Singing Valentines Stories 2011

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

Newer stories will be added at the top, so come back frequently to catch up on recent entries.

San Francisco, CA

Our SF GOLD quartet Valentine Story really fell a week before Valentines Day. It started out as a Singing Birthday, but since we were practicing for Valentine's Day, we threw in a Welcome to San Francisco song, plus the Birthday song followed by the Valentine songs.

It all started with a phone call from London, from Rory. He wanted a quartet to sing to his girl friend who was to arrive on business in San Francisco on her birthday and he could not be with her (being busy with business in South America or Africa). But he had a friend in San Francisco, a business associate of his girl. Phone calls and E-mails finally ended with finding out that she was staying at the Marriott Hotel near Union Square. Found out the time, Room number from her friend. On the premise that they had to be in her room to receive a business conference call she was kept in the dark for the surprise.

All went well as planned and was Holly flabbergasted thruout the presentation. Being Irish, we also threw in My Wild Irish Rose. She even called Rory on her cell phone while we were singing to her and of course he,too, was thrilled. We took photos, and tears all around. The wonders of technology.

Yours In Harmony...

Hank Gomez

Santa Cruz, CA

As you can see by the attached photos, Gold Standard Chorus Valengram quartets were hits with both humans and their furry friends.

The dog was the mascot at a morning office delivery we made. She quietly listened to both our Valengram numbers, ears cocked like the old RCA Victrola photos. Shortly after we finished, she rolled over in apparent bliss! (The human co-workers were very appreciative too!) This quartet consisted of Earle, Jeanne, Bill, and Allen.

Later in the day, one of our quartets sang to members of the UC Santa Cruz swim team - we could tell right off this was going to be a fun delivery. The moment we approached the swim center, a couple of woman clad in swim suits (mind you, it was a cold blustery day!) ran out to to usher us into the pool area. From what I gather, the womans team conspired to have the delivery made to their coach near the end of his swim workout. Needless to say, we had to have a quartet picture taken. This quartet consisted of Allen Bill, Ed, and Joe.

Allen Takahashi

Los Angeles, CA

Our quartet, From The Top, headed to a care facility for the first Singing Valentine of our day. The delivery was to an aunt of our purchaser, obviously . We were taken to her room where she lay under a light blanket. We told her that her nephew was giving her a Valentine but she didn't show much recognition. As we sang her eyes darted back and forth between the singers. Although she couldn't seem to show or speak her appreciation I could see that her breathing rate increased as the blanket rose and fell. Our singing surely registered with her.

The nurse took us to several rooms where the scene was repeated. The patients appreciated our singing and each would give us a squeeze when we offered our hands to them. We know that we brought joy to all that we serenaded even if they were incapable of expressing their appreciation in words or actions.

Bill Horst
From The Top quartet
Valleyaires Chorus

Carson City, NV

We rang the door bell and this lady answers. She was fresh out of taking a shower, hair wrapped in a towel and wearing a quadruple x moo-moo. We proceeded to sing ( I Love You Truly) as we stood at her front door. The tears began to flow and she reached down, brought up her moo-moo and began to dry her eyes. We finished our songs as we watched the clouds go by.

The True End.

Dave Ramer

San Fernando Valley Chapter

A friend of mine (not a barbershopper) called to see if a quartet could come to the restaurant this past Saturday where he wanted to surprise his wife with a song or two for her birthday while having breakfast.

We agreed on Happy Birthday and two Valentine songs because that's what the pickup quartet could do together. We did and sounded great; the restaurant hired us for another hour to sing for the patrons at their respective tables. She than insisted we have breakfast on her. Finally, she hired us, on an annual bases, to do a 1-2 hour ($100 per hour) set to sing to patrons at tables every Valentine. In addition, we'll have a 1-2 hour set every Mothers' day. All proceeds will be for the chapter.

What success.

Ed Schackman, Chapter Secretary,
Chorus Manager San Fernando Valley Chapter
D066 Valleyaires

Modesto, CA

1) This photo is a typical moment in our quest for pleasing our customers. Her husband had given her an envelope with a check to give to “some guys” who will be coming by. Needless to say, she was thrilled with our presentation, as you can see by her face. What a great hobby we have!

2) One of the Valengram orders was from a man who asked us to sing to his wife as she left the emergency room area where the ambulances arrive. She works at the hospital as an ER nurse. He presumed that she would be not be alone as she headed for the parking lot, so a description was given of her, but it was so vague that our guys asked every lady who exited if they were the designated person. The proper woman started to receive her romantic song as more and more folks arrived at the scene. The change of shift brought out doctors, nurses, patients and ambulance drivers who suddenly had a bright spot in their lives. Imagine how one little event like that can affect so many folks who ordinarily leave the drama of an emergency room with a heavy heart and then find happiness and joy at the very door where such sadness enters every day. Wow!!

Howard Barber
Central Valley Chapter

All comments and corrections to webmaster@spebsqsafwd.org