Hilton Lytle: A Music Tribute

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Mr. Hil!!

Remember the quote “Live Like Lytle?”
I hope all of you are doing just that. To those of you who knew Mr. Hil personally and on a regular basis, you knew that his whole life was devoted to helping others. Even into his 90’s! And not just helping here and there but life-changing help. Let me list just some of the ways:

1. He worked as a counselor at the vocational school and there is no telling how many students he helped direct toward a successful future. But in that help I’m sure he spent a lot of one-on-one time, giving individualized counsel according to that student’s needs. How do I know that? Because I know of one case in particular (a nursing student and a single Mom) in which he personally hired to help take care of his mother. In this he was able to help both his mother and my friend (my friend is now a PhD at a nursing school.)

Lesson #1 - live your life for others and in doing that, be the change that’s needed in the world. Be willing to sacrifice for others.

2. Let’s not forget his WW2 service in which his life was on the line, fighting in one of the bloodiest battles of the war: the Battle of the Bulge. He helped liberate the town of Leipzig, Germany and a concentration camp. This experience was enough to cause him to be very hardened and bitter. Many soldiers were affected by “shell shock” (or also known as PTSD) and turn to strong drink to overcome the effects of a war time experience. Mr.Hil turned it into an opportunity to make his life (and others) better. Amazing!

Lesson #2 - do not let hard times or suffering define the rest of your life. Learn from it and ask God to help you overcome it and then become an instrument of change.

3. Can we mention how many people he has helped discover their musical talents? Why, yes we can! Perhaps his greatest endeavor is in this season of his life. Opening his home (he should have installed a revolving door to his home) to countless people, young and old, and doing that one-on-one thing with all of them, making them feel extra special and also recognizing areas in their lives that may have needed attention especially young men. With his military background, Mr. Hil was a prime example of both discipline and encouragement to those he mentored. Of course he is specifically known for his fiddle/violin creations but I’m convinced his overall goal was to help that person become all that he/she could be or at least to give them a good start! And, of course, his home was always open to others and many came just to play and have a good time. Besides that revolving door, he probably should have installed a neon sign that said, “OPEN.”

Lesson #3 - be hospitable! Develop an attitude and behavior that lets others know you are available and accepting of others. And I don’t mean that you should not be discerning of others - we all know there are many who would take advantage of those who open their homes and lives to others. But, develop a general attitude of being available to others in order to provide direction and encouragement. A good word is sometimes all that’s needed!

I could keep going but I am running behind today in all that I need to get done and also helping with my grandchildren so signing off for now. Sorry to be SO long in posting - I think about Mr. Hil if not every day but for sure every week - I hope you do, too. And DO remember to LIVE LIKE LYTLE! 🥰

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mr. Hil!!
Hope there’s plenty of fiddle music there! ❤️❤️❤️

A post from Sondra White, longtime friend of Mr. Hil.

Tonight, we transition to our 2024 NELA Music Award Legacy Award Recipients....First to be recognized, Mr. Hilton Lytle.

Hilton Lytle was one of the most respected instrument builders in the Delta region. He was a true Louisiana folk treasure because of his traditional creativity, his artistic excellence, and his generosity in passing on that excellence. Attending college at Texas A & M after World War II, he majored in industrial education. He went on to complete a master's degree and almost completed his doctorate, but moved back to Louisiana when his father died. He had been a supervisor of an industrial arts program in Austin, and in Louisiana he worked as a counselor in Winnsboro, then at Neville High School for five years, and then worked as a counselor for over 20 years at the vocational technical school in Monroe, Louisiana, where he retired and focused on building instruments. His degrees and education positions did not hold Mr. Lytle back as a folk artist.
His youth spent in rural LaSalle Parish on the margins of the Delta shaped his life, his beliefs, and his instruments. The Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas, has also been a recipient of Mr. Lytle's traditional knowledge. He not only demonstrated traditional crafts such as instrument building there, but also passed on his craft to apprentices there, including current Dan Thomas. Each year Thomas and Mr. Lytle gave a scholarship to a Mountain View graduating senior who has been in the Music Roots Program there.

