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>> WELCOME-- GOOD EVENING!
THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS MICHELE WELLS, AND I WAS IN SHADES OF BLUE
THREE YEARS OF MY LIFE-- THREE WONDERFUL YEARS-
AND I'M GOING TO BE KIND OF EMCEEING FOR THE NIGHT.
FIRST OF ALL, JUST THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO SEE US.
THIS IS REALLY EXCITING! (chuckling)
(applause) YES, THANK YOU.
WE HAVE A FUN EVENING IN STORE.
WE GET TO HEAR FROM ONE OF THE FIRST DIRECTORS OF SHADES--
MAYBE "THE"-- I SHOULD SAVE "THE" FIRST DIRECTOR
OF SHADES OF BLUE, AS WELL AS THE INFAMOUS DUANE DAVIS.
WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA BE SHARING SOME STORIES.
WE EVEN HAVE SOME VIDEOS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SHARING STORIES,
AND WE'RE GOING TO SING A COUPLE SONGS FOR YOU.
SO I HOPE YOU'RE EXCITED LIKE I AM.
LET ME JUST TELL YOU THE STORY ABOUT HOW THIS ALL GOT STARTED.
SO THERE WAS A VIDEO THAT I WATCHED ON YOUTUBE
THAT WAS SO INSPIRATIONAL TO ME
THAT I JUST HAD TO SING WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE VIDEO? >> YES!
(music)
>> (Willy Wonka) HOLD YOUR BREATH,
MAKE A WISH, COUNT TO THREE.
>> (a capella) ♪ ONE TWO THREE ♪
♪ COME WITH ME AND YOU'LL BE ♪
♪ IN A WORLD OF PURE IMAGINATION ♪
♪ TAKE A LOOK AND YOU'LL SEE INTO YOUR IMAGINATION ♪
♪ WILL BEGIN WITH A SPIN ♪
♪ TRAVELING IN A WORLD OF MY CREATION ♪
♪ WHAT WE'LL SEE WILL DEFY EXPLANATION ♪
♪ AND IF YOU WANT TO VIEW PARADISE ♪
♪ SIMPLY LOOK AROUND AND VIEW IT ♪
♪ ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO DO IT ♪
♪ WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD THERE IS NOTHING TO IT ♪
♪ THERE IS NO LIFE I KNOW ♪
♪ LIKE THE WORLD OF PURE IMAGINATION ♪
♪ LIVING THERE YOU'LL BE FREE ♪
♪ IF YOU TRULY WISH TO BE ♪
♪ OOOH OOOH OOOH ♪
(scat singing)
(scat singing)
♪ COME WITH ME AND YOU'LL BE ♪
♪ IN A WORLD OF YOUR IMAGINATION ♪
♪ TAKE A LOOK AND YOU'LL SEE INTO YOUR IMAGINATION ♪
♪ WE'LL BE WE'LL BEGIN WITH A SPIN ♪
♪ TRAVELING IN A WORLD OF MY CREATION ♪
♪ WHAT YOU'LL SEE WILL DEFY EXPLANATION ♪
♪ IF YOU WANT A VIEW OF PARADISE ♪
♪ SIMPLY LOOK AROUND AND VIEW IT ♪
♪ ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO IT ♪
♪ WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD ♪
♪ THERE'S NOTHING TO IT ♪
♪ NOTHING TO IT ♪
♪ THERE IS NO LIFE I KNOW ♪
♪ LIKE THE WORLD OF PURE IMAGINATION ♪
♪ LIVING THERE YOU'LL BE FREE ♪
♪ IF YOU TRULY WISH TO BE ♪
♪ IF YOU TRULY WISH TO BE IF YOU TRULY WISH TO BE ♪
♪ IF YOU TRULY WISH TO BE ♪
(applause) >> ARE YOU INSPIRED?
DON'T YOU WANT TO SING NOW?
(audience laughing) DIDN'T THAT MAKE YOU GO,
"OH, I WANT TO SING AGAIN!"
SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU RECOGNIZE HOW AMAZING THAT JUST WAS,
BUT THAT WAS INSPIRATIONAL TO ME.
SO I HAD KINDA HALF-JOKINGLY POSTED ON FACEBOOK,
"WHO WANTS TO HAVE A REUNION?
"COME OVER AND SING IN MY HOUSE."
MEANWHILE, JASON HOARD AND VICKI--
YEAH, JASON IS NOT HERE TODAY, UNFORTUNATELY.
JASON AND VICKI HAD BEEN CONSPIRING ABOUT THE SAME THING.
I WAS PICTURING LIKE A SMALL GROUP--
YOU KNOW, HANG OUT AT MY HOUSE, HAVE DINNER,
SING A COUPLE SONGS, AND JASON WAS LIKE,
"WE'VE GOT TO HAVE EVERYBODY!"
SO WE GOT EVERYBODY.
I MEAN, AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL,
AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE COULD GET ARE HERE TONIGHT.
SO THIS IS BIGGER THAN I EVER THOUGHT AND MORE FUN, TOO.
SO REALLY, THIS COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE SUPPORT
OF KEVIN DOBREFF IN THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT,
AS WELL AS THE ALUMNI RELATIONS DEPARTMENT--
ERIN CISLER HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL
IN CONTACTING EVERYONE, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THEM.
(applause)
AND A HUGE SHOUT-OUT TO OUR MEDIA DEPARTMENT
BECAUSE THEY PUT TOGETHER THAT 30-MINUTE MONTAGE OF VIDEO--
DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES TO PUT THAT KIND OF THING TOGETHER?
AND THEY DID A COUPLE OTHER THINGS FOR US, TOO--
THEY DID A PROMO VIDEO,
AND THEN THEY DID THE "WE ARE FAMILY" VIDEO
THAT WAS HILARIOUS.
THEY'VE DONE A COUPLE OF REALLY GREAT PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS
WHICH YOU CAN FIND ON THE YOUTUBE PAGE FOR GRCCTV,
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE THEM AGAIN.
SO IT'S BEEN REALLY FUN TODAY FOR US TO REHEARSE.
WE HAD ABOUT-- I DON'T KNOW-- 30-SOME ALUMNI UPSTAIRS
REHEARSING FOR A COUPLE HOURS THIS AFTERNOON.
THERE ARE OVER 140 PEOPLE ON OUR FACEBOOK GROUP PAGE,
WHICH IS PRETTY AWESOME, I THINK,
CONSIDERING WHAT THIS STARTED FROM.
(applause)
YEAH, SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED.
TONIGHT, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO CHUCK BUFFHAM.
HE'S GOING TO COME TELL ABOUT
SOME OF THE ORIGINS OF THIS GROUP.
(applause)
>> OKAY, THANKS, MICHELE.
SHE SAID, "DON'T TAKE TOO LONG."
(audience laughing)
AND I, LIKE A NUMBER OF TEACHERS,
CAME FROM A CITY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT...
BABYLON. (audience laughing)
THANKS FOR THAT GOOD START!
HOW DID IT START?
IT STARTED OUT WITH A GROUP OF ABOUT EIGHT THAT MET
AT MY HOUSE ON ELEANOR STREET, AND...
EDITH EVANS WAS ONE OF THEM-- EDITH, ARE YOU HERE?
>> NO, SHE HAD A GIG TONIGHT. >> OH, OKAY.
SO OKAY-- I HAD A HEAD INJURY IN '97,
SO A LOT OF THAT STUFF IS WIPED OUT.
BUT ONE THING I REMEMBER DISTINCTLY, DISTINCTLY,
DISTINCTLY-- THE WOMEN WERE JUST NOT GETTING THE STYLE I WANTED.
AND I SAID, "EDITH, SING IT."
AND SHE DID.
AND I SAID, "HEAR THAT?
"THAT'S WHAT WE DO."
AND THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT TWO OR THREE YEARS,
AND THEN SMITTY SAID, "WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT--
"I'M GOING TO HAVE IT AT THE COLLEGE."
