August, 2011

Good Form, Stan

When the Derbytown Chorus sang The National Anthem at the Akron Aeros game on July 19, Stan Martin represented us during the ceremonial "first pitch". As you can see, Stan did a great job. Does this remind you of anyone?

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And The Rains Came

This spot was to contain a story and some pictures of our performance yesterday at The Ohio Veterans' Memorial Park. We had 36 singers warmed up and ready to go and a song list packed with patriotic music. But, as sometimes happens with outdoor venues, a brief, yet strong downpour washed out the event. Still, a big thanks goes out to Dennis Conrad for securing and planning the event and to all who helped with the risers and other logistics. Maybe we can try this one again.

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August Birthdays



Mark Nedel-8/11
Jim Mally-8/12
Mark Purdy-8/12
Mike Halter-8/27
Eric Jolly-8/28
Mike Hoover-8/29

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Do You Remember This Show?

Here are some slides of the 1979 Annual Show. You might want to go to the Chorus website and check out the program for this show. Enter the Members Only section, go into the Photo Archives and look for the album titled "ADTC Annual Show Programs" There are two pages there for 1979 and we were celebrating 40 years of SPEBSQSA.








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School Days

We have once again come to the month of August and that means the start of another school year. Here is some history and a recording of a song that speaks of adults looking back on their school years with nostalgia. I think most of us know the lyrics to the chorus of this song. Maybe it would be a good choice if we are looking for a woodshed song at rehearsal tomorrow night.

School Days, also known as School Days (When We Were A Couple Of Kids), is an American popular song, written in 1907 by Will Cobb and Gus Edwards.

The song speaks of a mature couple remembering their lifelong friendship and their days in primary school.

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Random Acts Of Excellent Barbershop

Here is a video of Vocal Spectrum and Prestige joining forces on a classic Simon and Garfunkel song.



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Double Header

As was mentioned in the first portion of this issue, we are singing The Star Spangled Banner at an Aeros game on two occasions this year. The next one is coming up soon, on Saturday, August 27. Join us for the singing and fireworks after the game.

July, 2011

Congratulations To The Kansas City Champs

Collegiate Quartets

Gold Medalists


Our Own JAD Quartet

Prestige

Silver-The Vigilantes
Bronze(1)-After Hours
Bronze(2)-Expedition
Bronze(3)-HHHHHHHHHHHHHH


Quartets

Gold Medalists



Old School(MAD)

Silver-Musical Island Boys(NZABS)
Bronze(1)-Masterpiece(FWD)
Bronze(2)-A Mighty Wind(DIX)
Bronze(3)-Main Street(SUN)


Choruses

Gold Medalists


Masters Of Harmony(FWD)

Silver-Great Northern Union(LOL)
Bronze(1)-The Northern Lights(ONT)
Bronze(2)-Sound Of The Rockies(FWD)
Bronze(3)-Alexandria Harmonizers(MAD)

For more interesting information from the KC Convention, click on the BHS Home link here on the Bulletin page(for example, the difference between gold and silver in the chorus competition was .2 points) WOW!

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Bill Trumpold Reaches Golden Milestone

If you have been reading the Harmonizer magazine carefully, you already know that, in the list of the latest 50 year Society members, was the name of Chapter tenor, Bill Trumpold. Congratulations to Bill for this outstanding achievement. Just think how many songs that Bill and others in this select group have sung. Bill is not alone in this honor within our Chapter. Here is the list of our "Golden Boys".

Bill Trumpold-50 years
James Bouterse-50 years
Oscar (Buzz) Fraley-53 years
John Rohal-60 years

Since I joined the Chapter when I was pushing 60, if I want to join the 50 year club, I'll have to start taking better care of myself.

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More Slides

The following four slides are from the 1969 Show. You will see the chorus and three quartets. The process I'm using to get these slides converted to digital form has been improved since I put some slides from the 1968 show in this year's May issue. There is still a problem on some slides with the very bright lights washing out the details in the middle of the picture.

If anyone can identify the quartets in these pictures, please contact me at the Bulletin email, derbytown08@gmail.com.

