Throughout their long career, The CROOK BROTHER'S String band touched virtually every major City and rural community in the United States and Canada, with the traditional sound of middle Tennessee's old time music broadcasting from the GRAND OLE OPRY every Saturday on WSM radio in the 1920's until 1988 Herman also had an uncle that lived in Dekalb County, Tennessee who was an important influence. "He was one of the best buck and wing dancer you ever saw recalled Herman". and he could sing. He had a voice. It would sound so lonesome, almost a mournful sound. he sang all these old songs, some would go back a hundred years or so. One of my Favorites was 'Put My Little Shoes Away.' He had a cylinder recorder that you cranked by hand, with a large horn or speaker on it and he would play that song on the recorder and sing with it. I listened to a lot of his music and learned a great deal from him." As a young man Herman worked at a variety of jobs in Nashville. Soon he was married, and his wife joined him in music making. She could play the piano and guitar and backed Herman at local union halls and house dances in East Nashville. Like other musicians, the Crook were drawn to WDAD before WSM radio opened and played there for weeks before the barn Dance program started. After a time, Matthew joined Herman and the brothers organized a band that included their twin harmonica sound, two guitars and a banjo. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA Li