Buckwheat, the Singing Dog
The dog that gave Pavarotti a run for his money.
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printSeveral days later a representative from a Martinsburg, West Virginia, television station phoned. Could Buckwheat and I appear on their talk show? I thought my sons would do a better job, but the station manager insisted on me. My personal apprehension about appearing on television was diminished by my great concern as to how Buckwheat would respond. There was no guarantee how he would act under the lights. Suppose he barked, or worse yet, suppose he wouldn’t do anything?
I should have refused the offer, but the boys were high-fiving and jumping all over the place at the prospect of having Buckwheat on TV. I couldn’t let everyone down just because of my misgivings. At least I had the presence of mind to insist that they tape a video of “the singing dog”before the live show...just in case.
My television interview went well. Buckwheat didn’t bark at anyone. But Buckwheat proved himself to be a temperamental tenor and refused to sing. I was glad we had the video backup. Buckwheat’s television career ended in Martinsburg.
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However, our local radio station must have been hard up for programming. To this day, I still don’t know where my brain was when I agreed to pick up the phone and go on the air with Buckwheat. I had no desire for the community to know how flat I could sing “Happy Birthday.” But I sang—solo. Buckwheat refused to perform.
I couldn’t understand why Buckwheat was so provincial. Why didn’t he want to share his talent with the world? Why was he so uncooperative? My opinion of him flagged. I hadn’t expected him to provide income for the family, but I thought he could have been more responsive. I was disappointed. However, Buckwheat was a wonderful part of our family for fourteen years.
One evening, several years after his death, John, the boys’ guitar teacher, stopped by. We all gathered around the kitchen table, reminiscing. I mentioned that I never did understand why Buckwheat would sing only for us.
It was John who put things in a different perspective. John, who sought fame and fortune with his music...who worked menial jobs to have more time to polish his stage performance...John, who wanted more than anything to be a successful musician...it was John who understood.
John explained that there are many who have talent and who want to reach the top, to be a star, to bask in the adulation of others. But there are very few who, like Buckwheat, have a gift that they enjoy sharing only with the ones they truly love. They don’t need the praise of the rest of the world.
I think John was right. Buckwheat didn’t need the limelight. He was content to share his talent with his family and friends, down on the farm. And how blessed we were to have had a singing dog!
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Excerpted from Phyllis Hobe's Angels in Disguise, ©2009 by Guideposts.
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Your Comments (12)
I loved this story. What a wonderful way to start my day at work.
Did she ever make a youtube video of Buckwheat singing?
This reminds me of a pet beagle named Sammie that was in our family when I was a youngster. When we sang, "Old McDonald Had a Farm" he would sing along with us (more like a howl with the typical neck and head extended upward). We kids thought it was hilarious but our parents didn't appreciate it. One incident will remain forever in my mind of three little kids standing on top of the dining room table singing to the top of our lungs accompanied by Sammie and our parents suddenly appearing out of the bedroom very upset that their only time to sleep in had been interrupted by such a scene. I couldn’t figure out for the longest time what we had done wrong but look back on it now after sixty some years and have to smile just picturing the scene.
There should have been a video with this story of the dog singing. I looked every where for it ;)
This reminds me of a song the finches in our backyard responded to. A neighbor had gotten a bluegrass tape that had a song called, A Bed By The Window. I don't remember who the artists were. The song was about a man who was dying and his bed was by the window. Sometimes my ex would take a little tape player out when he sat on the back porch and play tapes. We noticed that when he played this tape and this song came on all the finches on the feeder would stop eating and turn and stare at the porch. As soon as the song stopped they would turn back to their eating. This is the only song they responded to ever. We tried other tapes and other types of music. They ignored them all. My mother was here once to visit and got to see this. She was just amazed that they responded like they did to that one song.
You have to wonder what it is about certain songs that would affect an animal in this way. One of the wonders we will probably never know.
I found Bed by the Window on MP3Rocket and also found it on youtube by Tony Melendiz. You can find it too.
Indeed, a VERY good story! Thank you for sharing it, Mary Alice. I, too wish there was a video. I promise, you, it would have brought a RECORD number of "hits" on ITunes, in
the millions!! But, just to know of this awesome canine
is wonderful for anyone's mundane moments. Truly, a GIFT
from God, Who loves to bless His children - everywhere.
We had a b/w Cocker named "Willy," after my Dad, William
'Guy' who would bark at buses, trucks, semis, any LARGE
vehicle when we took him on errands with us. One time, I
decided to take Willy with me on a trip to the Hudson
Valley, to pick up my Son from Culinary school. I was sure
he would keep me alert along the hiways of this long
trip, barking at the great numbers of semis. Good idea?
Well, not to Willy - he laid on the bench seat behind me
(van) and did not utter a sound the WHOLE trip!! I later
"figured out" why......Elizabeth was not with us.
I Love this.
And Just Like BuckWheat....
I Love to Stand by the BR Windows Looking Out @ the much Loved Wooded Yard and Sing My Praises to God.
My Gift is Song Writing Christian Songs.
"It's not what you are, but what you don't become that hurts."
~ Oscar Levant
<3
What a sweet story!
I wish there would have been a video of him singing after reading the article. Looked online and didn't find one.
What a wonderful story. I've never had a singing dog before, but had parakeets who loved Dean Martin.
About 10 years ago, I was listening to music while I was on the computer. Behind me, on the bed in the spare room, were my four parakeets, two to a cage.
No matter what music I put on, they would just go about their business, chattering, preening, etc.
A few seconds after putting "Dean Martin's Greatest Hits" CD in the drive, however, I realized the birds were silent. I turned around, and all four of them were on their perches, perfectly still, looking towards my computer.
I muted the sound, and they went back to chattering. I turned it back up and, sure enough, they went silent again.
Dean Martin's music was the only music they would listen to.
This is such a sweet and unique story. It brings to mind our dog Whiskers. There never was a more loyal, loving, feisty little dog. He learned to talk to us. When we would come home from an outing, the kids would run up to the house shouting "Hello, Whiskers" and he learned to respond, "Ro- Rooooo" and then bark, of course. He would try to mimic their talk to him. If there really could be time travel, I would go back in time to visit him! Thank you for sharing this.