The Story of Franny Kay’s Bout with Lew’s Piano

By Bill Cherry

The glow of sunset in the summer skies,
The golden flicker of the fire flies,
The gleam of love light in your loving eyes,
These are the things I love
--Words by Harold Barlow, Music by Lewis Harris

Galveston implant, Lew Harris, wrote the music to this song when, just out of Boston College, he was the pianist with the house orchestra at Manhattan’s famous Rainbow Room. 

Over the years, Lew Harris’ song, “These Are the Things I Love,” has been recorded by Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Caterina Valente, Della Reese, even jazz trumpet player, Dizzy Gillespie.

But to Galvestonians, the most memorable version was sung by Robert Goulet, because it was the theme song for Lew Harris’ wife, Frances’ 54-consecutive year radio program for the Island’s KGBC-AM.

After University of Texas, Frances Kay Harris (the Kay was her maiden name) was trying her hand as a Broadway theater actress when she met Lew, who was in New York making his way as a composer of musical comedy.

Within what seemed to both of them like moments, they married.

It was the war years, and things were tight, especially for a couple who had two children, aspiring to make their way in the entertainment business

In 1947, with the almost constant encouragement from Frances’ dad, they gave up Broadway and moved to Galveston.  Lew joined his father-in-law in the general insurance business; Frances took up daily broadcasting the women’s news.  Tracy and Johnny enrolled in public schools.

Lew’s dream was to own a Baldwin grand piano.  He had no trouble picturing it in their Harve Lafitte home’s living room.  But, after all, he once confided in me, a grand piano is a rather selfish thing to buy when you’re the only one in the family who is serious about his music.

Nevertheless, for a number of years he saved a few bucks at a time until he had $10,000 in his “piano fund.”  He called Joe Ginsberg at Ginsberg’s Music Center, and had him order the exact Baldwin model grand he had always wanted.

When Joe called him to let him know the instrument was in and ready to be delivered, Lew withdrew from his Moody National Bank special account, $10,000 in one hundred dollar bills.  And he took them to Joe as a way of adding an emphasis to the accomplishment.

When it was delivered, Lew’s decorating eye was confirmed.  It did look great in the living room, and the sound and tone displayed themselves magnificently as they bounced against the big floor to ceiling windows that overlooked their backyard pool.

Some years after Lew had died, Frances called me.  “Bill, it’s Franny Kay.”  I had always jokingly called her Franny Kay, and she had always made out like what she had heard me say was “Frances Kay.”

This was the first time she had ever referred to herself to me as Franny Kay; a milestone since at least 35 years had passed since I had first decided I’d call her that.  It had always been our subtle joke.

“Tracy is coming home for the holidays, and she may want to play Lew’s piano.  When can you come tune it?”

The day I arrived for the appointment, Franny Kay had her little manicure table-for-two set up next to the big windows that overlooked the pool.  Her manicurist was on the way to attend to her nails and to gossip. 

That afternoon, Franny Kay’s lifelong friend, Ruth Kempner, would stop by for their almost daily game of for-blood Scrabble.

Her maid, who had been with her for decades, had a small TV set sitting in front of herself at the breakfast table.  The maid’s head was on the table in her arms; she was asleep.  The TV chattered on and on as if she weren’t.

I sat down at Lew’s piano to begin to play.  Nothing came out.  The keys couldn’t be depressed.  What in the world is wrong, I thought.

When I opened the lid of Lew’s $10,000 magnificent Baldwin grand piano, the strings were fully covered by at least an inch of cat hair!

“Franny Kay, what in the world?  How do I tune a piano that doesn’t play?  Why has the cat been sleeping inside of Lew’s piano?”

“Bill, you’ve got to learn to love animals more.  Since Lew died, no one has been here to play or enjoy his piano but my cat.  It brings her great pleasure.  But I guess she’ll have to find another place to sleep.   Can you fix it?”

“I can’t, but I use a piano restoration company that will be able to.  I’ll pull out the action and take it there and get an estimate for you,” I promised.  “But there’s no way Tracy will be able to play Lew’s piano this holiday season.”

“Franny Kay?  It’s Bill Cherry.  The restoration company said it will cost just shy of $5,000 to bring Lew’s piano back up to snuff.”

When I brought the action back, put it in place, then tuned Lew’s Baldwin grand, the first tune I played for Franny Kay was Lew’s song, “These Are the Things I Love.”  She smiled throughout it all.

I thought of the friendship I had enjoyed with the remarkable Franny Kay and Lew Harris since I had been a child.

Then be darned if the manicurist didn’t ring the doorbell and break my spell.  Franny Kay went to greet her, and I packed my tools and left.

About two years later, the phone rang.  “Bill, it’s Frances.  My computer is upstairs, and I think it’s time to move it downstairs.  The only place I can think of where it will fit is where Lew’s piano is.  What should we do with Lew’s piano?’

“That’s easy.  Lew was rabid about raising money for the Moody House Retirement Home.  What about putting it on permanent loan there?”

And that’s what she did.

Frances Kay Harris left us on January 22, 2012.  She was 94.

Copyright 2012 – William S. Cherry

BILL CHERRY, REAL ESTATE BROKER

Dallas - Park Cities
Since 1964
214 503-8563

Galveston has much to offer as far as full time homes go, but what if you want a boat but don't want to live way west? Havre lafitte may be exactly what your looking for. The neighborhood has only a few entrances and is set up like a traditional neighborhood. However, many of the homes here have water access and boat dock. The homes are mostly all full time residences unlike West Galveston Island where over 50% are second homes. This area is close to everything and is just off at Stewart Road near Moody Gardens. Havre Lafitte also features a boat launch for owners. Prices are a bit higher than the surrounding area because of the water access but they remain very reasonable for lake front homes with deep water access.