Q. I am a huge fan of Weimaraners, and I know there's an artist who did a series of post cards or cartoons or something in which he dressed up the dogs as people. I'd love to get my hands on some of his work, but I have forgotten his name. Can you please help?
-- W.R., of Belleville
A. It shouldn't take you long to sniff out William Wegman, whose imaginative creations have shown up not only in contemporary art galleries but also in venues as diverse as "Sesame Street" and "Saturday Night Live."
Interestingly, Wegman says he wasn't even a dog fan 40 years ago. He was teaching at the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1969 when he promised his wife he'd buy her a dog when they moved to Los Angeles the following year.
Frankly, he hoped she'd forget, but she didn't. So, after initially looking for Dalmatians, they finally answered an ad for Weimaraners for $35 each.
"When I brought him home to our house in San Pedro, he was sitting in a ray of light," he told www.housepet.com in 2005. "He looked like a man."
Soon, Wegman was doggedly pursuing a new direction in his art, dressing Man Ray and, later, Fay Ray, in outfits from football uniforms to a Groucho Marx suit, complete with cigar, and taking their pictures. You can find them all at www.wegmanstore.com.
"I am in love with my dogs," he says. "When you photograph someone, you are making a map of them in a way. The map helps you know them and you get more and more attached."
For those unfamiliar with the breed, the Weimaraner stands about 2 feet high, generally weighs from 55-85 pounds and is nicknamed "the gray ghost" for its mouse-gray to silver-gray color. The breed was developed in the early 1800s for hunting and its name is derived from Karl August, the Grand Duke of Weimar, who enjoyed hunting.
Germany jealously guarded the dog until it apparently finally released a pair in the 1950s to the United States. Since then, the dogs have become favorites of Dwight Eisenhower, former French President d'Estaing and actor Brad Pitt.
Q. This one will really prove your brilliance and/or turn you to drink. I am looking for the music to a song that has been handed down in our family for four generations. It's a religious hymn called "Goodnight, Sweet Jesus," and it was sung by Perry Como.
I have found the words and have it on a cassette, but am unable to find the sheet music. I want to play it with my children for my mother, who learned it from her mother and passed it down to us, but I can't find it anywhere.
-- J.H., of Belleville
A. Considering the subject of the song you seek, it's a good thing I'm able to rely on my brains rather than run for the bottle.
It really wasn't that difficult, thanks to the marvelous Internet. While searching for the song, I ran across the Holy Spirit Singers Music Ministry based in the Lexington, Mass., area.
"(Their) music is comprised of original compositions by Mare Streetpeople ... and the classic Perry Como hit by Rev. James Curry, 'Goodnight Sweet Jesus,'" according to the group's Web site.
So, figuring they would be graciously open to a strange reporter on an off-the-wall mission, I called Mare. Turns out she can't read a lick of music -- everything she does is by ear -- but she remembered a friend had given her the music to the song you seek a few years ago.
She had misplaced it, but was kind enough to call her friend, who promised to mail her another copy. With luck, I'll be able to pass it on to you within the next few weeks. In addition to the music, she promised to send her lyric sheet with the guitar chords, and, hopefully, you'll be able to transpose the other parts for your little combo. As Mare said, take care and God bless you.
Send your questions to Roger Schlueter, Belleville News-Democrat, 120 S. Illinois St., P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427 or rschlueter@bnd.com
