Friday, April 07, 2006
Elder Fun
Today was another first, two singing engagements in one day. The Highland Harmonizers filled in for another group this morning at a very nice retirement home. After getting our equipment set up, we still had time to kill, so I started plinking on the piano to bring in a bigger audience. On the third song, Charlie started warbling along with the tune, and suddenly we had a new act to add to the show. Although I messed up on the chords, we were asked to repeat it at the afternoon performance at another home.
Between performances, we had lunch at a senior center with a mutual friend, sitting at a table with another couple who thought Charlie looked familiar. We talked about movies and singing for awhile, and learned that the other guy is a one-man band, entertaining regularly around the area, and invited us to attend one of his shows. He says that doing it all himself is easier than keeping a band together. He has played guitar with Glen Campbell, Marty Robbins and others, sings mostly old time country music, a very interesting character. I suspect that he is also an outstanding musician.
We had a larger group of Harmonizers for the afternoon show, but a smaller audience. Some of them sang along with us, which always seems to be a good sign that they're enjoying themselves. With Charlie's warbling, Jeff's imitation of Maurice Chevalier, Shirley's rendition of "I Just Don't Look Good Naked Any More", two different songs that we do in Spanish, two Easter songs, several Jerome Kern tunes, some country, we old-timers put on a pretty good show. Our energetic director, Connie, is superb, with a great voice that can sing anything from soprano to bass.
This month we will have our belated Christmas party. Being so busy singing during the holiday season, we have no time for parties in December, so Christmas in April is a very special time. After a delicious pot luck lunch, we entertain each other with songs, skits, whatever suits our fancy, and Connie may pick the best acts for our nursing home repertoire. And a good time is had by all.
Don't you wish you were old and carefree?
Cora Gail Trent
www.cgtrent.com
Between performances, we had lunch at a senior center with a mutual friend, sitting at a table with another couple who thought Charlie looked familiar. We talked about movies and singing for awhile, and learned that the other guy is a one-man band, entertaining regularly around the area, and invited us to attend one of his shows. He says that doing it all himself is easier than keeping a band together. He has played guitar with Glen Campbell, Marty Robbins and others, sings mostly old time country music, a very interesting character. I suspect that he is also an outstanding musician.
We had a larger group of Harmonizers for the afternoon show, but a smaller audience. Some of them sang along with us, which always seems to be a good sign that they're enjoying themselves. With Charlie's warbling, Jeff's imitation of Maurice Chevalier, Shirley's rendition of "I Just Don't Look Good Naked Any More", two different songs that we do in Spanish, two Easter songs, several Jerome Kern tunes, some country, we old-timers put on a pretty good show. Our energetic director, Connie, is superb, with a great voice that can sing anything from soprano to bass.
This month we will have our belated Christmas party. Being so busy singing during the holiday season, we have no time for parties in December, so Christmas in April is a very special time. After a delicious pot luck lunch, we entertain each other with songs, skits, whatever suits our fancy, and Connie may pick the best acts for our nursing home repertoire. And a good time is had by all.
Don't you wish you were old and carefree?
Cora Gail Trent
www.cgtrent.com
