Helen
Cornelius
Kurt L Moore
Helen
Cornelius, is just as talented as she is beautiful. She is one
of the most talented singers ever to grace a stage anywhere. She
holds her audiences with a haunting, earth-toned,
warm personality that makes the stage seem brighter than
any spotlight could ever achieve.
Born
Helen Lorene Johnson, she is the consummate country girl, who
grew up as a native Missourian, won three times on the “Ted Mack
Amateur Hour,” won CMA “Country Duo of the Year” twice with Jim
Ed Brown and went on to become loved by every life she has
touched. Helen is special. She has an inner peace that is hard
for most people to understand. Helen stands on rarified ground,
having morals, integrity and character that is so lacking in
today’s world.
Here
in her own words, is Helen.
Kurt:
“Helen, tell me and all your other fans about your early years.”
Helen:
“I was born in Hannibal, Mo, the next to youngest of 8 children.
My father, Joseph Johnson, was a fireman on the old Burlington
Railroad. When I was 6 months old, he was injured and had to
take permanent disability being told that he would never walk
correctly again. One leg ended up shorter than the other
one. He and my mother Luelsie, moved us to a small farm south of
Hannibal, Mo. Daddy did finally walk, but I can still remember
seeing him fall down behind the hand plow he was tilling the
garden with, while an old mule was pulling it. They barely eked
out a living for us. We spent our childhood virtually in the
trees, picking and eating every kind of wild fruit imaginable.
We did the same in the fields, eating blackberries, wild
strawberries, gooseberries—anything that momma could can to get
us through the winter, after all of the garden supplies were
gone. I would not trade my childhood for any amount of money. I
became so connected to the outdoors, it’s beauty—the peace one
can find while just being aware of the trees, the wildflowers—a
wonderful, precious gift from God. I was the tomboy of
the girls. My brothers made a tree house, (nothing but some
boards to sit on), in a big old cedar tree in our front yard.
When momma would call us to “supper,” as we knew the evening
meal to be, she always looked up in that tree, knowing where I
would be.”
Kurt:
“Helen, do you have early memories of music being played in your
home.”
Helen:
“Daddy loved music and he had a great voice. Momma sounded a
little more like Edith of the Archie Bunker show, but they took
us to every contest and radio show close to our Missouri home.
Judy was 7 and I was 5 and we were hard to beat because no one
wants to follow little kids or animals. So we won most of the
talent contests we were in. Sister Sharon then joined with us
and for awhile we were the trio, Johnson Sisters. Judy swears to
this day, that when I was 5, we were singing on a local radio
show where Hank Williams Sr. was doing an interview and was the
special guest. She says that I was pouting (I know that cannot
be true—I would never have pouted!) Anyway,
she remembers him picking me up and sitting me on his knee and
whispering something in my ear. She says that I got down, smiled
and agreed then to sing, never ever sharing what he whispered in
my ear. Jett Williams, Hank’s daughter, is one of my best
friends. I tell her that I now remember what he whispered to me.
He said, “I want you to have all of the royalties to
Kawliga!!”** I don’t think she buys that...Ha! Judy married and
left home when I was 14, so our singing together stopped then.”
Kurt:
“What happened then?”
Helen:
“After graduation from high school, when I was 17 years old, I
moved to Hannibal, Mo. where I worked as a secretary for two
years. I met my husband while working at that business and
married him when I was 18 years old. We had three children and I
was a mother of three by the time I was 22 years old. I loved
that time in my life.”
Kurt:
“When did your professional life begin to take off?”
Helen:
“I started writing songs in the early 70’s and was lucky enough
to get a recording contract with Columbia Records. The songs
that I wrote and that were recorded by me were a bit premature
for where country music was at that time. About a year later, in
late 1975, I landed a recording contract with RCA records.
Before they were able to do anything with my career as a single,
Chet Atkins found the song, “I Don’t Want To Have To Marry
You.” Believing it to be a monster hit, they called and asked
me to fly down to Nashville the next week, (June of 1976), to
record the song with Jim Ed Brown. We actually met in the
studio, not knowing if our voices would even blend. The rest is
history.”
Kurt:
“Is that when things really started for you?”
Helen:
“Well, three months later, that song was #1 in the nation.. I
flew back to Nashville, made my first appearance on the Grand
Old Opry, then recorded the album “I Don’t Want To Have to Marry
You.” From there, I flew to Dallas, Texas to film 13 television
shows as a regular on “Nashville on the Road,” with Jim Ed
Brown, Jerry Clower and 12 year old Wendy Holcombe. That show
continued through 1980, with re-runs continuing into 1981.”
“After
embarking on my own career in 1981, I toured with Conway Twitty
through 1982. I virtually worked non-stop on the road, being
booked as a guest on virtually every television show that booked
country entertainers. I was booked regularly on “Nashville Now”
with Ralph Emery.”
Kurt:
“What would you consider the highpoint of your career?”
Helen:
“There are many highpoints in my career. I sang the National
Anthem at so many major events, the biggest one was at the Coca
Cola 500 race in Atlanta, Ga. before 85,000 race car fans. I
presented the winning trophy to Bill Elliot for winning that
race. I toured as the lead in “Annie Get Your Gun,” in 1984,
with Dave Rowland playing my beau, Frank Butler. That tour
lasted four months and then I toured with the Statler Brothers
through 1986.”
“I
have had such a wonderful career, having worked with almost
every entertainer—every state fair and coliseum—meeting fans
that have become like family to me through the years.”
“I
loved working at my own dinner theater in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
It gave me a chance to be so close to the people and I made
“forever” friends during that period in my life. I continued in
theater work along with individual touring dates through May of
2003. That’s when I decided to just do dates on the road, taking
a break from 6 days a week in a theater.”
Kurt:
“What are you doing now?”
Helen:
“I work at venues by myself and with Jim Ed Brown. I am now in
rehearsals for a new musical “Could It Be Love”, starring
Jeannie Seely and myself. We are having so much fun and the cast
is wonderful. We will be doing the musical next year at various
theaters across the country as well as our regular country
shows.”
“It
seems like my career has been such a whirlwind and gone so
fast...but then, doesn’t life!!”
Kurt:
“Has there been anything lacking in your personal or
professional life?”
Helen
: “If I could do things over, I most certainly would have had
pictures taken with all of my entertainer friends and have me
the biggest scrapbook ever. I regret not having pictures with
Minnie Pearl, Roy Acuff, and on and on. I think we all look back
and think “would have, should have, could have,” but then I
would not be molded into this person I am today had I made other
choices.”
Kurt:
“Helen Cornelius, when the last curtain has been called, the
last guitar strummed and the last song sung, how do you want
people to remember you?”
Helen:
“I have been so blessed with friends and fans throughout my
life. When it comes time to remember me, I hope they can say
that she was kind, she used her God given talents to bring joy
to her brothers and sisters in Christ and she loved the Lord and
tried to help people along the way. So many young people have
confided in me through the years. I pray that I have given them
the right advice and helped them find their way through some
growing pains, tough times, etc.”
“Yes,
I have been blessed!”
Kurt:
“I would say you really have.”
Editor’s Note: **Hank Williams and Fred Rose wrote “Kawliga.” It
was recorded in 1952, and remains as one of Hank’s most
successful recordings.
Photo
compliments of Helen Cornelius and Helen Cornelius.com
Copyright © 2004-Kurt L. Moore-All rights reserved.
klmoore@earthlink.net
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