Person:Orlando Peeples (1)

Social Security #:214-12-0428

Since music was so important to Dad, I’ll let him tell you about his musical background in his own words, as he told me ten years ago:

     “When I was a child, the whole family was into music…I played ukulele when I was six years old, and at twelve years I knew how to play the guitar ‘by ear’ and played square dances in Baltimore.  I also played guitar and sang gospel at Pentecostal church revival meetings…At fifteen, I played guitar with an old piano player in a tavern…We used to play Old Time favorites...When I reached eighteen years of age, I played guitar with a group called Tom Perry and His Tomcats.  We played at dance halls in Baltimore County and at various beaches.  I went into the army...I played and acted in small, camp variety shows…Later…I formed a group which played ‘Top 40’ hits and ‘Rhythm & Blues’ at teen hops.  Sometimes we would back up popular artists to help them promote their records.  I also taught guitar for a while at Fred Walker's music store in Baltimore.  During this time, I wrote some songs and recorded them.  This is where I got my first taste of songwriting.  To sum it up, I have been involved with all types of music during my life…At this stage of my life, I am trying to write country and blues songs because my songs express sincere feelings.  I enjoy what I do: Trying to get a real message across."

From Ron Peeples' eulogy for his father.

Sun, The (Baltimore, MD) - August 1, 1998 Deceased Name: Orlando F. Peeples 75, furniture finisher, guitarist Orlando Franklin Peeples, who owned a furniture-finishing business and was a guitarist and songwriter, died of cancer Wednesday at his Brooklyn home. He was 75.

The Baltimore native served in the National Guard from 1939 to 1941 and in the Army during World War II. After the war, he owned a furniture-finishing business, then was a chemical inspector and mechanic. He retired in 1985.

He played guitar in bands at teen dances from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s and wrote and recorded songs. He also was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars of Glen Burnie.

His 1947 marriage to Anna May Woernlein ended in divorce in the mid-1970s. In 1977, he married Bertha May Irvin, who survives him.

He also is survived by four sons, Ronald Peeples of Ellicott City, Gary Peeples of Eldersburg, Kenneth Peeples of Baltimore and Richard Peeples of Richmond, Va.; a daughter, Gail Hagan of Baltimore; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. today at Ambrose Funeral Home, 2719 Hammonds Ferry Road in Lansdowne.

Pub Date: 8/1/98 Copyright (c) 1998 The Baltimore Sun Company