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Page 4 InCider Press February 2007 |
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I guess that I have always loved to sing since I was very small. Through my school years, however, I didn’t have any voice training at all. While in high school a friend did nothing about singing in a group situation. They decided that maybe they could make a bass out of me! They stuck me between and Phil and Rudy who were both great bass singers. It would have been hard not to sing bass in that position. In the spring of 1996 my good Clay Center friend, Ray Sharp, encouraged me to come to the Little Apple Barbershop Spring Show. I was “hooked” that night! I remember Myron Calhoun inviting anyone interested in barbershop singing to come join them. I think his exact words were, “If you can sing in the bathtub, we want you! I joined soon after and have never regretted that decision. I would mention that I had the idea that I could sing bass. But after a couple of weeks in that section I decided that bass in the barbershop chorus was a “whole different ballgame” than singing bass in the church choir. I opted to sing lead instead. I always look forward to Thursday evening practice and it is a highlight in my week. This is true not only because I like to sing but because you get to be with a great bunch of guys as we share our hobby. Harold Brown Lead ♪ |
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Meet member Harold Brown |
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My family of Dad and Mom and two younger brothers moved to Manhattan, Kansas in 1943 when I was ten years old. We were members of the First Methodist Church which had a 5th and 6th grade youth choir. This is where my formal singing began with written music. I sang in the church’s choirs all through Junior High and High School. When in High School the students had to make a choice of either instrumental or vocal music. I played the tuba, so vocal music in High School was out. In 1973 Olive, family and I moved back home to Manhattan, Kansas. When I was in High School I had attended a musical show where a Barbershop Quartet had sung “Good-Bye My Coney Island Baby” and clowned around. I thought that really looked like my kind of fun. When a teacher friend that I had taught with at Riley County High invited me to go with him to sing Barbershop music, I said okay. It was a small group at first but then it began to grow. As it grew the guys decided to join the national group in the late 70’s. So I became a charter member of that is now “The Little Apple Chorus”. As the chorus grew it began to take more time. As my five children grew they began to take more money. I was teaching drivers education and selling insurance on the side. Finally something had to go and the money took preference over the singing. Then in 1995 I found that I had some time to sing Barbershop. Bob Ridley invited me back to the Barbershop chorus. I have really enjoyed being back and singing Barbershop with the chorus. J. Lester Hoover ♪ |
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Meet Member J. Lester Hoover |
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President Bob Swenson pins the past president Terry Nanninga and then Bob |
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At the February board meeting the board decided that the chapter will participate in the Society's 100% club. The Society, Central States District and Manhattan chapter dues will be reduced for each new member recruited during the year. That means if you recruit five new members in 2007, your next dues will be free. The next Open House is tentatively scheduled for the evening of May 17th, depending on the availability of Ken Lang. We will renew our membership in the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce again for 2007. Pat Caffey Secretary ♪ |
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Actions of the Board |