AND SO, THAT WAS THE STORY THERE.
BY THE WAY, EDITH-- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS,
BUT ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO, SHE HAD A SLIGHT SEIZURE.
AND IT TURNED OUT THAT SHE HAD A TUMOR IN HER HEAD.
SO I WENT TO PLAY, AS AN ALUMNUS, OF MARY FREE BED
AT THEIR ARTS DAY.
AND I WALK IN, AND HERE'S EDITH'S BROTHER RON,
AND HE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD THE OPERATION,
AND SO THEN I WENT UP AND STARTED PLAYING,
AND THEN MIKE, EDITH'S HUSBAND-- MIKE HYDE--
CAME AND HE TOLD ME.
I SAID, "YEAH, I HEARD IT FROM HER BROTHER."
HE SAID, "WELL, THIS IS THE DEAL...
"THEY WENT IN AND FOUND THE TUMOR TO BE BENIGN,
"AND THEY GOT ALMOST ALL OF IT.
"AND THE SURGEON SAID, 'DON'T WORRY,
"'IT'S NOT WORTH THE CHANCES OF GOING
"'AFTER THE TEENY TEENY BIT THAT'S LEFT.'
"AND SO, THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS."
AND HE SAID, "THE SAD NEWS IS THIS.
"WHEN SHE CAME OUT OF THE COMA,
"SHE TRIED TO SING AND DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
"DU-***-DO-***-DO-***." (audience laughing)
AND THE SURGEON DID NOT KNOW!
(audience laughing)
AND I ALSO WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO IT
BECAUSE AT RAY GILL'S MEMORIAL,
I SAID, "I WANT TO BUY YOU SOME M&MS.
"'M' FOR MIKE AND 'E' FOR EDITH."
AND SO, MY WIFE STILL HAS THEM IN HER PURSE,
AND WHEN I SEE HER, SHE'S GETTING IT!
THANKS FOR THE TIME.
(applause)
>> OH, IT'S ME?
YOU DIDN'T ANNOUNCE ME. (audience laughing)
>> MR. DAVIS! (audience laughing)
(applause, cheering)
>> THANK YOU.
LIKE MICHELE, I'M JUST SO HAPPY TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE
COME TO THIS GATHERING OF PEOPLE
TO HEAR THE MEMORIES THAT HAPPENED IN THIS BUILDING.
THIS DEPARTMENT IS FANTASTIC, AND THE YEARS THAT I SPENT HERE,
I LOOK AT THE STUDENTS THAT MATRICULATE THROUGH...
AND THEY HAVE GONE ON TO DO WONDERFUL THINGS,
AND MANY OF THEM WERE IN SHADES OF BLUE,
MANY OF THEM ARE RIGHT HERE NOW.
AND I'VE GOTTEN CALLS FROM PEOPLE--
BEANIE JONES SAID HELLO TO EVERYONE.
SHE'S FINISHING UP HER DOCTORATE AT UNIVERSITY OF OREGON.
AND AMANDA QUIST WAS HERE LAST WEEK
FOR ONE OF OUR ALUMNI'S WEDDINGS.
AND SHE GOT HER DOCTORATE AT TEXAS.
BUT I DON'T CARE WHERE STUDENTS GO--
THEY REMEMBER THIS DEPARTMENT,
THEY REMEMBER THE NURTURING OF THE TEACHERS,
AND I LOOK AT CHUCK,
WHO HAS THE LONGEST TRACK RECORD, YOU KNOW,
OF ANYONE HERE AND UNDERSTANDS FROM WHENCE IT CAME
AND WHERE IT WAS WHEN HE RETIRED,
AND HE WOULD HANG AROUND FOR A WHILE
AND TELL THE SAME STORY THAT HE TOLD ME BEFORE...
BUT IT WAS ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR.
(audience laughing)
BECAUSE HE MADE ME SMILE AND WE NEED THAT.
SO WHEN I CAME TO THIS DEPARTMENT IN '82,
I WAS PART-TIME, I WAS STILL TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL,
AND WAS INVITED TO DIRECT SHADES OF BLUE,
WHICH HAD BEEN IN EXISTENCE AS A VOCAL JAZZ GROUP--
THE WAY WE KNOW IT TODAY-- FOR A YEAR.
AND A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WAS TEACHING
AT OTTAWA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL, DENNIS RALWER,
WAS THE DIRECTOR.
AND SO, THEN I CAME IN IN '82, STILL TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL,
AND FROM THAT POINT UNTIL MY RETIREMENT,
I DIRECTED SHADES OF BLUE.
AND AS I LOOKED AT PICTURES AND VIDEOS,
I WAS JUST AMAZED AT THE PEOPLE
WHO WENT THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
SO THERE WAS CHUCK, WHO STARTED IT,
THERE WAS DENNIS RALWER, THERE WAS ME,
THERE WAS MARK JACKSON-- MARK, STAND--
DIRECTED-- STAND.
(applause)
THE CURRENT DIRECTOR OF CHORAL ACTIVITIES IS STEVE BARTON--
I DON'T THINK STEVE IS HERE TONIGHT.
>> (indistinct speaking). >> OUT-OF-STATE.
BUT THE CURRENT DIRECTOR HAS DIRECTED SHADES OF BLUE
FOR A FEW YEARS AND, STARTING THIS FALL,
WE HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR
WHO IS GOING TO BE PLAYING THE PIANO TONIGHT,
AND IT IS ROBIN CONNELL.
WHERE ARE YOU, ROBIN?
(applause)
ROBIN, OF COURSE, HAS QUITE A TRACK RECORD AS A MUSICIAN.
I MEAN, SHE'S GIGGING JUST ABOUT EVERY WEEK,
BUT I ALSO KNOW THE UNIVERSITY WHERE SHE STUDIED--
AT LEAST ONE OF THEM, UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO IN GREELEY.
IT SMELLS SO GOOD THERE.
AND THEY HAD SUCH A FANTASTIC VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAM--
AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU COME TO A PLACE LIKE THIS,
AND NOT KNOWING THAT SHE HAD SPENT TIME THERE
AND I USED TO ADJUDICATE THERE, AND HERE WE ARE.
IT'S A SMALL WORLD.
MAN, WHAT IF I HAD SAID THINGS ABOUT YOU THAT WASN'T NICE
OR SOMETHING AND THEN YOU SHOW UP?
(audience laughing) THAT WOULD BE AWFUL.
SO OVER THE YEARS, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THANK MICHELE
BECAUSE SHE WAS AN ENERGY WHEN SHE WAS IN THE GROUP.
SHE'S VERY METICULOUS ABOUT THINGS,
AND SHE SEES THAT THINGS GET DONE.
I'M GLAD, BECAUSE WE NEED PEOPLE IN GROUPS LIKE THAT
THAT GET THINGS DONE.
WE NEED PEOPLE THAT WILL HAVE A SECTIONAL
OR HAVE A REHEARSAL BECAUSE I'M JUST THE CONDUIT,
OR ANY DIRECTOR IS JUST THE CONDUIT...
BUT IT'S REALLY THE PEOPLE IN THE GROUP WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN,
AND SO I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD STUDENTS LIKE THAT,
WHO I HAD IN HIGH SCHOOL TO COME HERE,
WHO, WHEN I WAS TEACHING AT WESTERN,
I WOULD HAVE THEM AND THEY HAD BEEN IN SHADES OF BLUE
AND I KNEW THAT THEY REALLY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
AND TO SEE PEOPLE FROM SCHOOLS IN OTHER STATES
WHERE I HAVE SUCH RESPECT FOR OTHER DIRECTORS
LIKE LAKEWOOD, OHIO.
YOU KNOW, YAY.
LIKE OAKLAND UNIVERSITY, WHERE APRIL TINI TAUGHT,
AND TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A SMALL WORLD.
SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN, MICHELE,
AND YEAH, GIVE HER SOME LOVE.
