WORDS FROM AUTHOR
Jimmie Ray Cantrell

Since the age of eleven I began the journey to find out more about my 'real father'.  It was not until the age of forty-four, when I found him, eight; that's right eight' more brothers and sisters; and a inspiration to write "Mittie's Song".  My Mom, Mittie Claire Belle Cantrell, pasted away on March 29, 2011. Boy I miss her so, loved hearing her Southern Belle stories, or even singing a song with her.  The last song we sang together was, "In The Pines".  She had several God given gifts; music, art, the gift of gab.  One thing she had, that became an enemy of sorts, was beauty.


At forty-four I began to write music, make notes of stories, and set to find my lost brothers and sisters (that is a story all of its own).  The night I found my 'father' I came home a wrote the song, "Daddy, Where Are You" - you can hear a sample on Mittie's Song Music Page.

Well, many years later we have a novel, a screenplay (being revised, again), 20 plus songs and now, in developement, The Play.   This is NOT the story of my Mom BUT she DID in fact inspire the story.  MANY of the stories within, and characters, were from her life.  So, I guess one might say, I took artistic license and created these productions.  ONE of the main messages within is, to quote Mittie, "No matter what you are going through, with the Good Lord's help, you WILL make it through."

God Bless and enjoy "Mittie's Song",

Jimmie Ray Cantrell

Do 'pick-n-click' from the menu buttons below to learn more about this complete project. Contact Jimmie direct if you have ANY questions at the email link on the contact page or mobil at  jimmieasjohnny@gmail.com  

The Play  The Music The Novel The Screenplay

Photo's and notes below:




Story inspired by Jimmie's Mother
Mittie Claire Belle Cantrell
 (Dec 27, 1927 - March 29, 2010)

Fiction Character
Mittie Cooper





 





Jimmie's biological father
Alfred Rice

inspired the novel character
William Oates







  



Jimmie Ray in Yellville Arkansas at age 5

Novel Character Raymond James Cooper