Singing Valentines Stories 2003

The stories below are from FWD quartet's experiences while delivering Singing Valentines. If you have a story to share, please send it to webmaster@spebsqsafwd.org

Read last year's stories too.

Sierra Vista, AZ Our Chapter gave 61 singing valentines this year as opposed to only 33 last year. We split the chapter into three quartets to accomplish this. Our most active quartet, "3 Dads and a Dude", were so well received by one couple that they hired them (for $100) to sing for an 80th birthday party for a retired Colonel at Fort Huachuca Army Base. This quartet was also engaged to sing at a restaurant for their special Valentines Dinner Feast. The quartet sang to 20 some separate dinner parties at the restaurant between 6:30 and 8:30pm and received $400 for their efforts. We netted over $1300 for our chapter this year and we were thrilled by all the tears and other warm responses we received. Bernard Martus, President Cochise Chordsmen, Sierra Vista, AZ

Santa Monica, CA (From 2001) The Santa Monica Oceanaires received a paid request to sing two songs to "Muffin" for Valentine's Day. We pulled up to the "___ Body Shop" garage and stepped around the multiple fenders and bumpers to make our way to the office, fending off the strange looks from all of the workers. As we peeked into the one-desk room filled with papers older than most of us, we saw a 6' 2" behemoth with a scruffy beard and a cigar stump in his mouth. I meekly asked, "Is Muffin here?" "Who wants ta know?", he growled. I smiled and said, "We have a singing Valentine for Muffin!" He looked around and said quietly, ". . . I'm Muffin." Four loud "gulps" were uttered, and then we gamely sang "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" to Muffin, while all of the workers piled in to listen. After the second song we beat a hasty retreat through the yard and were on our way to the next stop, happy to have made it safely back to the car! Jim Leedom

Folsom, CA The U4EA quartet sang 21 Valentines and the most notable was to a wonderful woman who got both a Valentine and Birthday greeting in song while surrounded by her children and grandchildren at a local restaurant. As we were singing we heard her say "Which one of those guys is available?" When we finished the wet eyes were everywhere, even her son in law was sniffling. (It was not our singing that brought the tears.) When we took the photo at the end she said she wanted "all of us" to take home with her. As we were leaving the daughter who ordered the Singing Valentine slipped our lead a nice $20 tip. We forced him to give it to the chapter. Stan Trumbull

Tucson, AZ The Eastsiders Quartet in Tucson delivered 11 Singing Valentines on Friday. We travelled about 200 miles back and forth across town, dodging traffic and rain as much as possible. Our most memorable encounter was the Valentine we sang for a surgeon at University Medical Center who was in the hopsital with terminal cancer. We had sung earlier to one of the nurses in a clinic in the hospital and his staff requested we come and sing for him. He was surrounded by his wife and several members of his staff as well as others he has worked with at the hospital. Although he was very weak from the effects of the disease and its treatment, he was obviously pleased to be the recipient of not only the songs but the outpouring of love and compassion from his family and co-workers. Tears were flowing freely, as you can imagine. We were honored to have been able to provide some joy and comfort in a time of sadness. Music does indeed have magical powers. Roy Ireland Tenor, Eastsiders

Redondo Beach, CA South Bay Chapter is in Redondo Beach and we had a valentine at Paramount Studios. After driving through a blinding storm for 1 1/2 hours we were then abused by the security officers for another 1/2 hour. After we finally got clearance they said that we had to park about a mile away and walk through the storm to our appointment. Needless to say, we left without singing. I love valentines. Peter Neushul Director South Bay

Chico, CA The Vintage Sound quartet of Chico had a wonderful couple of days Thursday and Friday. We managed to get in 36 Valentines and had tears and giggles galore. We sang for the Mother of my Dentist, Rae C. Whitaker, who greatly enjoyed "Always", and "Mother's Eyes". She proceeded to tell us that she was a Cash and did meet O.C. at a family reunion a number of years ago. She is a distant relative but definitely related on the Cash side. Leeds Lacy