(applause)
AND WHEN I GOT THAT LITTLE BLUE--
THAT WAS COOL, ERIN--
THAT LITTLE BLUE POSTCARD INVITING ALUMS TO COME TO THIS,
I THOUGHT, "THIS IS REALLY CLASSY.
"WHO IS DOING THIS?"
AND I AM JUST-- I'M ASTOUNDED AT OUR ALUMNI OFFICE
AND ERIN CISLER,
AND THE ENERGY THAT THEY TOOK TO NOT ONLY SEND OUT MAILERS
AND THINGS, BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE MEAL.
IT WASN'T JUST HOT DOGS AND HAMBURGERS.
IT WAS A CLASSY MEAL WITH CLASSY DESSERTS.
BRAVO-- THANK YOU, AGAIN.
(applause)
SO TONIGHT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SINGING A FEW PIECES,
AND OF COURSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE IMPECCABLE.
(audience laughing)
STRETCHED THAT OUT-- I STRETCHED IT A LITTLE TOO MUCH?
YEAH, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE IMPECCABLE,
BUT THE IMPECCABLE THING IS THAT THEY ARE IMPECCABLE PEOPLE
THAT ARE GOING TO BE PRESENTING IT.
AND WE WANT YOU TO RECEIVE IT AS THAT.
ALL RIGHT NOTES?
NO.
BUT ALL RIGHT SPIRIT BECAUSE YOU CHOSE TO MAKE THIS YOUR EVENT
THAT YOU CAME TO TODAY AND TO SAY THAT, "MY TIME IN THIS GROUP
"MEANT SOMETHING TO ME.
"IT DID SOMETHING TO MY SOUL,
"IT DID SOMETHING TO MY JOURNEY IN LIFE."
AND SOMETIMES, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT'S HAPPENING.
AND THEN, YOU REALIZE...
YOU ARE A CHANGED PERSON BECAUSE OF THAT.
MAYBE THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU INTENDED, BUT YOU ARE CHANGED
BECAUSE OF IT, AND THAT'S WHY THIS SWEATSHIRT SAYS,
"FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY IT, TRAINED BY IT"--
WHICH IS BIBLICAL.
AND SO, ALL RIGHT!
WE'RE GOING TO SING, RIGHT?
WE'RE GOING TO SING A SONG BY THE NEW YORK VOICES
CALLED "MELLOW TONE,"
AND THIS IS THE EASIEST CHART THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
(audience laughing)
(general chatter)
OKAY, SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE--
BOB DEEL, THIS IS ALTOS RIGHT HERE.
>> I KNOW-- REMEMBER I WAS OPPOSITION?
>> OH, ALL RIGHT.
(audience laughing)
READY TO GO.
(snapping)
(jazz music)
TELL US ABOUT IT.
(jazz music)
>> (choir singing) ♪ IN A MELLOW TONE ♪
♪ YOU TAKE IT EASY EVERY DAY ♪
♪ PLAY A MELODY ♪
♪ AND LIFE IS EASY EVERY WAY ♪
♪ IN A MELLOW TONE ♪
♪ PRETTY SOON THE SMOOTHER YOU GO ♪
♪ IN A MELLOW KEY ♪
♪ PRETTY SOON YOU HEAR PRETTY SOON YOU KNOW ♪
♪ IN A MELLOW STYLE ♪
♪ AND WHEN YOU SING A JOY TO HEAR ♪
♪ YOU MIGHT AS WELL MAKE IT SWING ♪
♪ LIFE IS A MELODY ♪
♪ JUST LISTEN TO PLEASE THE EAR ♪
♪ SEE WHAT YOU'RE MISSIN' NOT SWINGIN' CONSTANTLY ♪
♪ IN A MELLOW TONE ♪
♪ YOU OUGHTA KEEP IT SOFT AND LOW ♪
♪ THERE'S A MELLOW GLOW ♪
♪ YOU NEEDN'T HOLLER LOUD YOU KNOW ♪
♪ SOME KIND OF MELLOW MOAN ♪
♪ PRETTY SOON YOU'RE LIVIN' ON LOVE ♪
♪ SORT OF INDIGO PRETTY DAYS AHEAD ♪
♪ PRETTY SKIES ABOVE ♪
♪ A SONG OF LOVE I'M TALKIN' ABOUT LOVE ♪
♪ AND LOVE ALONE I'M TALKIN' ABOUT LIFE ♪
♪ A MELODY I'M TALKIN' ABOUT LIVIN' ♪
♪ IN A MELLOW TONE ♪
(jazz music)
♪ MELLOWLY MELLOWLY ♪
♪ OH MELLOWLY ♪
♪ WHATEVER YOU SAY TO ME TRY TO SAY IT MELLOWLY ♪
♪ MOTHER NATURE SINGS ♪
♪ FOR EVERY SINGLE LITTLE EAR ♪
♪ BE CERTAIN THE NOTES YOU CHOOSE TO PLAY ♪
♪ SING A MELODY NICE TO HEAR ♪
♪ NO SENSE IN GOOFIN' UP THE TEMPO ♪
♪ BUT IF YOU REALLY WANNA DRAW A CROWD ♪
♪ THEN WHY HOLLER OUT LOUD ♪
♪ YOU'RE HOOPIN' 'N' HOLLERIN' 'N' YELLIN' 'N' SCREAMIN' ♪
♪ SAY NOTHIN' ♪
♪ NOTHIN' MEANIN' NOTHIN' EVER ♪
♪ JUST RETAIN YOUR POISE ♪
♪ MAKE A PRETTY NOISE ♪
♪ A PRETTY PRETTY MUSIC I'VE KNOWN ♪
♪ WAS IT THE MELLOW TONE ♪
(applause)
♪ IF YOU BREAK DOWN AN' LISTEN TO ME SLOW AN' EASY ♪
♪ AN' MELLOW AN' BREEZY AN' BRIGHT JUST RIGHT ♪
♪ SAY IT MELLOW AND PEOPLE WILL LISTEN ♪
♪ AND LEARN MORE SWEET 'N' LOW ♪
♪ THE LONGER THE ROAD YOU KNOW ♪
♪ EACH SOUND ANYBODY PUTTIN' DOWN GOTTA BE THEIR VERY OWN ♪
♪ IN A MELLOW TONE LIGHT 'N' FLUFFY AS A CLOUD ♪
♪ NEVER VERY LOUD ♪
♪ DO YOU SING IT SWEET 'N' MELLOW ♪
♪ SELDOM EVER IN A BELLOW ♪
♪ AND YOU'RE REALLY GONNA SEE ♪
♪ EVERYTHING YA SING 'N' EVERYTHING YA DO ♪
♪ IS GONNA HANG AROUND A LITTLE WHILE ♪
♪ BECAUSE IT REALLY IS TRUE IF I EVER GET BLUE ♪
♪ I KNOW I DO AND SO DO YOU I NEVER WORRY A MINUTE ♪
♪ 'CAUSE I KNOW DON'T YOU KNOW THE BLUES ARE MULTICOLORED ♪
♪ ALL DEPENDIN' HOW YOU DIG 'EM ♪
♪ DEPENDIN' ON YOUR OUTLOOK ♪
♪ WELL LEMME SEE WEARY BLUES SAD BLUES BAD BLUES ♪
♪ FALSE BLUES ALL KINDS OF BLUES ♪
♪ PLENTY OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF HUES ♪
♪ YEAH SURE THE ONLY BLUES THAT WE KNOW IS INDIGO ♪
♪ A SONG OF LOVE A SONG OF LOVE ♪
♪ AND LOVE ALONE ♪
♪ WE WILL BE SINGIN' IN THE MELLOWEST OLD TONE ♪
(applause)
(jazz music)
(jazz music)
(jazz music)
>> ROBIN CONNELL.
