To many of you, Gladys Wade Dillard may not be a recognizable name. Hopefully, this story will show you that her life is a song worth singing.

    
Gladys Dillard was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she studied voice and piano at the Hamilton-Toronto Conservatory. She would eventually relocate to Detroit and continue her musical education at the Detroit Conservatory of Music. An opportunity to become an assistant music teacher at Cass Technical High School would be the beginning of an impressive musical journey. She would then move on to a teaching position at the Bertha Hansbury School of Music.

    
In the 1930s, Dillard began giving music lessons to neighborhood children in her home. Virtually every youngster who studied piano or voice in Conant Gardens studied at some point in their musical career with her. She took great pride in her students’ accomplishments.

    
There was a time when a 7-year-old student would always jazz up and improvise his practice exercises, causing Dillard to become very upset. She eventually had to ask his parents to “please see that Tommy practices the music as it is written!” That young student would become one of her prized students, internationally famous, Tommy Flanagan.

    
Later, Dillard moved the music lesson from her home to small studio she established on Milo Street in the Conant Gardens area. A few years later, she would expand and relocate to 2760 E. Forest Ave. This school would become the Community Music School. It would also become the first of its kind to be licensed by the State Board of Education. Under her direction it was also approved by the State Board of Control for Vocational Education and approved for the Veterans G.I. Bill to give accredited certificates and diplomas.  In 1948, she joined the Wayne University faculty as a piano instructor and in 1963, the Community Music School became an affiliate of the university.

    
Gladys was married to Jesse Lee Dillard and had four children, Bernice, Anna, Aaron and Yvonne. Her boundless energies led her to become involved in an array of community organizations. She began with a brass band, a swing master band, the Etude Music Club, the Sharps and Flats Club and harpensemble. This fine lady is gone but her fruits of labor and dedication are everlasting.

    
Speaking of music, I am constantly asked how I am enjoying my retirement. What retirement? I have always had so many irons in the fire that the only job I retired from was that wonderful God-blessed 30 years as the lead vocalist for the Detroit Police Blue Pigs band, which is still a force in the Metro Detroit area. And my good friend and original guitar player, Charlie Henley, is still there after 36 years. Keep up the good work, Blue Pigs!

    
That never was a job, it was a blessing and I still perform and everyone still calls me “Mr. Blue Pig.” Which leads me to a special original song called “The Crime Prevention Blues.”

    
“It was Friday at lunch time, I was diggin’ my check. After adding my deductions, I said this can’t be correct.

    
“Dryin’ my tears, made my way to the bank. After leavin’ the teller, my mind went blank. As I walked out the door, I was countin’ my green. Then I noticed some dudes, and they were lookin’ real mean.

    
“Then they walked up on me and I said, ‘What’s goin’ down?’ One pulled out the pistol and said, ‘Give it up, clown.’ Then they left with my money and got that and my pride. To make matters worse, they drove off with my ride.

    
“I called the police and they heard my appeal. They said you need crime prevention, I said  ‘Come on, be for real.’ I walked to my house and was a little weak-kneed. When I opened the front door, my house had been B&E’d.

    
“Well, I finally got hip and I started checkin’ it out. Now I use crime prevention and there ain’t no doubt. On my payday, I don’t mess with my check. It’s automatic deposit in my account by direct.

    
“Started lockin’ my doors on my new set of wheels. When they try to break in my car, I got an alarm that sends off a squeal. If they go for my house they will find a surprise. Locked windows and doors and neighborhood eyes.

    
“If we all work together, this crime we can stop. With unity in the community, we can win this fight against crime, block after block.”

    
Words of wisdom: Musically speaking, as you travel down the highway of life. If you always C sharp, your life will never B flat.”

    
Until next time, I’ll plant U now and dig U later. Peace and chicken grease.

    
Hugh Burrell can be contacted at (313) 872-3437 or Hughburrell@aol.com.