10+10 Fishermen against the wind. 20) Cecil Dill
Cecil Dill and his musical hands Ladies and gentlemen, number one!
Now, I truly ask anyone who has the fortune to stop and read (and listen) not to give in to the temptation to think this is a joke, a quip, a freak show, or a simple coup de théâtre. No, Cecil is truly the quintessence of what these priests of a minor Art represent, an art with a lowercase 'a.'
Cecil, the son of Jennie and William, farmers in a small hole called Traverse City, one fine day in 1913, coming back from school discovered he had an unexpected and unusual talent: his hands could play. At first, he played "Yankee Doodle" and then many more.
It took him thirty years, thirty years of study and perfection to make that gift a means to escape from that small hole of Traverse City and from that infamous job (while his father attempted to do something similar by opening a saloon).
And he succeeded: he ended up playing in Ted Weems' big band (one who wrote songs for Perry Como too) up in Chicago. Chronicles report that on more than one occasion, he was able to steal the spotlight from other soloists.
His television appearance in 1925 is commonly recognized as the first recorded performance of manualism.
Yes, because with Cecil, a musical category is born: manualism, indeed (and if you try searching for videos of some of them, you'll find some truly amazing things!).
It's a pity that most of Cecil's successors are content to be treated as carnival freaks or oddballs.
What a shame...
Look at him, Cecil, so serious and upright; 30 years of study and dedication to that unexpected gift that caught him there, as a young boy, in that small hole in the States.
I assure you, I have a small obsession with Cecil (I've even tried to contact some of his heirs...). There is very little information about him, but – sooner or later – I will be able to present him properly (this is a threat).
And who knows what he could have achieved if his health hadn't given him so many problems starting in the '60s.
Cecil lived long, but weakened and debilitated physically. Did he know that others were following in his footsteps? Did he continue to practice with his gift?
All I know is that he certainly was not celebrated as he should have been.