(applause)
>> (choir singing) ♪ IN A MELLOW TONE ♪
♪ PLAY A MELODY ♪
♪ IN A MELLOW TONE ♪
♪ IN A MELLOW KEY ♪
♪ IN A MELLOW STYLE ♪
♪ A JOY TO HEAR ♪
♪ LIFE'S A MELODY ♪
♪ TO PLEASE THE EAR ♪
♪ SING IT MELLOW ♪
♪ PLAY IT MELLOW ♪
♪ 'CAUSE THAT'S THE CHOICE THAT'S THE VOICE ♪
♪ THAT YOU'RE HEARIN' ♪
♪ WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MOOD ♪
♪ FOR A MELODY WITH AN ATTITUDE ♪
♪ SING IT MELLOW ♪
♪ JUST DON'T HOLLER OUT LOUD ♪
♪ THE SONG MAY BE LAZY ♪
♪ MAKE YOU CRAZY ♪
♪ LAY BACK RELAX ♪
♪ ENJOY THE SLOW DOWN ♪
♪ JUST GIVE IT A SHOT ♪
♪ THE RHYTHM'S HITTIN' THE SPOT ♪
♪ JUST TAKE IT EASY ♪
♪ THE FEELING IS BREEZY 'N' LIGHT ♪
♪ THE STARS ARE AGLOW THE LIGHTS ARE LOW ♪
♪ THE MOOD IS MELLOW ♪
♪ SO MELLOW WE LIVE ON LOVE ♪
♪ SORT OF INDIGO ♪
♪ NO REASON TO BE COMIN' UNDONE ♪
♪ FOR SCREAMIN' AT THE TOP A YOUR LUNGS ♪
♪ THE FEELIN' IS JUST TOO MELLOW ♪
♪ TO EVER STOP ♪
♪ MELLOW TONE ♪
(applause, cheering)
>> TAKE A BOW, TAKE A BOW!
(applause)
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> DID YOU NOTICE HOW CHUCK BUFFHAM
REALLY GOT AN INTRODUCTION, BUT LIKE I DIDN'T GET...
(audience laughing) NOW, KEVIN, YOU'RE UP.
>> PLEASE WELCOME THE MUSIC DIRECTOR
OF THE HEAD OF THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT, KEVIN DOBREFF.
>> OOH!
(applause, cheering)
>> YES-- MAYBE NOT-- I'LL TRY THIS ONE.
IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN MICHELE TALKED ON THIS ONE,
IT WAS REALLY LOUD.
BUT MAYBE IT WAS JUST BECAUSE MICHELE WAS REALLY LOUD.
(audience laughing)
I WANT TO JUST ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND
SO THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND
HOW REALLY AMAZING THIS REUNION IS.
MICHELE CONTACTED ME THROUGH E-MAIL AND SHE TOLD ME
ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND HOW IT HAD STARTED OUT
JUST BEING A LITTLE GET-TOGETHER IN HER HOME
AND IT HAD BLOOMED THROUGH FACEBOOK,
AND THEN I GOT INCLUDED ON FACEBOOK--
AND I NEVER USE FACEBOOK--
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I WAS USING FACEBOOK,
WHICH IS CRAZY. (audience laughing)
BUT THAT WAS EXCITING TO ME.
BUT I WANTED JUST A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
WHEN DUANE DAVIS RETIRED AFTER A GAZILLION YEARS OF WORKING...
(audience laughing)
HERE AT GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
WE HAD TO FIND SOMEONE TO TAKE HIS PLACE
WHILE WE LOOKED FOR A NEW DIRECTOR OF CHORAL ACTIVITIES.
AND THE FIRST PERSON, OF COURSE,
TO COME TO MIND WAS MARK JACKSON,
AND I TALKED WITH DUANE ABOUT THAT,
AND WE HIRED MARK JACKSON TO COME IN.
AND IT WAS A TOUGH TIME FOR MARK
BECAUSE "A," HE HAD TO FOLLOW DUANE DAVIS,
WHICH IS NO EASY TASK.
THAT'S WHY I WAS VERY PLEASED THAT MARK COULD DO IT
BECAUSE HE WORKED WITH DUANE FOR A GREAT DEAL OF TIME
AND DUANE WAS HIS MENTOR.
SO MARK STEPPED UP, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT HE WAS WORKING
ON A MASTER'S DEGREE AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
AND WAS BUSY AND CRAZY
AND TRYING TO DO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS WITH HIS SCHOOLWORK.
STILL, HE WAS ABLE TO COME IN AND WORK WITH SHADES
FOR A YEAR WHILE HE WAS STILL FINISHING UP HIS MASTERS,
AND I THINK HE DESERVES A LOT OF RECOGNITION FOR DOING THAT.
(applause)
THANK YOU, MARK.
YEAH, THAT WAS A DOUBLY TOUGH TIME.
AND THEN, STEVE BARTON WAS HIRED--
STEVE BARTON IS NOT HERE THIS EVENING.
AND STEVE IS OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF CHORAL ACTIVITIES,
AND HE CONDUCTED SHADES OF BLUE FOR THREE YEARS.
AND THEN, THINGS AROUND THE COLLEGE
KINDA CHANGED A LITTLE BIT,
AND I'VE BEEN THE DIRECTOR OF MADRIGAL SINGERS
FOR EVER SINCE 1991 WHEN I CAME HERE.
BUT NOW, WITH OUR NEW CONTRACT HERE AT THE COLLEGE,
THE DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS
AND PROGRAM DIRECTORS HAS CHANGED-- HAVE CHANGED.
AND SO, MY WORKLOAD HAS INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY,
SO I ASKED STEVE BARTON IF HE WOULD TAKE OVER
AS THE DIRECTOR OF MADRIGAL SINGERS,
AND I SUGGESTED TO HIM THAT WE ALREADY HAD THE PERFECT PERSON
TO TAKE OVER AS THE DIRECTOR OF SHADES OF BLUE
AND THAT IS ROBIN CONNELL.
AND ROBIN CONNELL HAS GRACIOUSLY STEPPED INTO THOSE BIG SHOES
THAT WERE FILLED BY DUANE DAVIS AND THEN BY MARK JACKSON
AND THEN, OF COURSE, STEVE BARTON.
AND WE APPRECIATE THE FACT
THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE AN AMAZING YEAR.
(audience laughing) THE FIRST OF MANY!
THAT ROBIN CONNELL WILL BE CONDUCTING SHADES OF BLUE.
THANK YOU, ROBIN.
(applause)
YEAH.
AND THEN, I REALLY HAVE TO ALSO SAY MORE ABOUT ERIN CISLER
AND OUR ALUMNI RELATIONS FOLKS.
I MEAN, ERIN HAS JUST RECENTLY--
IS IT JUST THIS PAST YEAR THAT YOU TOOK OVER?
TWO YEARS AGO?
TWO YEARS AGO, TAKEN OVER THE ALUMNI RELATIONS DEPARTMENT,
AND SHE HAS JUST TRANSFORMED WHAT WAS GOING ON
IN THAT DEPARTMENT, AND IT'S JUST AMAZING.
AND ALL I DID AFTER HAVING THAT ONE CONVERSATION WITH MICHELE,
IS I SAID, "WELL, I'LL CALL ERIN.
"I'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT SHE CAN DO,"
AND SHE JUST RAN WITH IT,
AND IT WAS WHAT YOU SEE TONIGHT--
THE DINNER, ALL THE NAMETAGS AND STUFF,
AND DESSERTS WERE AWESOME. (audience laughing)
AND JUST THINK, REALLY, WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ERIN
EVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE.
ERIN CISLER-- THANK YOU.
(applause)
ALL RIGHT.
SO NOW, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MARY RADEMACHER,
WHO'S GOING TO TELL A STORY OR DO SOMETHING FUN, OR...
>> (indistinct speaking). >> WELL, ALL RIGHT!
(audience laughing) MARY RADEMACHER.
(applause)
(piano music)
>> ROBIN PICKS UP ON THE CUE-- ALL RIGHT!
(audience laughing) WE HAVE GIGGED TOGETHER.
SHE KNOWS ME.
HI, I'M MARY RADEMACHER REED.
I AM ONE OF THE ELDERS HERE TONIGHT.
(audience laughing)
I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE SAYING THAT.
