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5a. Bluegrass Student Union - Commencement
Posted by: "Rosalind Frizzell" bostonshrimp@... bostonshrimp
Date: Sat May 10, 2008 12:55 pm ((PDT))

Dear Harmonet:

This morning I was thinking of Mother's Day and also of next month's
Father's Day and how our friendships in Barbershop really encompass
this hobby in a family affair. Give someone the gift of music.
You'll be glad you did.

Over the years, it's been a common gesture of mine and of my
friends to give the gift of Barbershop recordings as a token of our
friendship for one another. Most of my friends are barbershoppers
and our taste in barbershop often reflects whom we are.

For decades, my collection of videos, records & cassettes gave
me much personal enjoyment. I treasured my tapes, recordings,
etc. because it brought me back in time to Contests, Shows &
Conventions and of the exciting times we experienced at those
barbershop venues.

Unfortunately, a few years ago, I lost my boxes of photos,
recordings and such when I used a commercial mover. At first
I was pretty crushed at the thought of so many precious photos,
sheet music & recordings lost and of the fun times I experienced -
many of them barbershop related.

Luckily, we have new and improved methods to reinvent those
memories. The DVD's and CD's that we can now acquire give us
the opportunity to turn back the clock, feel young again and to
remember the laughter and tears shared at these barbershop events.

Last night, I visited my own memory lane as I watched The Bluegrass
Student Union perform on their Commencement recording.

If you know someone who would like to turn back time to the
excitement of those close call contests and the many annual chapter
shows where the BSU performed, then this is a wonderful way to
share those memories.

It made me feel like a Barbershop Brat again. (OK, maybe I felt
at least 30 and not 13.) To see the different costumes that they
chose for The Music Man set, to hear Rick, Danny, Allen & Kenny
share their personal take of what went on behind the scenes and
remembering that I was at several of those performances...well,
it brought out my sentimental side.

Not only does Commencement show various sides of the BSU, but it
also shows how they grew musically as a quartet after they won
the International in 1978.

It's common knowledge that The Bluegrass still sang with 'the same
four friends' after thirty years, but it's a rare fete indeed in
these circles.

The energy of seeing Jim Miller direct The Louisville Thoroughbreds
Chorus and seeing The Citations stopped my heart (in a good way.)
I remember those contests and shows like it was yesterday.
Those were great days and great times shared.

The Renegades, Nighthawks and Gentlemen's Agreement were favorites
of my father, Al Severs. Watching this DVD made me wish that
my father had lived to see this masterpiece. My father was a
marketing man. He loved to promote this hobby and Dad would have
been very proud of the care and quality that was taken in producing
this CD/DVD set.

I also wish that Ed Waesche, Lloyd Steinkamp, Dave LaBar and other
friends had lived to see this recording. They, too, would have
been proud of Kenny and of all the hard work it took to bring this
Commencement to completion.

Though I may never have the opportunity to get my barbershop
collection back to what I once owned, I am thrilled that The
Bluegrass Student Union has compiled this honest and varied
collection of their performances and their contribution to the
art of barbershop. And isn't it really all about the art?

Thank you Rick, Danny, Kenny and Allen. You've come a long way
and it was worth every minute shared.

Have a great day, one and all!
Rosalind Severs-Frizzell
The Boston Shrimp

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5b. Re: Bluegrass Student Union - Commencement
Posted by: "Ken Hatton" khatton@... kennyraysinger
Date: Sat May 10, 2008 2:16 pm ((PDT))

Thanks, Roz,

We appreciate your kind comments. The Commencement DVD-Cd set is
kind of our last "Hurrah." The production was a labor of love,
and we were tickled to include footage of our hero quartets like the
Suntones, Sidewinders, 4 Renegades, Citations, Dealers Choice, etc.
I sure hope everyone will get a chance to see it someday.

The Society's Harmony Marketplace has just placed its first
bulk order on Friday, so you should see the artwork popping
up on their web site within a few days. They will also have
the product available in HM at the convention in Nashville.
You may also purchase Commencement now from www.a-cappella.com
<http://www.a-cappella.com/> .

Best Regards,

Kenny Ray (Hatton), Lead
Bluegrass Student Union '78