It’s been a while, folks and I apologize for not updating on a regular basis. But that does not mean I don’t think of Mr. Hil on a regular basis - because I do. This week is the anniversary of his death (March 21, 2020.) It’s hard to write those words because during his life he became a “fixture” for so many, young and old, always busy even until the end of his life. I’ve never had someone affect me quite like him. This post will be about remembering how Mr. Hil influenced YOUR life. As a way of memorial, would you kindly express below how he influenced you? Pretend we are all gathered together (which we kind of are, just in a virtual way) as a way of a memorial and a way of sharing our Lytle stories. I would love to know how he touched YOUR life. Thank you.

I wanted to share these thoughts again as we consider November as being Mr. Hil’s birthday month. I pray your Thanksgiving finds you Living Like Lytle as we consider what made him so special:

I couldn’t open the video of my grandson making a fiddle with Mr. Hil but here’s another one of him working at his workbench at his home in Monroe. If you had the privilege of making a fiddle with him, I know you will cherish that time. He certainly had the gift of making everybody who came to his home and workshop feel like they were the most important person in his life. He gave much more than just instruction - he gave of himself with each fiddle creation. ❤️

Hils Fiddles - Fiddle Fixin and Repairs Part 1 Hilton Lytle demonstrates how to fix, repair, and graduate fiddles. Free written instructions can be found at www.hilsfiddles.com which you may print if you...

Hello, all! It’s been a while and I apologize for my absence. I ran across this video of Mr. Hil teaching my grandson how to finish his fiddle. I love listening to his voice again and still miss him so much. We all do! I hope to post many more videos in the coming weeks leading up to his birthday month in November. I hope you all are doing well and I pray that we can all carry on the torch of what he was about - serving and helping others primarily through musical channels, aiding and abetting new and even undiscovered talent. And, of course, if you are a musician, keep practicing and sharing your talent with others to inspire and soothe the soul. Music is powerful and can help others see the beauty in the world and in themselves.

https://www.facebook.com/phyllis.brode/videos/10210730613881675/?mibextid=v7YzmG

I apologize to those who asked for key chains and haven’t received one. I am slowly getting them mailed. Had a little mishap about 3 weeks ago - slipped on a small patch of ice and cracked 4 ribs! But I’m totally thankful I didn’t break anything else! Doing much better and feeling normal again. 😜

I pray that this New Year will be a good one for you. As Americans we have a lot to be thankful for but we also have a lot of problems to deal with: political strife, sectional differences, inflation, health care issues, etc. as well as personal difficulties that we all have to work through. That’s life. But I hope you (first of all) have a faith in God that will see you through whatever comes your way this year and that you hold onto those things that are the foundation that has always helped people weather the storms of life. The Bible speaks of Faith, Hope and Love with Love being the greatest attribute. The Beatles were mostly right! (All We Need is Love)

Mr. Hil demonstrated these attributes all during his life. One of his favorite sayings is, “ Now you don’t need to fret about that.” And he didn’t; however, he also ordered his life in such a way that he could continuously give back to others. He was frugal so that he, again, would have money to buy instruments. He saw needs that needed attention and gave generously without fanfare. In short, he was a giving machine and in doing so he himself was blessed (another promise found in the Bible, give and it shall be given unto you.

So, my point is Mr. Hil left us a legacy to emulate. We can become like him, giving of ourselves to others, changing the world (for the better) by serving others.

I have several Live Like Lytle key chains left over from the tribute that I would like to give to anyone who wants one as a token and remembrance of how Mr. Hil affected you and many, many more. I am not asking for any payment - but I will probably only send out a few each month. Let me know if you want one and I’ll start sending a few at a time. Message me with your address and I’ll send out in the order I receive your request. I know it’s not much but it’s a great way to keep his memory and life alive to those who had the good fortune to be a part of his life!