BUT I WAS IN SHADES BACK IN THE MID-'80s,
AND WHEN I WAS AT 'JC IN THE LATE '70s,
THERE WASN'T A SHADES GROUP.
THERE WAS A LAG, OR-- I GUESS IT JUST DIDN'T FORM FORMALLY,
SO AFTER I GRADUATED FROM MICHIGAN STATE,
I WANTED TO BE PART OF THIS VOCAL JAZZ PHENOMENON.
AND PLUS, ALSO, I HAD KNOWN DUANE DAVIS
THROUGH THE THEATER
AND HAD BEEN IN SOME SHOWS WITH HIM AS MUSICAL DIRECTOR,
SO I REALLY WANTED TO WORK WITH DUANE AGAIN.
AND SO I WAS ALREADY OUT IN THE WORLD AND I WAS SINGING
AND I HAD GOTTEN INTO JAZZ,
AND I JUST THOUGHT, "WELL, THIS WILL ONLY HELP,
"YOU KNOW, MY CAREER, AS I'M WORKING," AND IT DID.
I MEAN, I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM DUANE IN THE JAZZ WORLD
AND WAS ABLE TO BRING IT WHERE I WAS SINGING
AT THE AMWAY GRAND PLAZA HOTEL,
AND WE ENDED UP DOING SOME OF THE CHARTS
THAT WE HAD DONE THOSE FEW YEARS.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT SHADES WAS--
IT REALLY WAS A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE,
AND IT HAS BEEN A GREAT INFLUENCE.
I'M A FULL-TIME SINGER AND ENTERTAINER,
I TEACH MUSIC AND THEATER AND DANCE,
BUT THOSE WERE VERY, VERY FORMATIVE YEARS
THAT I HAD WITH DUANE AND SHADES OF BLUE,
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR--
THANK YOU, AND WHAT A WONDERFUL TRADITION THAT THIS HAS BEEN,
THAT'S CARRIED ON AND ON,
AND I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY WHAT A GREAT IMPACT
THAT JUST THOSE COUPLE YEARS HAD ON MY LIFE...
AND THEY STILL DO TODAY.
AND ROBIN, I MIGHT AUDITION TO COME BACK IN AGAIN.
(audience laughing)
YOU CAN NEVER STOP GROWING AND LEARNING,
YOU KNOW, NO MATTER WHAT.
SO ANYWAY, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE TONIGHT
AND I'M GLAD TO BE A PART OF EVERYONE.
I'M SO IMPRESSED WITH EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU.
(applause)
>> THANK YOU, KEVIN, AND THANK YOU, MARY.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT MARY HAS SPENT HER LIFE
HONING A CAREER OUT OF SOMETHING THAT SHE LOVES DOING.
I MEAN, YOU COULD PICK UP THE PAPER ANY TIME AND YOU'LL SEE,
"MARY IS SINGING HERE," OR "SHE'S SINGING WITH THIS BAND,"
AND SHE HAS SPENT HER LIFE DOING IT.
AND EVERY TIME I SEE MARY, SHE'S SMILING, SHE'S HAPPY.
EITHER SHE'S ALOOF... (audience laughing)
WHICH SHE'S NOT, OR SHE'S HAPPY,
AND I BELIEVE IT'S HAPPY BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING WHAT MOVES
AND SHAKES YOU AND STIRS YOU AND BRINGS YOU JOY,
SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE WORDS.
IT GOES BACK, IN SOME WAYS, WITH THOSE BLUE DRESSES.
(audience chuckling)
SHADES OF BLUE DRESSES-- THEY WERE INTERESTING.
EVERY STUDENT THAT'S STANDING HERE IS STANDING HERE,
AND THERE WILL BE ELDERS THAT WILL COME UP
ON THEIR FINAL PIECE,
BUT THEY STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE.
THEY ARE IN THE WAKE OF PART OF THAT RIPPLE,
AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE STUDENTS HERE
WHO MAY NOT HAVE EVER MET MARY
OR MAY NOT HAVE EVER MET MARK, OR SANG WITH THEM,
BUT THEY ARE A RESULT OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED.
BECAUSE IF THE GROUP HAD--
IF THERE WAS BITTERNESS AND PEOPLE DIDN'T ENJOY IT
AND IT WASN'T A MUSICAL CHALLENGE,
THEN MAYBE WE WOULDN'T END UP HAVING A NIGHT LIKE TONIGHT.
SO I THANK EACH OF THESE PEOPLE FOR CARRYING THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD MUSICIAN
AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN
OF THIS MUSIC AND OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THIS NEXT PIECE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SING--
WHERE DID CHUCK GO?
CHUCK...
I LOVE THAT JOKE ABOUT "BABYLON."
(audience laughing)
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW!
(audience laughing)
THIS NEXT SONG THAT WE'RE GOING TO SING
IS AN A CAPELLA PIECE--
WHERE DID YOU COME FROM? >> (indistinct speaking).
(audience chuckling)
>> IT'S CALLED "SINGING IN THE RAIN."
SOME OF YOU KNOW WHO-- WHAT WAS THE MOVIE?
THE MOVIE WAS "SINGING IN THE RAIN."
AND THIS IS ARRANGED BY APRIL ARABIAN TINI--
SHE'S JUST A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE, LIVES IN DETROIT,
AND AT THE TIME THAT SHE ARRANGED THIS,
SHE WAS TEACHING AT THE BERKLEY SCHOOL.
AND SHE AND I WERE IN HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--
THE NEW YORK VOICES WERE PREMIERING A NEW SINGER,
LAUREN KINHAN, AND SO THAT WAS NEW,
AND APRIL WAS LEAVING HER JOB TO GET MARRIED TO DENNIS TINI,
WHO WAS THE CHAIRPERSON AT WAYNE STATE.
AND ALL OF THE ANXIETY OF THAT--
AND EVERY TIME I TELL APRIL THAT I JUST DID
AN ALL-STATE AND THE GROUP SANG "SINGING IN THE RAIN,"
SHE GOES, "THEY'RE STILL DOING THAT?"
I SAY, "YEAH, IT'S A GOOD CHART."
SO THIS IS "SINGING IN THE RAIN."
(piano giving chords)
(snapping)
>> (choir singing) ♪ DOO-DLOO-DOO-DOO-DOO ♪
♪ DOO-DLOO-DOO-DOO-DOO-DOO ♪
♪ DAH-DAH-DAH DAH DAH DAH DAH ♪
♪ I'M SINGING IN THE RAIN JUST SINGING IN THE RAIN ♪
♪ WHAT A GLORIOUS FEELIN' I'M HAPPY AGAIN ♪
♪ I'M LAUGHING AT CLOUDS SO DARK UP ABOVE ♪
♪ THE SUN'S IN MY HEART SUN'S IN MY HEART ♪
♪ SUN'S IN MY HEART AND I'M READY ♪
♪ READY FOR LOVE ♪
♪ LET THE STORMY CLOUDS CHASE ♪
♪ EVERYONE FROM THE PLACE ♪
♪ COME ON WITH THE RAIN ♪
♪ I'VE A SMILE ON MY FACE ♪
♪ I WALK DOWN THE LANE ♪
♪ WITH A HAPPY REFRAIN ♪
♪ JUST SINGIN' SINGIN' SINGIN' IN THE RAIN ♪
♪ LET THE STORMY CLOUDS CHASE ♪
♪ ALL THE BLUES FROM THE PLACE ♪
♪ COME ON WITH THE RAIN ♪
♪ I'VE A SMILE A MILE WIDE ON MY FACE ♪
♪ I'LL WALK DOWN THE LANE ♪
♪ WITH A HAPPY REFRAIN ♪
♪ JUST SINGIN' WATCH ME SING ♪
♪ SINGIN' IN THE RAIN ♪
♪ DAH-DAH-DAH DAH DAH DAH ♪
♪ DAH DAHHHH ♪
(applause)
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE HAS SUNG THAT IN A SHADES GROUP?
