Introducing Walt

Walt Brown has been the husband of Susan for the past forty years, father of two sons, Jason (Penny) and Chad (Clara) and grandfather to four, Alex, Levi, Noah and Celena. Walt retired as an Elementary School Principal, and is now a fast talking Auctioneer employed by Wilson Harvey Auction Group.

Walt and Sue have lived in the Springfield, Ohio area for the past seventeen and one half years, attending the same church all that time. I met Walt, after beginning to attend the same church and he brought me into the group. Walt plays Mandolin and sings bass, harmony and lead for HomeBound. He's been involved in some type of music since he was eight years old, taking up the Mandolin at age fifty-five. He's living proof; you 'can' teach an old dog some new tricks.

Walt was raised in Gallia County, near the village of Vinton, Ohio. He attended Rio Grande College (University now) and Ohio State University. He worked in the field of education for thirty years and has the scars to prove it. He counts it a privilege to be a part of HomeBound and hopes he can use the talent God has given to him, to serve God through Bluegrass Gospel music.

Walt has also written a couple of the songs we sing and we're proud to sing and play with him.

Meet Eldon

Born February 28, 1924 in Corbin Kentucky, Eldon Roaden at 84 is the oldest member of HomeBound. Eldon worked as an over the road Truck Driver, and retired after fifty years of ‘hangin’ onto that steerin’ wheel’. Now living in South Charleston, Ohio with his "Lady of Ladies" Delores. Married forty-seven years and devoted to each other, they have four children, eleven grand children and three great grand children. Eldon is also a Navy Veteran of World War II.

In 1981 Eldon made a life changing decision, making the Lord Jesus the center of his life. He tells us it felt as if a fire came down atop his head and burnt all the way down to his toes. In the church he still attends today, Eldon turned to his good friend Glen Cole and asked him to go to the altar with him. Glen had been witnessing to Eldon for years. Glen began praising the Lord as they walked to the altar where Eldon was saved that morning. Always ready to share his testimony and love for Jesus, Eldon has been serving the Lord since. Eldon has played guitar for 64 years and now plays and sings for His Lord and Savior.

Eldon’s interests are attending and serving his church, often caring for the lawn, helping with any project, ministering in nursing homes and doing anything that uplifts the name of the Lord. He enjoys being with his family and friends, playing music and giving God glory and praise.

Eldon is a valued friend to all of us in HomeBound, his church and especially his family and friends. I’m happy to introduce you to Eldon Roaden.

Meet Jim

After Walt Brown invited me to come to a practice, the second person I met was Jim Mayhugh. Jim has been a resident of this city for thirty-one years, after growing up in southern Ohio. His family played country and gospel music, with his grandmother (who played the accordion) at the center of their family band. His father, mother, several of his siblings and friends played and sang in the band. At times there were as many as thirteen. Jim was about ten years old when he began playing guitar and singing with them. He grew up believing every family met at grandma's house on Sundays after church to have lunch, and play music. Jim sings and plays guitar for HomeBound, but also plays mandolin and bass. He also writes some of the songs we play.

Raised in a Christian family, Jim has known Christ all his life. Baptized at thirteen, he feels he really came to know Jesus as his 'personal' Lord and Savior during an Emmaus walk in 1992. (Nearly all members of HomeBound have participated in an Emmaus Walk). Jim and all his family, Lisa, his wife of thirty-one years, their children; Whitney, Tyler and Baylee, are actively involved in both their church and the Emmaus community.

Jim is a recent retiree, now working to teach CPR and first aid and with another part time job. He is happy to have time to be an even bigger part of his children's lives. Daughter Whitney is a Registered Nurse, Son Tyler is in college, studying to be a teacher, while daughter Baylee is in Fifth grade and also wants to be a teacher.

Jim loves to play music and entertain folks. Involved in two projects for the Emmaus community... he and another fellow portray Laurel and Hardy in comedy skits and, with the aid of his 'bodyguards', he does a pretty convincing Elvis impersonation (in a comedic fashion). Jim enjoys working with wood in his work shop, fishing and hunting (especially enjoys deer hunting). Among Jim's goals are; to minister to others in music and to promote and help others to get involved in music, so they can experience the enjoyment and fulfillment he has for more than forty years... and in doing so, be a blessing to someone along the way.

I'm proud to introduce you to Jim Mayhugh.

On Our Way!

We're on our way to completing our CD! Incredibly, we've had little trouble so far and with some tweaking, editing and overdubbing the final mix, I think we'll be happy with what we've 'laid down'. We've recorded eighteen songs and with God's help, we'll soon have our new project finished. We may have it ready by early to mid-summer. Keep prayin' for us, and for our efforts to bring glory to God... not to us. Remember, we don't have a price, but will accept your donation for our CDs.

We Did It!

We did it! We've had our first recording session for our newest CD project. Incredibly, we recorded nine songs the first day! We're well on our way to producing our next CD. We hope to have them available in just a few months. We're not quite as 'microphone shy' as we were last time, so I've no doubt our friendship, love of God and humor will be evident in our efforts. Please keep HomeBound in your prayers for this project.

HomeBound is in the Studio again!

We're preparing to record again! We'll begin recording for our next CD next week (we hope). We've already scheduled the first session three times and due to weather or not being able to have enough of us free at the same time, had to cancel. We've decided on enough songs to possibly make two CDs, not just one. Once again, we've decided to only ask for donations. In this way, we can record many of the songs we 'cover' from other artists. In this way, we can keep the cost of creating our CDs low. Our goal is to put the music celebrating Jesus and pointing the way to salvation through Him in as many hands as have a desire to hear us sing about Him. You'll hear the songs we sing during our appearances and worship services in local churches and, some of them have been written by our own members. We play all the music as well as sing every note. Our good friend Richard of the 'SOUNDS OF JOY' studio is our recording engineer.

Meet Glen

Glen 'Buddy' Cole plays banjo, guitar and mandolin for HomeBound and sings both lead and harmony. Glen is also the leader of the family band "The Cole Family" singing bluegrass and old time Gospel music. HomeBound is fortunate to have 'Buddy' among us, with his genuine love for people and deep love for Jesus. Glen has been married to Paulette for 45 years and they have 4 children, two sons and two daughters. Glen drove a 'big rig' for many years, entertaining other drivers and law enforcement with tunes on the harmonica over the CB radio. Now retired, his hobbies include singing, wood working, tinkering with all things mechanical (especially a 40's model Ford truck), fishing and his grandchildren. Of course his grandchildren are much more than a hobby to Glen and Paulette.

Buddy was born in Ohio, then raised in West Virginia, which is his 'down home'. He's played guitar for at least 53 years and can coax a tune out of most anything with strings as well as other instruments. I've seen him tickle the ivories. Buddy's faith and joyous spirit are freely shared at all times. He has a joy for living for Jesus that shows in his smile, the twinkle in his eyes and can be heard in his voice as he witnesses in sharing or singing.

Buddy and Wayne Smith (plays mandolin, guitar and sings with HomeBound and the Cole Family) began the nursing home ministry HomeBound now is a part of, at least 11 years ago. He's been a Christian for at least 35 years and a strong ally for Christ. Buddy is one of those men who lives the words of Saint Francis who said: "Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words."

I'm proud to introduce you to Glen 'Buddy' Cole!