Andre Pleasant
One of my beloved music teachers, Asa Mc Clellan, has passed and gone on to play concerts beyond. He was my piano and organ teacher during high school, along with Toma Sita Lewis. I paid for lessons with Asa on my own by cutting yards, painting houses, or whatever it took. I would take the bus or get dropped off at TSU for those lessons. Eventually, I ended up at TSU with Asa as my piano instructor.
What many don’t know is that I visited Asa at his home once or twice every year during his retirement, along with regular phone calls. He never stayed on the phone long, but I had planned to visit him again this summer. During our visits, he would share stories of his life as a young music student and his many performances and competitions. We shared a deep love for Rachmaninoff, Liszt, and sometimes Chopin. He would always play for me during most of the visits.
On my last visit with him, he was telling me about his sister, who had passed away. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew the door open as we were seated in the kitchen. Without missing a beat, he said, "Is that her..? Tell her to come on in… this is Andre." I smiled, closed the door, and said, "I don’t think it’s her..."
I have not met his son or daughter but know that you father was well loved.