812-Lancaatar Farming, Saturday, Novambar 20,1993 Connie and her two doge under a tree on the Claycomb farm. Connie Rose Combines Farm Life With Singing LINDA WILLIAMS Bedford Co. Correspondent BEDFORD (Bedford Co.) Not all of Connie Claycomb’s days have been sunny, but she’s always found something to sing about. Known throughout Bedford County and much of Pennsylvania as Connie Rose, the female singer in the John Topper Band, Connie grew up singing. Her parents were Jim and Jane Claar better known as “Jim and Jane and their Western Vaga bonds”. They were the forerun ners of country music, rubbing elbows with such stars as Gene Autry or Roy Rogers, brightening up the lives of country folks everywhere with their morning radio show. Jim and Jane grew up together, singing. And, when eventually they joined hands in both show business and matrimony, along came Connie Rose. The little blond girl immediately joined her parents in their show business ventures. “I didn’t know any other life,” she said. “I never lived one place more than two years. But, I was never afraid of a microphone. It was a wonderful life.” But, those days of wine and roses also had their down sides. Somewhere hi her travels, Connie picked up the polio virus, only a few years prior to the Salk preven tion. It was a traumatic time for the Claars, which now included sister Audry and brother Ricky. Connie eventually recovered, but the disease left her with a para lyzed leg which would forever require a brace. Today, Connie notices the effects of that tragic disease more and more. “Everyone loses muscle elasticity as they age,” she com ments. “But, a leg damaged by polio loses it much faster.” Eventually, Connie married one of the Vagabonds, Buzzy Brant, and (he two continued to enjoy show business. But, the marriage was not destined for longevity. Buzzy was killed in a truck acci dent while Connie was pregnant with her first child. “It wasn’t easy,” she remem bers. “For awhile, I quit singing and pretty much stayed to myself,” A sunny disposition isn’t des tined to stay down long and, Con nie soon met and married Fred Claycomb. Fred was not a musician, instead, farming had been his life long dream and Connie was will ing to help him achieve it. The couple bought a farm near Bed ford and soon. Connie had two more children, making a total of three in less than five years. “I didn’t stop singing altogether,” she remembers. “I couldn’t I still sang in the Luthe ran church choir and two of my old friends and I formed a trio. We sang at weddings and for other social occasions. It was an outlet” The Claycombs still live on the farm although they lost some acreage recently to the new Bed ford airport. Including leased ground, they farm about 600 acres and raise a mixed beef and dairy herd of 100 head. “I could never do a lot of work on the farm because of my leg,” Connie says. “But, I’ve always Connie Rom Claycomb, a Bedford County farm wife, performing with the John Topper Band at Old Bedfoid Village. enjoyed being a farm wife. I like to keep house, cook, can, and have vegetable and flower gardens. Really, I never expected to sing professionally again.” It was John Topper, a local high school history teacher who also had a love for country singing, who gave her other ideas. He had started a band and was making a recording when he realized he was missing from female harmony. Remembering Connie from an early local TV show that the “Western Vagabonds,” had done on a weekly basis, he gave her a call. “Fred was all for it,” Connie remembers. “He had always loved my singing and thought it was time for me to get back into it. So. I agreed. It was about that time that one of John’s band members had asked for a leave of absence. I was to fill in for a year. That was (Turn to Pag* B 15) See your nearest Dealer for Dependable Equipment and Dependable Service! PENNSYLVANIA Annvllle. PA BHM Farm Equipment, Inc. RDI, Rte. 934 717-867-2211 Carlisle. PA R&W Equipment Co. 35 East Willow Street 717-243-2686 DavMabura. PA George N. Gross, Inc. R.O. 2, Dover, PA 717-292-1673 HhabaMitown. PA Messick Farm Equipment, Inc. Rt. 283 - Rheem's Exit 717-367-1319 Halifax. PA Sweigard Bros. R.D. 3, Box 13 717-896-3414 Hoiwv Brook. PA Dependable Motor Co. East Main Street 215-273-3131 215-273-3737 Honey Grove. PA Norman D. Clark & Son, Inc. Honey Grove, PA 717-734-3682 Loysville, PA 717-789-3117 MARYLAND Roderick. MD Ceresville Ford New Holland, Inc. Rt. 26 East 301-662-4197 Outside MD, 800-331-9122 NEW JERSEY Bridgeton. NJ Leslie G. Fogg, Inc. Canton & Stow Creek Landing Rd. 609-451-2727 609-935-5145 Wooditown. NJ Owen Supply Co. 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