for almost 40 years, I've thought about Evelyn Hughey, and been unhappy that I don't have a definitive answer as to how her life turned out.
I even contacted Dan Levy, who had owned the club but by then lived in Baton Rouge. He said he didn't know; he wasn't even sure he remembered Evelyn.
"She was Rachel Cooper's sister. You remember Rachel. She was the clarinet player, Harold Cooper's wife," I said in utter exasperation.
"Vaguely," Dan said. And he didn't remember me either, although he had tutored me in calculus for an entire semester ... Dan was a West Point graduate.
Louisiana's death records are not public, so I've been unable to search them for my answer.
I found a photo of a New Orleans cemetery tombstone through an Internet search. It said "Evelyn Hughey Conrad." If that was she, she died before she was 24. Oh, gee, I hope not.
My dad had an attorney in New Orleans who took care of legal issues involving property he had in the state. Even the lawyer was unable to find out what became of Evelyn.
There are some things that ought not to be kept a secret. Whether a person is dead or alive is one of them.
I hope Evelyn is both alive and well, and that her life has been full of God's blessings.
BILL CHERRY, REALTORS
DALLAS - HIGHLAND PARK
Our 45th Year
214 503-8563
Bill,
I've had a similar experience as well; trying to look up lost loves or lives. Sometimes I didn't like what I found.ometimes it's better just to keep the memory.
Bill, Wouldn't it be funny if she were a REALTOR? On AR? Keep looking! :-)