JUST A COUPLE. (audience laughing)
SO YOU SEE-- YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE WERE WORKING TODAY--
(laughing) I LOVE THIS SONG.
(laughing)
(audience laughing)
>> OKAY, YOU GUYS ARE-- WE ARE GOING TO SEE A VIDEO FOR SECOND.
AND IF YOU WANT TO ACTUALLY SEE IT,
YOU CAN EITHER STAND OVER THERE
OR YOU CAN SIT BACK DOWN FOR A SECOND.
WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.
(general chatter)
OKAY, SO WHILE THEY'RE TAKING THEIR SEATS
AND WHILE MY HANDSOME HUSBAND IS GETTING OUR VIDEO SET--
DO YOU KNOW WHICH ONE IT IS?
I'M JUST GONNA SHARE--
SO ONE OF OUR MEMBERS THAT MR. DAVIS MENTIONED
WAS AMANDA QUIST, AND I SAW HER LAST WEEKEND AT A WEDDING,
AND I SAID, "AMANDA, WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU
"TO SHARE SOMETHING."
AND SHE WAS GOING TO BE HERE, AND THEN THINGS DIDN'T WORK OUT,
AND SHE SAID, "I'LL VIDEOTAPE MYSELF AND SEND IT TO YOU."
AND THEN, TODAY, SHE SAID, "IS IT TOO LATE?"
(audience chuckling)
AND SHE SAID, "HOW ABOUT YOU JUST READ IT FOR ME?"
SO I'M ABOUT TO READ TO YOU WHAT AMANDA QUIST HAD TO SAY, OKAY?
SO SHE SAYS, "DEAR SHADES ALUMNI,
"I'M SORRY I WAS NOT ABLE TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.
"I WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE JUST TO SAY A FEW THINGS
"ABOUT HOW SHADES OF BLUE HAS IMPACTED MY LIFE.
"I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT SHADES
"WHEN MY HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR DIRECTOR BROUGHT US
"TO A CONCERT AT GRCC WITH BOBBY McFERRIN.
"I HAD NEVER SEEN OR HEARD ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS
"AND WAS STAR-STRUCK.
"IMMEDIATELY, I WANTED TO KNOW HOW AND WHY THIS GROUP EXISTED,
"AND IF IT WAS SOMETHING I COULD BE A PART OF.
"I AUDITIONED FOR SHADES IN THE FALL OF 1994,
"WHICH PROVED TO BE A TURNING POINT IN MY LIFE.
"I WAS ENTERING SCHOOL AS A PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR
"AND MUSIC MINOR,
"AND HAD CONSIDERED JOINING THE BASKETBALL TEAM--"
WHICH SHE IS PRETTY TALL.
SHE LOOKS LIKE A BASKETBALL PLAYER, RIGHT?
"THE DAY THE RESULTS FOR SHADES WERE POSTED, I WAS IN SHOCK.
"MY NAME APPEARED IN THE ALTO SECTION,
"AND BASEBALL SEEMED RIDICULOUS
"IF IT WOULD KEEP ME FROM BEING IN THIS CHOIR.
"WITHIN ONE SEMESTER AT GRCC,
"I DISCOVERED THINGS ABOUT MYSELF
"THAT I HADN'T REALIZED BEFORE.
"ONE, I NEEDED MUSIC TO BE A PART OF MY EVERYDAY LIFE.
"TWO, I WAS ACTUALLY GOOD AT MUSIC THEORY AND HISTORY.
"AND THREE, I WANTED TO BE LIKE THESE TEACHERS
"AND ESPECIALLY MR. DAVIS.
"I DECIDED THEN TO CHANGE MY MAJOR TO MUSIC
"AND NEVER LOOKED BACK.
"BEING IN SHADES PUSHED ME BEYOND WHAT I THOUGHT POSSIBLE
"FOR MYSELF.
"IT FORCED ME TO BE A BETTER MUSICIAN, TO BE DISCIPLINED,
"AND TO GIVE EVERY PART OF MYSELF WHEN PERFORMING.
"I LEARNED THAT EVERYTHING IS AN AUDITION,
"AND NOT TO FEAR FAILURE,
"ALTHOUGH AS A YOUNG 18 TO 19 YEAR OLD,
"I FEARED NOTHING MORE THAN COMING TO REHEARSAL UNPREPARED.
(audience laughing)
"I NOW HAVE A DOCTORATE IN CHORAL CONDUCTING
"AND I AM A CONDUCTOR AT WESTMINSTER CHOIR COLLEGE
"IN PRINCETON.
"I HAVE COLLABORATED AND PREPARED CHOIRS
"FOR THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC, PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA,
"AND BERLIN PHILHARMONIC.
"I PREPARED A CHOIR LAST YEAR FOR A PERFORMANCE
"WITH ANDREA BOCELLI AND CELINE DION.
"I ABSOLUTELY FEEL THAT MY DREAMS CAME TRUE
"AND THEY POINT BACK TO THE ROOTS LAID AT GRCC.
"MY PASSION, DRIVE, AND RESOLVE
"TO HELP PEOPLE FIND BEAUTY AND TRUTH IN SINGING
"WAS STIRRED IN ME THERE.
"I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL TO MR. DAVIS
"FOR BEING THE BEST TEACHER AND FRIEND I COULD HAVE HOPED FOR,
"AND TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING PART OF SOMETHING
"TRULY UNIQUE AND REMARKABLE.
"I WISH I WAS THERE WITH YOU AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
"SINCERELY, AMANDA QUIST."
>> YEAH! >> WASN'T THAT SWEET?
(applause)
SO ANOTHER PERSON WHO COULDN'T BE WITH US TONIGHT
IS TAMI HJELM-- IT USED TO BE TAMI DURON,
AND SHE IS GIGGING AT A WEDDING.
THESE PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS-- THEY JUST CAN'T SHOW UP
ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, WHAT'S THEIR PROBLEM?!
(audience laughing) SO SHE SENT US A VIDEO,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO WATCH NEXT.
>> HI, EVERYBODY.
I AM TAMI HJELM, FORMERLY DURON,
FROM 1987-1988, THE YEAR I WAS IN SHADES.
IT SEEMS LIKE A LIFETIME AGO, BUT IT WAS SUCH A GREAT TIME,
ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING TIMES OF MY LIFE AT THAT POINT.
I LOVED IT-- I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF BEING IN SHADES--
THE FRIENDS I MADE, THE FUN I HAD,
THE GROUPS I SAW, THE PLACES I WENT.
IT WAS AWESOME.
I'M SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF,
SO I'LL TELL YOU I'M STARTING MY 21st YEAR
TEACHING VOCAL MUSIC AT CROSSROADS MIDDLE SCHOOL
IN NORTHVIEW.
I LOVE MY JOB, I LOVE MY STUDENTS,
I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.
I GET TO GO TO WORK AND DO THINGS THAT I ENJOY--
SING, MAKE MUSIC.
IT'S AWESOME.
I ALSO HAVE MANY OTHER JOBS, AS MOST MUSICIANS DO.
I AM A PROFESSIONAL SINGER.
I SING WITH THE McNAUGHTON JAZZ TRIO.
I WORK AT OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION IN ROCKFORD
AND TEACH BOTH THE ADULT AND CHILDREN'S CHOIRS.
AND I CANTER THERE AS WELL.
I DO LOTS OF WEDDINGS AND LOTS OF FUNERALS
ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
I'M ACTUALLY AT A WEDDING RIGHT NOW--
THAT'S WHY I'M NOT WITH YOU GUYS,
WHICH IS KIND OF A BUMMER, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.
I HAVE ABOUT 30 TO 40 VOICE STUDENTS THAT I TEACH PRIVATELY,
AND I LOVE IT WHEN THEY COME TO ME AND SAY,
"I WANT TO LEARN THIS JAZZ PIECE,"
OR "I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO SCAT FOR A COLLEGE AUDITION."
IT'S SO GREAT, IT'S SO MUCH FUN.
