Because of the high security work that he was involved in he was seldom home to participate in PTA meetings, Boy Scout meetings and was not always able to attend programs, concerts and the likes while I grew into manhood. He never failed to ask about them and was proud that I was involved in singing groups from grade school through college and beyond...he just NEVER heard me sing! That is, until our chorus did an exchange program with the South Bend, IN Michiana Chorus a few years ago. That evening my mother and aunt coaxed him to attend that concert. I'll never forget his tear filled eyes that greeted me backstage expressing his joy in FINALLY seeing me sing in a concert. I saw those eyes again while I spent the last four days of his life with him in a Florida hospital. Although racked with terrible pain he was totally lucent and able to share with me hours/days of memories. The tough old patriarch of the family succumbed to multiple cancers one day before his 85th birthday and was buried with military honors later in the family plot in his hometown of Niles, MI. On our flight back to Michigan I reflected on many, many things but the one image that seemed to return and stayed with me during the next few days was that evening in the old school auditorium in South Bend, IN where I was finally able to Sing for my Father! I would hope that you won't find these words maudlin and self serving...I certainly don't mean them to be. Rather, I would hope that they can show you the importance of our art form, and that the joys we can reap from the performance of the male chorus sound that will stay with us forever. Let us raise our voices to the heavens and entertain those that gone before us...sing out with song in celebration for those we love and will love forever. Keep our organization strong and growing into the 21st Century and beyond. For as my Father said that evening,,,"there is just no sound that compares to an all male chorus in concert!" I believed him that night and still do today...he'll always be in the audience and I'll sing for my Father forever!
Sing Out Brothers - In Song!
- OR - Make A Comment | View Feedback |
Norm Goodling, AMCA President
