The Old Songs

August 11, 2005 The Great Lakes Chorus as well as quartets Shades Of Gray and Wildcard performed for the summer concert series River Beat sponsored by the Cascade Township and Cascade Community Foundation. It 'was' to be at the Leslie E. Tassell Park along the Thornapple River (a substantial tributary of the Grand River and not far from the Forest Hills Presbyterian Church where we rehearse) of metropolitan Grand Rapids, Michigan.

However it was deja vou all over again. I arrived early and while I waited for the chorus at this beautiful park these guys showed up instead and started tearing down our risers and put up a sign that the concert had been moved to the nearby Pine Ridge Elementary School for fear of rain. I was surprised they had the foresight of preparing a 'printed' sign:)

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The gym filled while next door we warmed up in the dimly lit cafeteria.

While the quartets sang the rest of the chorus watched from the wings. I didn't have the opportunity to give my camera to anyone so no photos of the chorus singing but I do have audio clips below. I heard snickers when we marched in and a little girl called out above the chatter, "Hi Grandpa!" I was pretty pleased with our performance, also the do wop song, In The Still Of The Night received a lot of applause and smiles. My chorus favorite here was, God Bless America where the audience joined in, it sounds great with those added women's voices!

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GLC Star Spangled Banner (Gary Branch intro)


GLC Grand Old Flag (Gary Branch intro)


GLC California, Here I Come (Gary Branch intro)


GLC Love Letters (Gary Branch intro)


GLC In The Still Of The Night (Gary Branch intro)


Gary Branch plugs GLC and Sweet Adelines


GLC Muskrat Ramble


GLC Ain't Misbehavin'


GLC Basin Street Blues (Gary Branch intro)


GLC & Audiance, God Bless America (Gary Branch intro)


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(CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE) The gym was small and got quite warm with the good sized audience of about 150 in seats and a few dozen more lining some walls standing or sitting on the gymnasium floor. After the chorus sang then was the quartet Shades Of Grey, 1999 Pioneer District (Michigan USA plus Windsor Ontario Canada) Senior Division winners. From the left, baritone Gary Branch, bass Jack Sidor, lead Lynwood "Bud" Kraft, and tenor Ron Thomet. They had some great stories to share and prepared a very nice 'river' theme selection:)

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SOG Bare Foot Days (Curt Struyk intro)


SOG Ron Thomet intro joke


SOG Lazy River


SOG Old St Louie


SOG Jazz Came Up The River (Gary Branch Intro)


SOG Jack Sidor intro joke


SOG I've Been Working On The Railroad


SOG Bud Kraft intro


SOG What A Wonderful World


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In this photo you can see the chorus watching from the wings.

(CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE) The 2004 Pioneer District champs, Wildcard. From the left tenor Peter Westers, next one of our co-directors lead Dave Miller, bass James Masalskis and then our other co-director baritone Curt Struyk. Both quartets gave inspiring and also amusing introductions for their pieces. There were many laughs including sight gags such as Wildcard's shorter member the tenor Peter struggling to reach up to the mic while their tallest member the bass James awkwardly hunched over, but I think it was Curt's intro that got the biggest laugh:) Wonderful performances by all and now thanks to Wildcard, Swing 'Down' Sweet Chariot is one of my favs!

Gary Branch intro Wildcard


WC When Sunshine Comes Along


WC You Make Me Feel So Young


WC tenor Peter Westers intro members joke


WC Always


WC Swing Down Sweet Chariot (bass James Masalskis intro)


WC Dave Miller intro joke


WC Time After Time


WC Curt Struyk intro joke


WC It's Only A Paper Moon


WC The Irish Blessing (bass James Masalskis intro)