Meet Bess Klain -- The Woman Behind the Character of Miss Hastings!
In 1990, when Bess Klain was interviewed by the Oxford Hills Oral History Project for this recording, she was already 88-years-old and a living legend in western Maine. A music teacher in the Norway (Maine) schools for nearly forty years and a private instructor before that, the late Miss Klain inspired hundreds -- if not thousands -- of children with her infectious laugh, encouraging words, and celebrated talent. One of those kids she inspired was Soveriegn Series author Jennifer Wixson. As a result, when Jennifer created the wonderful world of Sovereign, Maine in 2012, populated by good-hearted residents, she "borrowed" Bess Klain's character for one of her most beloved characters, the retired music teacher Miss Hastings.
In conjunction with the publication of The Songbird of Sovereign in July 2014, White Wave remastered this recording onto CD so that fans of the series could listen to their favorite character play the piano, sing and laugh and talk about important things like loving children, teaching and family. White Wave is donating $5 from the sale of every copy of "God Has Been Good to Me" to the Norway Unitarian-Universalist Church, the church to whom Bess Klain -- like Miss Hastings in The Songbird of Sovereign -- donated her Steinway grand piano upon her passing.
Some of the songs Miss Klain plays and sings include: More Than You Know, In the Good Old Summertime, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, and Memories of You. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy 80 minutes of wit, wisdom, music, and laughter with musician and inspiration extraordinaire -- Bess Klain.
$14.95. $3 shipping/handling (NOTE: CD will appear in your cart when you click on the "Add to cart" button above.)
Our heartfelt thanks to the Oxford Hills Oral History Project for preserving this musical treasure, and our gratitude to the Klain family for the use of the B&W photograph of 15-year-old Bess that graces the cover of the CD and The Songbird of Sovereign.