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July Birthdays

(starting with this issue, I will include with each man's name, his years of Society membership)

7/1-George Bachmann (16)
7/4-Virgil Koppes (46)
7/4-Larry Steele (28)
7/7-Dan Nichols (24)
7/12-Kirk Roose (40)
7/18-J.C. Ward (1)
7/21-Dick Frank (42)
7/21-Stan Haught (18)
7/23-Gerald Borg (3)

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150th Annual Aeros Performance
(I made that up)

Tomorrow night, July 19th, the Derbytown Chorus will be making the first of two appearances at Akron Aeros baseball games this summer. We are scheduled to sing The National Anthem before the game (we promise not to yodel it, just sing the notes as written) and Take Me Out To The Ballgame during the 7th inning stretch. Be there by 6:15. Game time is 7:00. Clothing for the evening is red chorus shirts and anything else that is visible to the public should be black. Hope to see you there.

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Vintage Quartets

Since the International Convention and Competition, the BHS party of the year, just ended, lets take a look back and give a listen to some popular quartets that were entertaining folks when the only meaning for SPEBSQSA was that your toddler had been playing with the typewriter.

The Peerless Quartet

Most chorus members should recall this first song.

The Haydn Quartet

The Shannon Quartet

This is a different take on a PoleCat.



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Copley Show Is Coming Soon

This Sunday, July 24th. We sing at 7:00. My editorial guess is that you should arrive by 6:15. We can check with Scott at the ballgame tomorrow to be sure.

June, 2011

Chapter Visitation

On Tuesday, May 31, the Akron Derbytown Chorus hosted members of The Schoenbrunn Valley Chorus at our regular rehearsal. As always, there was fellowship, singing and refreshments. The added fun of having more singers and new songs only added to the fun.

The Schoenbrunn Valley Chorus

How about a number by the combined choruses?

There was some quartet singing too.

Accent

Research

Thanks to all from both chapters who helped to make this event a reality.

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Talk About Your Vowel Sounds, Etc.

(thanks to Jim Mally for this submission)

(click on the cartoon to make it bigger)

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June Birthdays

Paul Albert 6/3

Bob McCullough 6/7

Robin Reid 6/7

Bill Weddington 6/11

Ron Grumbling 6/12

Bill Halter 6/18

Chris Eitman 6/23

Cliff Crocker 6/25

Charlie Horning 6/28

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One Of Akron's "Forgotten" Sons

On May 15, The Akron Beacon Journal published an article about the life and achievements of Akron-born lyricist, Grant Clarke (1891-1931). If you missed the article, you can see it by clicking on the "Grant Clarke Article" link in the Quick Connections list at the top left of the Bulletin page. It was written by Beacon Journal staff writer, Mark J. Price.

Perhaps due to his short time here on earth, Clarke's accomplishments are not widely known today. Along with writing lyrics for more than 100 songs, such as Second Hand Rose, Ragtime Cowboy Joe and Am I Blue?, he also collaborated with many famous composers, including Irving Berlin. In 1914, he became a charter member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

So, here is a performance of one of Grant Clarke's often-recorded songs.

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Guests From Music City

Recently , you may have noticed two young gentlemen accompanying Chapter member Charlie Horning at rehearsals. These two singers are Charlie's grandsons, Matt and Tom McIntyre, who are visiting from Nashville, TN. Welcome Matt and Tom. It's great to have you sing with the chorus. In the picture below are (l to r) Matt, Charlie, Tom and brother and Chapter member Bob Horning.

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Singing Mice?

While waiting in a doctor's office earlier this year, I read an article in the Smithsonian magazine that chronicled scientific investigation of sounds made by mice. Many of these sounds were above the range of human hearing, but there were instances where mice made audible sounds. Some scientists believe that the mice use these sounds to communicate much like the "songs" used by whales.

I have placed a "singing mouse" link in the Quick Connections list. This video shows a mouse that was genetically engineered to sing. I couldn't embed this video in the Bulletin like I usually do because the embed feature had been disabled for this clip.

I can't help but wonder how long it will be before we see the first all-rodent barbershop quartet.

(Feel free to mentally insert a joke about the quartet of your choice at this point)

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Chapter Family Picnic

Just a quick reminder that the annual Chapter Family Picnic is being held this Saturday, June 25. More details can be found in the online Chapter Calendar. (see Quick Connections)

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