Another Photo Gallery of a Special Weekend

Thanks to Pam Jones Hazelwood, here's another photo gallery looking back at the wonderful weekend we all had for the 45th Reunion of Sing-Out South at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel. The photo above includes (on either side of me) my two "little sisters" from the cast, Debbie Jones Bauder and Ann Garrett Clay.

It's always great to see both of them! Ann was a valuable member of our Planning Committee and Debbie played an important role over the Reunion weekend making sure everyone's nametag was large enough to be read. Take close look at the name badges and I think you'll see what I mean.

The former SOS cast members who made the longest journey to attend the Reunion had to be Bob and Harriet Hall Cates who have been living in Costa Rica for the past few months. Thanks to Harriet for making availalable (courtesy of her late grandmother who saved it all back in the day) a lot of the memorabilia items on display during the Reunion. There was always a crowd of people at the memorabilia tables looking at what was there. That sparked lots of special memories and stories and answered a few questions as well.



Thanks as well to Bob Cates (above center) for his rendition of the song he used to sing in Up With People called "Up The Holler." The song was written by his brother Bill Cates of Sing-Out South & UWP, and complete with kazoos and help from Buster Barry (left) and Hazel Robinson (right) their performance (above) of the "Holler" song (which was also performed by SOS) was one of the many highlights of our talent show Saturday evening.



Another person everyone was so glad to see (he was a last minute addition to the list of those coming to the Reunion) was Ted Overman (above). Ted is an original SOS cast member, our first music director, and a member of the original trio (along with Eddie Lunn and Cabot Wade). Later, after traveling with the national cast of Up With People, Ted returned to Nashville to be our cast director from the fall of 1966 to the late spring of 1967. Ted, along with Paula Thompson and her husband, made the longest journey to come to the SOS Reunion from within the continental United States, flying in from Arizona.



Another original SOS cast member who attended the Reunion weekend was George Thomas (seen above). The Reunion dates actually coincided (to the day) of when the premiere shows of Sing-Out South were performed at Hillsboro High School 45 years ago on March 25-26, 1966.



Along with having close to 60 former cast members (along with some spouses and friends) from all eras of Sing-Out South (1966-1971), we were blessed to have 15 original cast members join us for this 45th Reunion weekend. That includes (above) not only Buster Barry (left) but also Bobby Johnston (right). Bobby was able to complete a couple several business trips to South Africa early in order to be in attendance.

All the original cast members were honored Saturday night with the presentation of a special commemerative book about the history of the cast.

Thanks again to Pam Jones Hazelwood for providing this photo gallery. We plan to post even more photos from other sources in the days to come. So, if you attended the Reunion, and have some of your own photos to share, please e-mail them to me and we get them up on this blog.

Thanks! And thanks to everyone who came to the Reunion weekend. As we hoped, it truly was a special weekend for all of us!

An Evening To Remember! A Photo Gallery

It was a wonderful evening Friday night, March 25 for former members of Sing-Out South to renew old friendships at our 45th Reunion held at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel.

We began with a dessert reception where (see above) Paula Thompson Winter (center) got a chance to reconnect with old friend, Edna Vilars Grable and introduce Edna to her husband, Chris.

See all the smiling faces in the photos below as linking up with former friends was the order of the evening and the sweetest thing about this dessert reception.....

Margaret Stokes Johnson and Tommy Sloan

Allison Smith Ricks, Edna Vilars Grable and Ann Graham Bozman

Dave Cannon and Ted Overman

Ann Garrett Clay reads a letter of welcome and congratulations to Sing-Out South for its 45th Reunion from Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. We also received similar proclamations from Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Nashville State Senator Thelma Harper.

Hazel Robinson, a member of both Sing-Out South and the international cast of Up With People, played a major role in getting those proclamations and letters of support from our political leaders. She also spearheaded putting together those wonderful goodie bags we are giving out to everyone who is attending the Reunion. It's a lot great stuff!

Linda Blackmore Cates, one of the original stars of Sing-Out '66 and Up With People (and married to SOS Musical Director Bill Cates), closes our memorial service remembering those SOS and UWP cast members who have passed away.

Thanks to Alan Mayor for all the photos....more to come!

The SOS 45th Reunion---Day II

We had quite an opening evening at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel last night for our Sing-Out South 45th Reunion!

Over 50 former cast members, spouses and friends attended the opening event, a dessert reception where the best treat for everyone was reconnecting with people who, in some cases, they had not seen in over 40 years. The laughter and squeals of delight echoed throughout the hallways of the hotel. Soon conversations were picked up in mid-sentence as if the years had melted away. (photos will soon follow)

Echoing back to the days when Sing-Out South was active (1966-1971), local and state political leaders sent their greetings and strong support to those attending the Reunion. That included Nashville Mayor Karl Dean (seen above) along with new Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Nashville State Senator Thelma Harper.

