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Gabriel Recruits an Understudy CHORD-INATOR JANUARY 2018 OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF THE MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, CHAPTER **** A CHAPTER WITH AN ENVIABLE PAST - AN UNBOUNDED FUTURE **** 10,000 LAKES DIVISION - LAND O’LAKES DISTRICT JANUARY 2018- VOL.74- NO. 1 Gabriel recruits an understudy Wile E Mennenga set to occupy the Second Baritone Chair In the early morning of New Year’s Day, Dwight (Wile I found a square one with Wiley Coyote on it. I tossed E) L. Mennenga, the one and only baritone in the 1972 them on a table and somebody asked, “Who’s going to get LOL District Champion Roadrunners the one with the coyote?” The three quartet, slept peacefully away. His of us looked at Dwight, and from comedic repartee with straight-man that moment on, he became known and bass, Norm Wolfe, is legendary as Wile E. but belied his other remarkable musi- Wile E became the center of our hu- cal achievements. He earned a BS morous routines. He was, as he put Degree in Music Education at the it, our “comedic genius.” He did University of Iowa in 1965 and later pratfalls during Bundle of Old Love studied Music Arranging at the U of Letters and fell off the stage during M-Mankato. Wile E was an accom- For the Good Times. He must have plished French-horn player who dur- fallen off more than 100 stages. ing his Army-band service had the Once during a gig at the Carlton Ce- honor of playing at President Eisen- lebrity Room, he fell off the stage hower’s funeral. Wile E sang with the and as the audience was roaring with Minneapolis Commodores for many laughter, he returned to say, “I think years and served as its interim direc- I just broke my arm.” We finished tor in the nineties. In the more recent the show THEN went to the hospital. past, he volunteered with, among oth- ers, the St. Louis Park Community One of his more famous stunts was Band, St. Anthony Civic Orchestra, Dwight L. Mennenga when he “mooned” the Happiness the Minnetonka Concert Band, the Emporium … but you would have Brooklyn Brass, and the Brooklyn 1943 - 2018 had to ask him about that. The Road- United Methodist Church Choir. His runners would only have to hand wife, Judy, has asked that any memorials be sent to the Wile E a “situation” and he would make it funny. Brooklyn United Methodist Church. Quite often, performing with him was a lot like walking Old friend and fellow Roadrunner, Norm Wolfe, adds … through a mine field. We had a pre-arranged routine where On July 12,1972, Ron Thomley, Ron Stong, Dwight a lady from the audience would slap him on the face in Mennenga, and I got together to form a quartet. We response to a whisper in her ear. On one occasion a fairly had no name, no uniforms, no money, and no idea if any- hefty gal “decked” him and he saw double for the rest of one would ever pay to hear us sing. Thomley suggested the show, Ah, there’s no business like show business. that we buy bowling shirts and find some patches that While on stage Wile E was a master comic. In private, he would solve the uniform/name problem. I went to a store was a warm, selfless, and very loyal friend who will forev- and could find only three identical patches. They were er be missed. round with a picture of a Roadrunner (Beep, beep!). Then Go to Wile E, Page 2, Column 1 CHORD-INATOR 2 JANUARY 2018 President Blake Wanger’s Annual Show: Pitch Pipe Perfect the songs that are at the root of what Inaugural Address Annual Show Chairman Matt Rich- we do, and which unite all members ards is building a show that is go- of the BHS by providing the oppor- By Blake Wanger ing to create a thrilling experience in tunity to sing together, anytime, any- The 2018 Season: Pitch Pipe Perfect the vein of singing competitions like where, with all other Barbershoppers. American Idol and The Sing Off. The There will also be an emphasis placed With the start of the new year, there is show will pit two choruses (each on adding some more unique and fun a lot of excitement played by the entire Commodores activities to rehearsals, such as octet now and on the hori- chorus) and numerous quartets and tag-in opportunities. zon for the Minneap- VLQs in a friendly competition fea- olis Commodores. turing songs from more than 10 dif- Attendance Policy: The Board and As the new president ferent categories including Barber- Music Committee have approved a of the chorus, I am shop Classics, Crooner Classics, new attendance policy that is already really looking for- Country, Rock, Disney, Broadway, in