UM, I LEARNED-- I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY "UM,"
MY DAUGHTER SAYS-- SORRY.
I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM DUANE MUSICALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.
ALSO, I LEARNED HOW TO BE CRAZY-BUSY,
AS MOST MUSICIANS ARE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I DO WITH MY CHOIRS,
AND I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT IT, AND I LOVE,
IS I TAKE THEM TO THE FOREST HILLS NORTHERN JAZZ FESTIVAL
EVERY YEAR,
AND WE PERFORM WITH ALL THE OTHER HIGH SCHOOL
AND COLLEGE GROUPS,
AND I LOVE TO SEE MY KIDS GET EXCITED
ABOUT SEEING THESE OTHER GREAT SINGERS
AND HOPEFULLY GET TO DO THAT THEMSELVES SOME DAY.
I HAVE ONE GREAT MEMORY-- I HAVE TO GET THIS GOING--
I HAVE ONE GREAT MEMORY.
WE WENT TO DETROIT FOR THE JAZZ FESTIVAL.
IT WAS SO MUCH FUN, HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME
LISTENING TO ALL THE GROUPS,
LISTENING TO ALL THE GREAT ARTISTS, MAKING FRIENDS.
SOME OF THOSE FRIENDS I MADE, I'M STILL FRIENDS WITH NOW,
AND THAT'S EXCITING.
THERE WAS SOME REALLY KIND OF CRAZY THINGS
WE DID THAT WEEKEND, TOO,
BUT I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT IT TODAY,
SO WE'LL SAVE THAT FOR ANOTHER TIME.
LASTLY, THANKS A LOT FOR HAVING ME BE PART OF YOUR NIGHT.
WISH I COULD BE THERE.
DUANE, CALL ME--
YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO WORK WITH MY CHOIRS LAST YEAR.
YOU NEVER CALLED ME.
GET ON IT, CALL ME.
HAVE A GREAT TIME TONIGHT.
SEE YA! (audience laughing)
(applause)
>> ALL RIGHT, SO IF THE SINGERS WOULD COME BACK UP.
AND IF YOU WERE NOT HERE FOR THE REHEARSAL THIS AFTERNOON,
BUT YOU HAVE SUNG IN SHADES OF BLUE EVER,
PLEASE COME UP, AND IF YOU NEED MUSIC,
WE'RE GOING TO SING "ROUTE 66," AND I HAVE EXTRA COPIES.
WHILE THEY'RE COMING UP, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE
WHO CAME TODAY TO PARTICIPATE WITH US.
I WANT TO THANK THE BAND-- ROBIN CONNELL ON PIANO...
(applause)
CHRIS *** ON DRUMS...
(applause)
SAM PARKS ON GUITAR...
(applause)
AND GREG WELLS ON BASS.
(applause)
THANK YOU TO MR. DUANE DAVIS FOR REHEARSING US--
I SHOULD SAY, FOR PUTTING UP WITH US
DURING REVERSAL TODAY.
HE WAS A TRUE CHAMPION.
(applause)
THANKS AGAIN TO ERIN CISLER.
AND I'M SUPPOSED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE PARKING RAMP GATES
ARE OPEN, SO YOU DON'T NEED TO SEE ANYONE
TO GET A PARKING PASS.
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO EXIT, DON'T WORRY.
AND IF YOU ARE AN ALUMNI
AND YOU DID NOT GET A BAG OF GOODIES,
PLEASE SEE ERIN AFTERWARDS.
FOLLOWING THIS SONG, WE WILL HAVE A RECEPTION
WITH PUNCH AND COOKIES, WHICH IS WHY MY KIDS ARE HERE.
(audience laughing) AND THAT WILL BE OVER HERE,
KIND OF BEHIND WHERE THE BAND IS PLAYING.
AND WE HAVE-- I'LL PLAY THE MONTAGE VIDEO AGAIN,
IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT.
AND I ACTUALLY HAD MR. DAVIS BRING HIS PHOTO BOOK
OF SOME OTHER MEMORIES.
SO HANG OUT AND TALK.
WE HAVE THE PLACE UNTIL 9 O'CLOCK,
SO DON'T RUSH OUT.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, HERE IS "ROUTE 66."
>> WHOO!
(applause)
>> YOU KNOW, I WAS CLEANING OUT MY CLOSET AND...
(audience laughing)
SOMETIME I WOULD HAVE TWO OF THE SAME SWEATSHIRT
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT THERE ARE ONLY NINE HERE, YOU SEE.
HERE'S A NICE HOODIE... (audience laughing)
(general chatter)
YOU NEVER HAD-- YOU DIDN'T HAVE A SWEATSHIRT?
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> YEAH, BUT YOU WENT TO VANCOUVER,
AND YOU WENT TO DALLAS!
>> I STILL DO YARD WORK IN THAT ONE!
(audience laughing) >> OH, MY LORD.
>> JUST A PICTURE OF THE GROUP.
SO YOU KNOW, I NEEDED ROOM IN MY CLOSET
AND I NEEDED TO FIND OUT HOW DO I GET RID OF THESE.
>> OH, I GOT THAT SHIRT. (audience laughing)
>> WHILE DUANE IS HANDING OUT SWEATSHIRTS,
I SAID, "WELL, WE NEVER HAD SWEATSHIRTS,"
AND HE SAID, "YEAH, BUT YOU GOT TO GO TO VANCOUVER
"AND TO DALLAS."
SEE, I THOUGHT THAT WAS SOMETHING YOU GUYS DID EVERY YEAR,
YOU WENT SOMEWHERE SPECIAL LIKE THAT.
WE GOT TO GO TO THESE INCREDIBLE JAZZ CONVENTIONS.
WE WERE THERE WHEN BOBBY McFERRIN--
BEFORE BOBBY McFERRIN DID ANY "DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY" KIND OF STUFF,
AND DIANNE REEVES WAS JUST STARTING OUT IN HER CAREER,
RARE SILK-- OH, IT WAS JUST AN AMAZING--
THESE WERE PART OF THE AMAZING EXPERIENCES.
>> YOU KNOW, YOU SAW A PICTURE OF SHADES
UP IN VANCOUVER, AND WE'RE AT--
THEY HAVE A-- THEY GIVE OUT MEDALS.
AND I DON'T KNOW-- WE MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONLY GROUP
FROM THE U.S. THERE.
AND AT THIS BIG STADIUM, THEY AWARD THESE MEDALS.
AND WE HAD SUNG WELL, I THOUGHT...
AND WE RECEIVED THE GOLD MEDAL...
AND IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING FOR THESE STUDENTS, AND FOR ME,
TO EXPERIENCE THAT WITH ALL OF THESE CANADIAN GROUPS.
>> YEAH. >> IT WAS GREAT.
>> YEAH, THAT WAS COOL.
AND IT WAS THE YEAR OF THE WORLD'S FAIR,
SO THEY HAD BUILT THESE HUGE BUILDINGS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE STILL THERE, BUT ANYWAY, WE DID.
WE GOT TO TRAVEL AND HAVE GREAT EXPOSURE TO JAZZ.
>> THE OTHER THING, MARY, THAT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT
IS SHADES' COSTUMES-- I MEAN, SHADES' APPAREL?
(audience laughing)
WHAT YOU CALL THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAD TO WEAR?
SO WHEN YOU WATCH THE MONTAGE,
I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT A LOT OF THAT
WAS DICTATED BY MR. DAVIS.
WE JUST GONNA BLAME THAT ON HIM. (audience laughing)
HE'D SAY, "THIS YEAR, I THINK THE GIRLS
NEED TO BE IN SOMETHING BLACK WITH A LITTLE BIT OF BLUE,"
OR "THAT'S JUST NOT QUITE RIGHT.
