Littlejohn to play Trinity

Littlejohn to play Trinity

Free community concert from local veteran, pianist this Sunday

news@theeveningtimes.com You may not recognize him under this hat. Many know Mickey Littlejohn as the Crittenden County Veterans Service office or the VFW. If you’ve been around for a while you might remember him from insurance salesman or his police work. But this Sunday afternoon Littlejohn will be tickling the ivories at Trinity in the Fields Anglican Church just across from the county courthouse square in Marion.

Amazingly, the pianist from Shell Lake Baptist Church learned to play by ear. From the beginning, he fingered his way through songs so well he never sensed the need to read music. Instead, Littlejohn memorizes the lyrics and the piano accompaniment. Littlejohn is set to perform a wide array of music.

He plays what he likes to hear. What else would a musician that plays by ear do?

The Vietnam era vet started off mimicking songs he heard on the radio. He was captivated by early rock and roll, classic country gospel, rhythm and blues and all the sounds from around Memphis in the 50’s. He started banging out the melodies on his sister’s piano after she became frustrated trying to teach him to play. The joy in the music served as incentive to stick to it until he mastered the variety.

“I was interested enough in the music enough to figure it out,” said Littlejohn of his determination and persistence.

His stop at Trinity in the Fields church isn’t his first go round at the rodeo. In fact, Littlejohn twice played at Gilley’s club made famous by the mechanical bull ride and John Travolta in the movie Urban Cowboy.

Littlejohn plans to perform songs from the variety of genre’s he has conquered this Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.

Given the spectrum of songs he knows, don’t be surprised to a hear a little southern gospel fluttering off the keys, reverberating around the sanctuary in a sweet offering of praise.

Pastor Horace Tipton and the church at 100 Military Rd.

open the door to the public for the free concert for the second in a fall series. The event is co-sponsored by DeltaARTS, the Marion Chamber of Commerce and the Marion A& P.

By John Rech