place, and in effect until the annual ward to the upcom- Spiritual, Patriotic and more. Who show performance. The policy states ing Commodores will win the competition? You’ll that in order to be eligible to perform 2018 season. Some have to come to Benson Great Hall in the annual show, members must Blake Wanger of the highlights for at Bethel University at 3 p.m. on attend eight of the eleven rehearsals the year include: Saturday, April 14 to find out. The from January 2 through March 13, and all four rehearsals between March 20 Leadership: A new slate of board show will also feature an amazing guest quartet, the 2015 International and April 10, as well as the tech re- members has been sworn in. Some hearsal on April 12. However, mem- board members, such as Music VP Quartet Champion, Instant Classic. It is sure to be another great show! bers who are unable to meet the at- Carl Pinard, Treasurer John Car- tendance requirement can also qualify lotto, Marketing VP Steve Grady, Music: As mentioned above, the to sing on the show by singing their and Secretary Bill Warp, at-large Commodores repertoire is going to part in one or several show songs in a board members, Andy Richards, include music from across a wide quartet with three other qualified sing- Andy Tate, and Arne Stefferud will range of categories for the 2018 sea- ers under director Paul Wigley’s continue on in their roles. Denny son. This includes many of our old watchful ear. Maas is now the Immediate Past favorites from recent years like Cra- President, and I have moved from zy Little Thing Called Love and Can The songs will be preselected by the Program VP to President. We also You Feel The Love Tonight, our cur- directorial team, and the quartet will have some wonderful new faces join- rent contest songs, The Way Y ou sing in private with only the director ing us on the board. Jim Norman Look Tonight and This Could Be The present. The director will determine takes over as Membership VP, Eric Start of Something Big and many whether the singer has shown mastery Nelsen is now the Program VP and new songs including Take Me of the material and is eligible to sing we have added Paul Paddock and Home, Country Roads and I’ve Got at the annual show. A singer who Dave Casperson as at -large board the World on A String. And of doesn't qualify on their first attempt members. We are also thrilled to have course, we will still be learning the may make subsequent attempts to Kim Ward as our first non- music from our outstanding team of qualify if they choose. This policy Commodore board member. Kim is Director Paul Wigley and Assistant was designed to maintain the inclusive the wife of former Commodore Bill, Directors Dave Speidel, and Dave philosophy of the Commodores by so she is already part of the family. Bechard. And a better trio of di- giving every singer the opportunity to She brings a lot of valuable experi- rectors you would be hard pressed to have a spot on the risers, while en- ence and is a passionate supporter of find anywhere in the entire Society. couraging members not just to learn our chorus. She is going to be an ex- their music, but master it. A similar cellent addition to the Board. Performances: In addition to the policy will likely be in place for the annual show, we already have sever- fall contest as well. Wile E from Page 1 al other performances scheduled Editor’s Note: Norm Wolf, the only throughout the year, including the Altruism: In 2017, the Commodores Roadrunner bass, has annual Como Park event, another were able to continue to help numer- been a great friend, visit to the Landscape Arboretum, ous people through organizations, in- supplying wonderful our annual performance at a Twins cluding local food shelves and by do- pieces for my Chord- game and performances at many nating thousands of dollars to our Inators, particularly local parks. friends at Y outhLink MN to help pro- in the early years. I vide shelter, care and opportunities for hope that he may get Rehearsal Changes: 2018 brings at-risk youths. We plan to continue back in the habit of some small, but important changes supporting EarthLink, sharing pro- gracing these pages to chapter meetings. This year, every ceeds from our show and performanc- Norm Wolfe in the future with his rehearsal session will include five to es, and to continue our campaign for tongue-in-cheek, whimsical, and often ten minutes of work on a Barberpole the ICA Food Shelf and other similar really heart-warming prose.
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