Jack and other high school band members adding an electronic attachment to the acoustic guitar.

I never realized until my 20’s that when any family  ever got  together, there was always music; always singing together;  always harmonizing,  several guitars, piano, harmonica, etc.   Our  family, as far back as I can remember, sang and played music  together.   I guess, like many, it started  out with the old gospel songs from  church.   Our Mother and Dad, Bill and Billie, along with an aunt and  uncle,  formed a gospel group, and sang on the radio station KFEQ, in  St. Joseph, MO.,  in the 40’s on Sunday morning.  They also  sang during  most of the church services that I can remember.  So, music carried  over into our daily life at  home.  It seems we sang all the time as  we  grew up, but then TV came along.

However, that did not stop us because our  Grandmother put  out the word that she would be auditioning young  talented kids in order to put  together a variety show called Rhythm  Review.   The show included both Fran and Janet, our two sisters, along  with the  three of us.  There were approximately 20  kids, and we were  available for different events or occasions in the area which  could be  promotional or fund-raisers.

In the 1950’s, the City of Omaha had a talent  seeking program called  “The Show Wagon.”  The wagon, built like  a  stage with wheels, was pulled from park to park.  Each Saturday, a  different park would hold a  talent show and encourage talented young  people to participate.  We entered 3 year old Linda in the show at  Columbus Park.   She sang “Five Foot Two,” and knocked the socks off the  judges.  She went on to win the City wide competition  at Peony Park.    Oh yes; I should mention that she was being backed by her brother on  the  guitar.  There is another picture of  that, but we couldn’t find it  .….Jack  Evans

 The Trio consisted of Jack Evans and his two sisters, Patti  and Linda.   I don’t really know how to  explain our musical style, other than we  did the songs we love to sing.  Our fans who were ‘County’ music fans  would  say that was our style.  Our fans who  were not country music  fans would say we were more pop.  We just bathed all of the songs we  loved with  strong, three-part harmony, a good beat, and had fun singing  them.  We joined the Musicians Union in 1969 and  started singing  professionally in clubs and lounges.  We were always quite proud of our  ability to  draw good crowds, filling up the rooms we played and  creating a waiting line. ........Linda 

Johnny Carson began his television career in Omaha,  Nebraska.  We were invited to sing on his show.  Actually, Jack and  Patti sang with another  sister Fran, as the Trio at that time.    Another sister, Janet, performed a tap dance; Linda, who was only 3   years old then, sang a solo.  She also  was modeling for Brandies, a  local Department Store.

The “Big Band” sound was still popular and I was  given the  opportunity to be the soloist for the Tony Bradley Orchestra  in Omaha.  We had a “Dancing under the Stars” TV show  every Thursday  night at Peony Park Ball Room.   For some reason I decided to move to  Los Angeles and live with my aunt to see if I  could “make it.”   You  could get all the  singing and modeling engagements you wanted when the  occasions were for charity  events.....Patti