"CAN YOU COME UP WITH SOMETHING--"
>> I MEAN, I DO HAVE OPINIONS. (audience laughing)
I'M A BENEVOLENT DICTATOR. (audience chuckling)
SO I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE GIVE OUT THESE,
AND I HAVE NINE THINGS, AND I THINK THE FIRST ONE
I WANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, WITHOUT ANY CHOICE,
IS I WANT THE NEW DIRECTOR OF SHADES OF BLUE
TO COME AND PICK ONE OF THESE UP.
(applause)
WHICHEVER ONE-- THEY'RE ALL "X," THOUGH.
(audience laughing)
SO WHILE SHE'S CHOOSING, I WANT TO KNOW--
>> OH, I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OTHERS.
>> WHO PARTICIPATED-- OH, DUKE ELLINGTON, COOL.
ALL RIGHT. (audience laughing)
THERE YOU HAVE IT.
I WANT TO KNOW WHO WAS IN THE GROUP THE LONGEST,
BECAUSE SOME OF THESE STUDENTS WERE--
>> THE LONGEST AGO. >> THE LONGEST AGO?
>> (indistinct speaking). >> FARTHEST BACK?
WELL, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
THERE'S CHUCK BUFFHAM, WHO'S ALL THE WAY BACK.
AND THEN, THE NEXT BACK WOULD BE MARY.
ANYONE ELSE THAT FAR BACK?
>> (indistinct speaking).
(audience laughing)
>> WAIT A MINUTE-- I JUST WANT YOU TO SEE
WHERE THESE STUDENTS COME FROM, FROM THE ERA.
'82-'83-- JUST RAISE YOUR HAND WHEN I GET TO YOUR NUMBER--
'84, '85,
'86, '87,
'88, '89--
THAT WAS A LOWLY KIND OF--
>> (indistinct speaking). >> OH, YEAH.
WE WENT TO UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, RIGHT?
THAT WAS A GOOD GROUP.
'89, '90, '91,
'92, '93,
'94, '95--
SOME OF THEM WOULD RAISE THEIR HAND ABOUT FOUR TIMES.
(audience laughing)
'96, '97,
'98, '99,
9... (audience laughing)
NINETY-TEN? (audience laughing)
2000, 2001,
2002, 2003,
2004-- WHEN DID I RETIRE?
2005, 2006,
'07, '08,
'09, '10,
'11, '12.
FROM THE YOUNGEST TO THE OLDEST.
THE OLDEST TO THE YOUNGEST. (audience chuckling)
ALL RIGHT, GIVE THEM SOME LOVE.
(applause)
SO CHUCK AND MARY, YOU CAN HAGGLE OVER WHICH ONE OF YOU
IS GONNA GET THE SWEATSHIRTS, SINCE YOU BOTH GO BACK.
CHUCK IS THERE-- CHUCK, ARE YOU THERE?
>> I'LL TAKE ONE WHEN WE ARE DONE.
>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT. (audience laughing)
THE MOST RECENT MEMBER-- THAT MEANS YOU WOULD GET ONE.
GRAB ONE. >> OH, RACHEL.
>> GO AHEAD, MARY, GET IT.
>> MARY, YOU GET ONE.
YOU HAVE SOME HISTORY.
>> THAT'S THE ONE I WANTED. >> BEAT HER UP THEN.
(audience laughing)
IT'S A DOUBLE-X, THOUGH.
IT WOULD BE PAJAMAS.
AND WHO TRAVELED THE FARTHEST?
TO BE HERE?
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> I CAME FROM MACKINAW TODAY. >> MACKINAW, OKAY.
ANYONE FURTHER THAN MACKINAW?
THESE ARE ALL LOCAL PEOPLE-- THAT IS COOL.
>> (indistinct speaking).
(general chatter)
>> OKAY, EACH OF YOU TAKE ONE.
(general chatter)
AND WHO HAS SUNG THE MOST PARTS?
LIKE, SOME PEOPLE HAVE SUNG ALTO, TENOR, SOPRANO.
SEE, I KNEW THAT WOULD BE HARD.
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> ALL RIGHT, YOU ALL HAVE TO FIGHT OVER IT.
>> I ALREADY HAVE THAT SHIRT. (audience laughing)
>> OKAY, TAKE WHATEVER YOU WANT.
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME IMPROV ON THIS,
AND MARY, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO START THAT IMPROV.
AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO ALL NIGHT, BUT...
(audience laughing)
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> TURN THE LIGHT OUT HERE WHEN SHE COMES UP.
(audience laughing)
AND THEN, WE CAN JUST MOVE ON AND DO A FEW PEOPLE,
BUT WHO WOULD LIKE TO DO THE FIRST SOLO?
NOW YOU GO THROUGH "ST. LOUIS"-- SOMEONE THAT HASN'T SUNG?
>> (indistinct speaking).
>> OKAY, FINE. >> BRIAN WOULD.
>> AND "JOPLIN, MISSOURI"?
I NEED A FEMALE.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? >> COME ON, YOU GOT IT.
>> AND IS THAT IT?
(snapping)
(jazz music)
>> (choir singing) ♪ IF YOU EVER ♪
♪ PLAN TO MOTOR WEST ♪
♪ TRAVEL MY WAY TAKE THE HIGHWAY ♪
♪ THAT'S THE BEST ♪
♪ GET YOUR KICKS ♪
♪ ON ROUTE 66 ♪
>> (man singing) ♪ WELL IT WINDS FROM CHICAGO ♪
♪ TO L.A. ♪
♪ MORE THAN 2,000 MILES ♪
♪ ALL THE WAY ♪
♪ GET YOUR KICKS ON ROUTE 66 ♪
>> (woman singing) ♪ NOW YOU GO THROUGH ♪
♪ SAINT LOUIS ♪
♪ JOPLIN MISSOURI OKLAHOMA CITY ♪
♪ LOOKS MIGHTY PRETTY ♪
>> (man singing) ♪ YOU SEE AMARILLO ♪
>> (choir singing) ♪ GALLUP NEW MEXICO ♪
♪ FLAGSTAFF ARIZONA DON'T FORGET WINONA ♪
♪ KINGMAN BARSTOW SAN BERNANDINO ♪
♪ WON'T YOU GET HIP TO THIS TIMELY TIP ♪
(jazz music)
♪ WHEN YOU MAKE THAT CALIFORNIA TRIP ♪
(jazz music)
♪ GET YOUR KICKS ON ROUTE 66 ♪
>> (scat singing)
(applause)
(jazz music)
>> (scat singing)
(applause)
>> (scat singing)
(applause)
>> (scat singing)
(applause)
>> (scat singing)
(applause)
>> (faux trumpet)
(applause)
>> (scat singing)
(applause)
>> (scat singing)
(applause)
(entire choir scat singing)
♪ NOW YOU GO THROUGH SAINT LOUIS ♪
♪ JOPLIN MISSOURI ♪
♪ AND OKLAHOMA CITY IS MIGHTY PRETTY ♪
♪ YOU SEE AMARILLO ♪
♪ GALLUP NEW MEXICO ♪
♪ FLAGSTAFF ARIZONA DON'T FORGET WINONA ♪
♪ KINGMAN BARSTOW SAN BERNANDINO ♪
♪ WON'T YOU GET HIP TO THIS TIMELY TIP ♪
>> (woman scat singing)
>> (choir singing) ♪ WHEN YOU MAKE ♪
♪ THAT CALIFORNIA TRIP ♪
♪ GET YOUR KICKS ♪
♪ ON ROUTE 66 ♪
♪ GET YOUR KICKS ♪
♪ ON ROUTE 66 ♪
(softer) ♪ GET YOUR KICKS ♪
♪ ON ROUTE 66 ♪
♪ GET YOUR KICKS ♪
♪ ON ROUTE 66 ♪
(softly) ♪ GET YOUR KICKS ♪
♪ ON ROUTE 66 ♪
♪ GET YOUR KICKS ♪
♪ ON ROUTE 66 ♪
♪ OOO OOH ♪
>> YEAH!
(applause, cheering)
>> TAKE A BOW!
YEAH!
(applause, cheering)
TAKE A BOW!
(applause, cheering)
AND ONE MORE!
(applause, cheering)