I remember one afternoon following dinner we gathered around and started singing. In my boyish glee I really let go. Bill said, “Wait a minute. Paul, hit that note again.” When I did, Bill said, “Paul you can sing!” I said to him, “Stop kidding.” He said that, “good music sounds good, just like good food taste good.” When we come back tonight, I’m going to listen to you again.

We broke for a baseball game in the lot, which was a perfect way to end the day. When we got back, Bill had me sing a song. He said, “Paul, you can sing.” I thought he was joking and Ben agreed with me. We all felt that Pop was the only Robeson with singing talent.

At church socials all of the kids had to do something. Most of us could get away with recitations or essays. But from that point on, I was called upon to sing. Later, I helped with the choir.