The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
‘The Night the Juke Box Died’ marks Chordsmens’ 70th year
Special guests are ‘Up All Night’ comedy quartet
WATERBURY — The Valley Chordsmen, greater Waterbury’s premier mens’ acapella chorus and local chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, presents its 70th anniversary show, “The Night the Juke Box Died,” a rollicking rock and roll reminiscence, on Saturday, Nov. 11, 7:30 pm at the Rotella Magnet School, 380 Pierpont Road, Waterbury.
As a special treat, the concert will also include a performance by the comedy quartet, Up All Night. When they get together to harmonize in concert, they want to keep audiences Up All Night with their mix of original comedy, spirituals, Sinatra-style swing and heartfelt ballads.
Up All Night members include tenor John Ward, a Singing judge for the Barbershop Harmony Society. He is a four-time District Quartet Champion, including singing lead with 2002 Mid-Atlantic District Quartet Champions and International Quarterfinalists, “Reveille.” He is a veteran of the Scarborough Dukes of Harmony Chorus and the Big Apple Chorus. He also serves as the Big Apple Chorus Lead Section leader. Ward is a chiropractor with a practice in midtown Manhattan.
Joe Hunter, baritone, just retired after 11+ years as musical director of the Big Apple Chorus in Manhattan. He is a Presentation Judge and is a nationally certified chorus director trainer and a sought-after chorus and quartet coach. He is the former lead of International Finalist quartet “Four Under Par,” as well as former baritone of “Variety Pak” and ”Reveille,” 2002 Mid-Atlantic “District Quartet Champions. He has appeared more than 15 times in the International Quartet Contest, spanning four decades. In the real world, he is a Senior Vice President of Technology at CitiBank.
Cecil Brown, lead, is a long-time barbershop quartet singer and feature soloist for the Big Apple Chorus. Previously, Cecil performed with the “Greenwich Avenue Quartet.” Cecil is employed by New York University’s Risk Management & Insurance Department. He and his family reside in New Jersey.
Dan Rowland, bass, is returning to barbershop singing after a hiatus of a number of years. His previous experience includes multiple chorus directing posts including the Big Apple Chorus in Manhattan, The Golden Chordsmen of Westchester County, Our Sunday Best in Huntington Long Island and the Fairfield University Ambassadors of Song. He has also performed as an organist and soloist at various churches throughout the New York Metropolitan area. He is the proud father of five and a grandfather of soon to be three grandchildren. He is Director of Development at the Developmental Disabilities Institute, which provides services to more than 5,000 children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities across Long Island.
Tickets will be available at the door and from any member of the Valley Chordsmen. For details and ticket information, call 203233-0269.