Commodores Rock!
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CHORD-INATOR APRIL 2017 OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF THE MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, CHAPTER **** A CHAPTER WITH AN ENVIABLE PAST - AN UNBOUNDED FUTURE **** 10,000 LAKES DIVISION - LAND O’LAKES DISTRICT APRIL 2017- VOL.73- NO. 4 Commodores Rock! Wayne Rasmussen Photo The Minneapolis Commodores 2017 annual show was a fine Commodore quartets. JUST ONE MORE gave an wonderful showcase of talent throughout the chorus! The excellent performance of Stand By Me and THE SHOES 800 or so attendees at Benson Great Hall at Bethel Uni- earned enthusiastic applause for Happy Together. versity on Saturday, April 1, marveled at the range of ar- Two Very Large Quartets were also featured in the show tistic ability throughout the chorus, especially Dave Cas- to the delight of the crowd. SOUNDS of RENOWN and person opening the show with a bang as Elvis, and UNDER the HILL garnered ample praise for Blue Paul Swanson electrifying the room with his thrilling Moon and Signed, Sealed, Delivered respectively. All in keyboard rendition of Jerry Lee Lewis’ Great Balls of all, 28 chapter members performed in quartets or VLQs. Fire. The first half of the show was emceed by Dick Clark (aka Dan True) and Kasey Kasem (aka Blake Wanger). Audiences also raved about the performance of the cho- rus. Under the leadership of director Paul Wigley, assis- Other Commodore talents were on display in the chapter tant director Dave Speidel, and new assistant director, quartets. BOMP! delighted the audience with Come Go Dave Bechard, the Commodore chorus rocked the ex- With Me and Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, while EASY citing up-tunes, Bandstand Boogie (a chart exhibiting LISTENIN’ soothed them with Goodnight Sweetheart, Paul Wigley’s talents as an arranger), My Girl, Day- Goodnight. SWYPE filled the auditorium with jungle dream, I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends, and sounds during The Lion Sleeps Tonight, and HOT COM- Crazy Little Thing Called Love. The chorus also dis- MODITY had the audience feeling the music and tapping played its range and versatility as the members sang two their feet during their performances of Up On the Roof beautiful ballads, When I Fall in Love and The Way Y ou and Down On The Corner. Look Tonight. This show also marked the debut performances of two Go to Rock, Page 2, Column 1 CHORD-INATOR 2 APRIL 2017 Rock from Page 1 Shine, finishing the show with the the Mermaid for the well-earned Af- All stops were pulled out as the Com- traditional closer, Keep the Whole terglow. This year the revelers en- modore Chorus closed the first half of World Singing. The applause and tered the room to find all the linen- the show with a roof-raising rendition accolades from the audience at the covered tables laden with huge bowls of Y MCA complete with the cos- conclusion left no doubt that Barber- of the freshest salad greens and dress- tumed Village People (Mark shop Rocks was a smash hit! ings, tortilla chips and salsa, only to be followed by a near-endless supply Bloomquist, Ray Ensrud, Gary From Benson Hall, then, it was on to Cooper, Steve Mangan, Dan of hot-out-of-the-oven piz- zas delivered posthaste to Williams, and show chair- man, Dan Cole) who had the each table. entire audience on their feet, A sound-glitch delayed the gesticulating, singing and, start of the entertainment, dancing with the music. The but all in all, the ambiance energy and excitement in the and good food provided a auditorium at the end of most welcome start to a fine YMCA was incomparable—a evening with good friends standing ovation, no less! and good music. There were After the intermission and a some especially fine Barber- stirring performance by our shop offerings by Main guest quartet, Main Street, the Street. (Who can ever forget Commodores returned to the their closing masterpiece, stage to sing Down By the Old Mill- Photos this page by Our GUEST quartet, MAIN STREET (left to rt.): Bari Mike McGee, stream.) Wayne Rasmussen Smile and Bass Myron Whittlesy, Lead Tony DeRosa, and Tenor Roger Ross The all-Commodore Rockin’Dores performing from left to rt. are: Keyboard-Paul Swanson, Drums - Matt Richards, Guitar-Andy Rich- ards, and Bass Guitar-Dan Cole. The group entertained for a time before the opening of the show and then backed up Dave Casperson’s terrific rendition of Blue Suede Shoes that would have made Elvis proud. Following was a magnifi- cent, frenetic Jerry Lee Lewis-like arrangement of Great Balls of Fire with Swanson singing and rocking on the keyboard. Under the Hill from left to rt.: Nate Weimer, Blake Wanger (partially hidden), Ben Wanggaard, Tony Lapakko, Matt Richards, David Bechard, and Paul Paddock. When formed a year or two ago, rather on