Auburn, CA Everybody's Sweethearts delivered a valentine from a man to his wife who teaches at the Catholic parochial school in Auburn. When we arrived she was taking a break in the teachers room with several other teachers. We presented her with a rose and sang two songs. The dedication her husband wanted was, "To my Valentine from her love mule." She was embarrassed and the others got a good laugh out of it. It was some inside joke between the couple. She loved it and two of the other women signed us up on the spot to send Singing Valentines to their husbands that afternoon. There are a million stories out there. Roger Perkins

Reno, NV The Valentine's quartet had a wonderful time delivering singing valentines to folks. We did have one especially nice visit - to a gentleman and his lady friend! The gentleman was 80 and his girlfriend was 92. It was something special! Cheers! Lauren House, Lead Sound Exchange - FWD

Apple Valley, CA Prescription 4 Harmony delivered twelve valentines on Friday, but I think the first one we did was the most touching. We sang to a worker in a medical office; she was a divorced mother going through some tough times. The sender was a male friend of hers who wanted to brighten her day. She cried all through the singing and the four of us felt really good about what we had done for her when we walked out the door. Mike Smith Baritone, Prescription 4 Harmony Apple Valley, CA barigoodsinger@yahoo.com

Santa Clarita, CA The Blue Plate Special quartet from the 'Harmony Hills Chorus' delivered a Valentine to the teacher of a fifth grade class at one of the local elementary schools. The students were a surprisingly enthusiastic audience and gave us a rousing ovation after our songs. As we were walking through the hallways on our way out, a young student ran up to us carrying a pen and paper and shyly asked for our autographs! A very nice first for our quartet and a great reminder of how we barbershoppers are perceived by the youngsters.

Agoura Hills, CA Jest For Phun, a registered comedy quartet, as well as a FWD Senior and Super Senior Quartet Champion, has been performing Singing Valentines for over 11 years. We have many stories that keep us excited about this event. Yesterday was one we'll remember for a long time. We were asked to perform for the Oak Park High School Girls' Soccer Team, at the end of one of their league games held at California Lutheran College in Thousand Oaks, California. We arrived a little early in order to check out the location and decide how we would keep this a surprise. We took a parent into our confidence and worked out our plan. As the team shook hands and returned to the sidelines for their after game pep talk, we broke into the huddle and said, "Sit, we're honoring you with a singing valentine from your coach". Their screams made everything worth while. Parents then surrounded the scene and cameras started flashing. After singing "Heart Of My Heart" and enjoying their applause, we added, "It's not over yet, and now from the boys of Oak Park High School, we'd like to finish with, You Made Me Love You". The smiles and screams were again worth doing the performance for free. As we left the field, the coach ran to us and said, "You've made our day". As we returned to our car, we said "What a hobby". Jest For Phun George Dallas, lead Jim Laverty, tenor John Ford, baritone Larry Krause, bass

San Diego, CA The Sounds Like Fun quartet went to a home in the evening as they were starting dinner. As we sang, suddenly, the dog (in the garage behind us) started to howl -- exactly in pitch (the Tenor's note at the time). We knew then that we had a back-up Tenor if we ever needed one.

