HELEN SCHRAMM

Mother of Dave Schramm

I think he always wanted to be a musician. When he was two, we had a washing machine with the window on the front and he would prop himself up against the wall and watch it go around and round. I guess that was his first association with rhythm! And then when he was 8, he formed his own band. He played guitar and a little bit of clarinet and his friends played trombone and coronet ... oh, it was so gawdawful!

Was your family involved in music?

His grandfather was an orchestra leader and made records for Columbia and Okeh. And I played guitar with my father's orchestra for a time. There was always music around the house so he kinda grew up with it. But he was in a lot of things beside music. He did cub scouts, little league, but when he got into high school, it was strictly music and theater. He was into designing theater sets. We'd be having dinner at the table and he'd get up and run upstairs because he'd have something in his head he wanted to write down...he also constructed guitars when he was in college. And he baked bread. He wrote a beautiful symphony and it was recorded by the town's symphony orchestra. He played the organ and the piano, the recorder, guitar.

Have you been able to see the Schramms?

No, because we live in Las Vegas. The only time I've seen him play with his band was at his own wedding. Of course I sat there with tears in my eyes. I do listen to all their records, though.

Is there something you think fans of the Schramms should know about Dave that they might not otherwise?

He's an all-around great guy, laid back ... And everyone is so fond of him. Everybody that meets him thinks he's great. I know in all the jobs he's had, employers have called me and told me how wonderful he is and I have to agree!