the spur of the moment, they selected 35 and Under as their name. On re- thinking, Under the Hill offers an air of subtle mystery that seems fitting. Sounds of Renown from left to rt.: Dick Riemenschneider, Dan Wil- liams, Andy Tate, Dan Cole, Rob Hartert, Mark Ortenburger and Jim Erickson. The group got its start early this century as an octet, an idea first proposed by the late and loquacious prime mover and Happy Wanderer, Joe Houser (“Valderee, valdera … ” in one key or another). Riemenschneider and Erickson may be the only original members currently singing with the group. CHORD-INATOR 3 APRIL 2017 BOMP! (left to rt.): Dan Cole, Jim Johannsen, Andy Cook, SWYPE (left to rt.): Mark Bloomquist, Andy Richards, Conrad Ward, and Ken Wentworth and Harvey Weiss Dave Casperson rocking with Blue Suede Shoes YMCA EASY LISTENIN’ (left to rt.): Dick Riemenschneider, Rod Vink, Dan Slattery, UNFOURGETTABLE (left to rt.): Payton Camilli, Anna Larson, and John Carlotto Kate Fox, and Kalli Sander Benson Great Hall Rocks to the sounds of a bygone era. April 1, 2017 Paul Swanson groovin’ with Emcee Dan True Front page piece by Blake Wanger Photos this page by Kirk Douglas Video Great Balls of Fire. HOT COMMODITY (left to rt.): Paul Swanson, Tony Mason, THE SHOES (left to rt.): Steve Grady, Tony Lapakko, Andy Richards, and Matt Ben Wanggaard, and Dave Speidel Richards CHORD-INATOR 4 APRIL 2017 Minneapolis, Minn. Chapter Musing about Y MCA Land O’Lakes District, BHS A brief glimpse back … Meetings every Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. By Denny Maas, President A longer look forward House of Prayer Lutheran Church 7625 Chicago Avenue South I have been reflecting on part of the By Paul Wigley, Director Richfield, MN 55423 lyrics from Y MCA, I don’t even have the words to ex- Chapter Officers this morning’s ear press how great I President………… ……Denny Maas 952/447-8012 Past Pres. ………......Gordy Aumann 952/935-8869 worm. To para- felt after the annual Marketing/PR VP…...Steve Grady….952/334-7500 phrase, “Young man show, Barbershop VP Music /Perform… Carl Pinard 612/927-9363 what do you want to Rocks—it sure does! VP Membership...…....Harvey Weiss 763/439-4447 Program VP..………...Blake Wanger 414/699-4950 be; Young man you How much fun it is Secretary……...........…......Bill Warp 763/531-2290 can make real your to talk with people Treasurer …….. ……...John Carlotto 952/925-0886 dreams.” I was won- after a show and not Board Members Denny Maas dering how our Through 2017 have to think about, Dean Lambert……………………. ....612/727-3909 members would respond in regard to “Gosh, I wish we Matt Richards …………………..…...651/983-8021 their Barbershop singing. Paul Wigley could have another Andy Tate……………………….. ….612/825-1942 chance to sing Song Through 2017-18 So I am asking each member, “What Andy Cook…………………………..651/688-6459 is your dream? Would your dream be # (FILL IN THE BLANK) again.” Andy Richards…………………..…...651/639-9312 Arne Stefferud…………………...…..651/772-4367 to be a gold medal singer?” My dream At this year’s show, every song had Directors for the chorus would be that we the intention that it was supposed to Director…………...…...…………..…..Paul Wigley would all sing at the level where we have. The fun stuff felt so good, and Assistant Directors: Gary Jacobson (on leave), Davie Speidel, Dave Bechard are maximizing the gifts God has giv- the sincere numbers (When I Fall In Section Leaders en us. If we did this, our music would Love and The Way You Look Tonight) Tenor Section Leader ……..…...…....…Rollie Neve have an even greater impact on the were genuine and heartfelt. You can’t Lead Section Leader. ……..…………….…..Vacant Assistant - Dan Smith hearts of our audiences and even fool an audience, or fool yourselves. Bari Section Leaders ……....…..….….Dave Speidel greater numbers would come to our When a selection is sung from the Assistant - Matt Richards performances. This would allow us to heart, it is oh so special. I really felt Bass Section Leaders……………...Dave Casperson have an even greater community out- Committee Chairmen the Commodores sang with confi- Altruistic Programs Chairman…… …..Denny Maas reach. dence, and with the definite purpose Audio/Visual Mgr……………….. ….Kirk Douglas Go to Wigley, Page 5, Column 1 2016 Show Chairman………..….…....Dave Speidel I was reminded of how important our 2017 Show Chairman………………….....Dan Cole work is when I read the message in a Mark contacted these wonderful sing- 2018 Show Chairman…………….….Matt Richards note of appreciation from Barbara Afterglow Chairman……………. .... Travis Wuttke ers to perform at my dad’s service English, for whom a small group of Attendance/Sgt.-at-Arms…….….……… .....Vacant (Beautiful, Beautiful Music). We are BOTY Party Chairman..........Dick Riemenschneider Commodores sang at the funeral of forever grateful. The congregation Chord-Inator Staff .