SF Bay Cities Quartet Chapter Singing Valentines Delivered February 14, 2003 The four singers met at Bass Phil's house in East San Jose at 9:30 AM. Since we had never performed together we had to decide on a name. We chose "Senior Moments". We wore contrasting vests. Phil volunteered to drive us in his late model Astro van. Our package consists of a rose, a Valentines card, and two songs "Heart of My Heart" and "Let Me Call You Sweetheart". Bob sang Bari, Casey on Lead, and rounding out the quartet was President Steve. Our first Valentine was presented to Priscilla at school offices in downtown San Jose. She was genuinely surprised and many office members joined in the fun. One lady followed us in a car to find out how to contact us. The second Valentine was performed at a Doctors office in Los Gatos. Again Margie was very appreciative of her songs (mystery sender). We promised to sing "Margie" next year. The Doctor was entertained by the performance. The third performance was at a convalescent home in Sunnyvale; special in that it was for one of our member on the mend from a car hitting his wheel chair. Dave's wife Lena, arranged for us to do a mini-show for the patients. As members of a quartet chapter we were able to pick songs we were all familiar with from our chapter meetings to put on a half hour show for about 30 people. We even got some to sing-a-long. Our sponsor Dave wheeled in to replace Steve & sing Tenor with us on several songs. While we were in the lobby waiting for Phil to bring the van around, Dave asked us to sing "Hello Mary Lou". So miraculously Tenor Steve sang a very presentable Bass to this song. We were able to finish by noon. Casey Parker, Secretary PS - President Steve had already done TWO Pre-Valentines day performances with our resident quartet "No Contest". These should take care of our chapter insurance. Special thanks to SV chairman Earl who arranged the schedule and Phil who took care of fresh roses and cards. Hint: bring chapter publicity/contacts e.g. business cards.

Palo Alto-Mountain View, CA Wow! What a day we had yesterday! More than once during the day I found myself humbly reminded that THIS is what barbershop is all about. Sure contests have their place, but they mean nothing if we don't reach out to our communities and do what we do best -- sing songs from the heart. Our chapter had more quartets this year, but orders remained about the same so we didn't get to deliver quite as many as in the past. But every one of them was a wonderfully memorable experience. Usually in the course of the day you will have one delivery that just didn't "click" whether it was the quartet, the venue, or the person receiving the valentine. Not so yesterday. They were all great. At the end of the day, we were hard pressed to find THE highlight of the day because they were all so fun. The highest point for me was singing the kidney dialysis center of a local hospital. A patient's husband, a former member of our chapter (from long before I was around) hired us to sing for his wife AND then stroll through the center to sing for the other patients. We were well received by all, and we could tell we were a welcome break in their thrice weekly routine of dialysis. Other highlights included singing for two private parties on the evening of the 14th (one of which we have become a tradition for the fifth or sixth year), two performances in skilled nursing homes for the elderly (including one to our tenor's mother, the most emotional moment of the day for me), a first grade teacher and her class (the principal came in to ask us about barbershop to use it as a learning experience for the students -- the kids were wide-eyed, attentive, and inquisitive about our style), and surprising a lady with a Valentine in the middle of her exercise class. During lunch we were asked by an employee of the deli if we could deliver one to his wife later in the day. We found room in the schedule and said yes. So at 5:45 we walk into a very crowded Safeway grocery store where his wife is a checker. It appeared that the manager was pre-informed as he was at her register ready to take over the register when we started singing. I've never before seen or heard an entire store full of people go silent (other than when a bottle breaks on Aisle 10!). At the end of the first song we were greeted with a tremendous ovation. What a kick! Sorry for the length of this post, but had to share. I've been doing singing valentines since 1989. It is my favorite barbershop day of the year, and yesterday was the best one yet! I love this hobby! In harmony, Steve Sammonds (sammonds@earthlink.net) Lead, Adagio SPEBSQSA Certified Music Director, Palo Alto-Mountain View Chapter

Placerville, CA Got Music? delivered 12 valentines on Friday (Our chapter had 4 quartets out). Near the end of the day we went to a small Mexican restaurant to deliver a valentine to the owner's wife. As we walked in a smiling customer said "Are you here to sing to us?" I told him we certainly would be singing. "But to us?" he said. I told him it just might happen. We went to the back of the room where the food preparation area was behind a counter. We sang our songs to a young women who blushed through it all, obviously enjoying it. To both of our songs the restaurant erupted in applause and cheers. Then we went back to the customer and told him we were ready to sing to them. Then he said he was only kidding. Sorry, we said. You asked and you get. His wife beamed through it all while he acted embarrassed. Keith Eckhardt Bass: Got Music?

This page created by Keith Eckhardt. All comments and corrections to webmaster@spebsqsafwd.org