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Classification: Query
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My mother , Juanita Sears Pullen (1919-1990) was an outstanding pianist for most of her
seventy plus years. She llived in the North Texas and the Tulsa area most all of her life.
She was a church pianist primarily until she chanced to meet the subject of this article,
Ms. "Starlight" Cady, in the summer of 1949 or 1950. They were introduced by a
common friend who knew that each of them were incredibly talented.
Mom had wanted to take organ lessons since the beginning of the availability of home
electronic organs like the Hammond, the Wurlitzer and the Conn, just before and
immediately after WWII. There was a problem: a lack of funds. In the late
"Forties", times were hard on young families and budgets were stretched to the
limit all the time.
As it turned out, both mom and Ms. Cady had "needs" that the other could
meet without much problem.
In her younger years (for twelve years) my mom had been taught by a teacher who was
beting taught (and later taught) at the old Fort Worth Conservatory. (It closed in 1962.)
Ms. Cady had done all of her piano preparatory and had graduated from the Chicago
Musical College with a diploma and piano and organ performance. She was a life member of
the Fort Worth Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
So, mom wanted organ lessons and Ms. Cady didn't drive and had to play almost
seven days a week to "make ends meet".
My mom agreed to take over several regular "performances" for Ms. Cady (to
give her more time with her family) and take her various places during the week. In
exchange, Ms. Cady gave mom two forty-five minute organ lessons a week twice a month for
several years. In 1955, on the recommendations of Ms. Cady and other area organists,
Juanita Lavelle Sears Pullen was made a member of the A.G.O. as well.
Ms. Cady and my mother could both play either with or without music; by memory. At
one of the "Home Shows" in Fort Worth's Will Rogers Complex in the early
fifties,. mom and Ms. Cady took turns playing two hours a piece for fourteen hours and
shared the fee awarded for their joint performances.
Ms. Cady lived with her mother, her own daughter and son in a house on Strong St. in
the "Polytechnic" neighborhood of Fort Worth for probably ten to twelve years.
Sometime after 1970, the connection was broken between my mom and Ms. Cady. Mom thought
she had moved to California but never recieved any confirmation.
Fort Worth Press columnist, Jack Gordon kew "Star" (He called her that al
the time) very well and both were good friends socially. When asked once about
"Star", he said that she had retired from performiong and moved to California
for medical treatment.
I am fairly certain that Ms. Cady is deceased.
I would like to be connected with anyone, relative or friend, who knew
"Starlight" Cady and knows where she might have spent her final years and where
she is buried. Thanks in advance..
Richard Pullen/Fort Worth txgmajor(a)pullenfamily.net