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Classic Urban Harmony
Newsletter #04
Happy New Year! We wish each of you a happy, healthy and safe 2013, In our first newsletter of the new year, we take time to reflect on the year gone by. We thank each and everyone of you who took the time to read our newsletter, visit www.classicurbanharmony.net, and/or attend our presentations and events. Our website has now reached a new milestone of 75,000 visitors. We hope you'll continue to support us in what looks like an exciting new year.
Classic Urban Harmony LLC promotes the legacy of Rhythm & Blues, Doo Wop, Soul and Gospel Vocal Group Harmony through multimedia presentations, historical research, interviews, magazine articles, museum displays, radio guest appearances, our website, www.classicurbanharmony.net, and this free newsletter. Here you'll find news of important events relevant to our music as well as updates to our website and summaries of our Classic Urban Harmony activities and projects. To read more about and see more photos from the articles in this newsletter, check the Whats's New Page of www.classicurbanharmony.net. We hope you'll enjoy this issue of the newsletter and again find it entertaining and informative. Please continue passing the word on to others who might want to receive it. They can sign up by sending their names and email addresses to CUH@att.net. - Charlie & Pam Horner - January 1, 2013 |
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2012 Year In Review Slide Show now posted on our website.
It's time for our look back at the year that was 2012. If you shared any part of the last year with us, you're going to want to watch the slide show we just posted to our website.
We wish we could have included even more photos and events but we were restricted by time and space. We think we've covered the main events. Go to the What's New page of www.classicurbanharmony.net, turn up your audio volume and take a seat. Click on the full-screen icon at the bottom right of the video and then click the arrow in the middle. This could be emotional for many of you to watch. We hope the good memories will soften the sad ones.
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Christmas in Arizona
We've reported so many sad stories lately, we were glad to see this photo, sent to us by Sam Hill, of a recent Christmas party in Arizona. It's of some of our favorite singers, still harmonizing acappella. From left to right, Billy Herbert of the Danderliers & Kingsmen; John Dominguez of the Embers, Act IV and Latin Counts; Gaynel Hodge of the Hollywood Flames, Platters and Turks; Wilfred Johnson of the Versatiles and Four Dimensions (Ramco label), George Grant of the Castelles, Modern Red Caps, Orioles and Ink Spots; and Joe Dolinich of the Desert Doo Wops and Time & Time Again. Also there, but not in the photo was Jerry Lawson of the Persuasions and Talk Of The Town.
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NJ Senate Passes Resolution to Honor Clarence Clemons
The New Jersey Senate passed a resolution on December 20, 2012, to declare January 11, "Clarence Clemons Day" in the state. The resolution now has to be passed by the State Assemble and be signed by Governor Christie. The late saxophonist found fame with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, but got his start in Asbury Park's West Side clubs. He's shown in the photo above early in his career, backing the soul group, the Broadways. (Photo courtesy of Ron Coleman & Billy Brown of the Broadways). Clemons' birthday is January 11.
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Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation Underway
Classic Urban Harmony joins with the Franklin Township (NJ) Cultural Arts Council in a year long celebration of the Grand Jubilee (150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation). Several events are already scheduled.
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On January 2, Franklin Township's Cultural Arts Council will kick off the celebration with a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation at the scheduled Township Council Meeting. Prior to the council meeting there will be a reception in the lobby of the Municipal Building (475 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ) at 6:30 PM. After the reading, the reception will continue. Displays will be set up in the lobby with literature and educational items regarding the Emancipation Proclamation. The event is open to the public. Classic Urban Harmony is preparing the displays.
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Classic Urban Harmony will display a collection of rare Spirituals-related memorabilia in the Franklin Township Public Library, 485 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ, beginning mid-January and running throughout February. This is worth seeing and you can view this if you come early to the next event (below).
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Classic Urban Harmony will present our newest multimedia presentation, "Crossing Jordan: How African American Spirituals Changed the World".at the Franklin Township (NJ) Public Library, 485 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873, on Wednesday evening February 20, 2013 at 7 PM. (In the event of severe inclement weather, the snow date is February 27). The presentation will begin with the development of Spirituals during slavery times and discuss their religious origins as well as their use as communication among slaves (references to the Underground Railroad, etc). We’ll then discuss the Fisk Jubilee Singers, their hardships, triumphs and accomplishments including singing before President Grant and Queen Victoria and exposing the rest of America and the world to African American culture. We’ll cover Jubilee groups that sprang up after the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Finally, we’ll cover how Spirituals evolved through the first half of the 20th Century. The presentation is FREE to the public but you must register in advance by calling the library's Reference Desk at 732-873-8700.
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On June 1, we're planning a large outdoor celebration in Colonial Park, Somerset, NJ. More details later..
For more information on these and other happenings, see the Events Calendar of www.classicurbanharmony.net
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Remembering those who have passed on in 2012
It's never easy to post a list of singers and members of our musical family who have passed away in the past 12 months. Many were close friends. All contributed to our musical legacy. As we begin 2013, we're missing at least 62 individuals who gave us the songs we all love. The above list is too long to fit in our newsletter, but a large readable version is on the What's New Page of www.classicurbanharmony.net. They will always be with us through their musical gifts to us. |
Noted Music historian & Researcher, George Moonoogian Dies
Our knowledge and understanding of R&B music has been aided by a number of music historians and researchers, but perhaps none more dedicated than George Moonoogian. Sadly, George passed away Monday, December 18, 2012 at the age of 71. For many years, George Moonoogian was the authority many of us would confer with when we needed some additional info on an article we were writing, especially when it involved artists from the 1940’s or early 1950’s. George had an incredible collection of 78’s, including many one-of-a-kind records. He graciously shared his research through articles for numerous magazines, a radio show, and internet websites. George enjoyed playing the piano, and even formed his own vocal group, the Serenaders (“Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight” / “Come Back My Love” – Clifton # 16, recorded 1974, released 1977). George taught at Haverhill (MA) High School for 34 years. Several years ago, George suffered a massive brain aneurysm that robbed him of his short term memory. This past summer, George’s health deteriorated further. We’ll always remember George for his groundbreaking work in documenting the history R&B music. For that we owe him much.
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5 Boroughs' Bruce Goldie Dies
Bruce Goldie, member of the Five Boroughs and Eddie Pardocchi's Five Discs, died December 28, 2012, of cancer. Goldie had been singing with the Dreamers out of Yonkers, NY, when in 1986 he moved to Florida and joined the Five Boroughs. The Five Boroughs are one of the more outstanding vocal groups of the past 25 years. They've recorded for Ave. D., Classic Artists and a number of other labels (see their release on the Crescent label above) and all were top notch harmony recordings. Bruce Goldie sang tenor on most of their recordings. Bruce also sang with Eddie Pardocchi's Five Discs and Uptown Express. (Thanks to Frank Iovino for reporting this to us.)
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Past Issues of the CUH Newsletter Now viewable online
Want to catch up on any past issues of this newsletter that you may have missed? Now you can. Just go to the top of this newsletter and click on "View it in your browser". Then you be able to click on "Past Issues" on the upper left of your screen.
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More Details and Photos from the Above Articles on our Website
There's just so much we can fit into one newsletter issue, but most of the articles are repeated on our website with additional details and photos. To read more visit the "What's New Page" of www.classicurbanharmony.net. And while there, don't forget to visit our other pages, like Our Events Calendar Page, Our Bookshelf, or our section on Articles We've Written. |
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