All their special proclamations and letters of welcome were read to those attending the Reunion, receiving rounds of applause and several requests for personal copies.

Day II of the Reunion promises to be even more fun. After time this morning and early afternoon for smaller personal gatherings and for some to rehearse and get ready for tonight's talent show, we will all gather back at 4:00 p.m. for a group discussion about our thoughts and memories of Sing-Out South and Up With People 45 years later.

A special DVD video produced by former SOS member and cast photographer, Alan Mayor, will begin our look back (to get the memories and thoughts flowing). The DVD will feature photos from all eras of Sing-Out South and will also contain the soundtrack of one of SOS's TV shows (seen in the photo above). Entitled "Memorial For Tomorrow", the 30-minute special was taped at the studios of (then) WSIX-TV, Channel 2 for broadcast Memorial Day weekend of 1967.

Hopefully our retrospective discussion will continue and enhance our fellowship later in the evening when we gather for a buffet dinner and then the talent show.

It's already been a wonderful weekend and it's not even halfway over!

After 45 Years, Today's The Day

It was 45 years ago this very day, March 25, 1966 that Sing-Out South burst on the Nashville scene performing its premiere shows at Hillsboro High School before jam-packed audiences who (according to reports in THE NASHVILLE BANNER)cheered for up to 20 minutes during encores at the end of the show.

It was the beginning of a five-year adventure that saw hundreds of SOS cast members perform dozens of shows entertaining and inspiring thousands of Middle Tennesseans.

Tonight and over this coming weekend (March 25-26) at the Millenium Maxwell House in Nashville, up to 60 former SOS cast members will be joined by family and friends to look back on those exciting times with a special Reunion.

At least 17 original SOS cast members are expected to be present along with a strong representation from all eras of the cast (1966-1971).

One of those coming who has just confirmed his attendance is Ted Overman (seen far right in the photo above), who played a number of different roles in the cast, beginning as a drummer, bass player, trio member and Musical Director of the original SOS group and then (after a stint traveling with the national cast of Up With People) came back to reform Sing-Out South in the late summer and fall of 1966, serving then as Cast Director until the late spring of 1967.

We are so happy Ted can join us, traveling all the way from Arizona, which is also where former cast member Paula Thompson Winter is coming. Both appear to be tied for the longest distance to come, within the continental United States. Bob and Harriet Hall Cates are coming back from Costa Rica where they now live!

We will begin this 45th Reunion with a dessert reception Friday evening beginning at 7:30 p.m.. The event will allow everyone attending to get back together and get requainted, as well as begin to look through the massive memorabilia display that will be on hand all weekend. A special memorial service will also be conducted to honor those cast members who have left us over the years.

Saturday morning will be free time followed an opportunity at 1 p.m. at the hotel for those participating in Saturday night's talent show to get ina little practice. At 4 p.m a special DVD video on SOS history will be shown followed by a group discussion looking back on our Sing-Out/Up With People experience 40-plus years later. Bring your best stories, especially the funny ones!

Then at 6:30 Saturday night will be our buffett dinner followed by the talent show where many of our colleges will show us how they've progressed musically over the years.

Don't forget the weather will be rainy and a bit cool this weekend in Nashville (highs in the upper 50s, lows in the high 30s) and there will be some road construction near the hotel and interstate so bring your patience and some extra time while traveling.

It is going to be a special weekend! See you tonight!

Five Years Ago

Our second and most recent Sing-Out South Reunion (before this weekend) was back in March, 2006.

This 40th anniversary gathering was also held on the same weekend as SOS held its original premiere shows at Hillsboro High School (March 25-26, 1966).

The Reunion began with an impromptu reception at the Holiday Inn Vanderbilt Friday evening where many of the out of town guests were staying. The next day, there was a special SOS memorabilia display unveiled at the Metro Archives and all those attending the Reunion were special guests at a reception held at the Archives that afternoon.

That Saturday evening the Reunion partcipants gathered on the campus of Belmont College (where the first and several of the earlier practices of Sing-Out South were held. There was no formal program (such as the talent show we have planned this weekend on Saturday, but as you can see from the photo below, we did do some informal singing with some help from Bob Johnston and Eddie Lunn (Bill & Linda Blackmore Cates also performed during the evening....

Here's an early forecast for the weekend, after all our sunny and very warm weather, there's appears to be a good chance (up to 60%) of showers on Saturday with high temperatures in the 50s and low 60s over the weekend. Bring a jacket or a light sweater or coat!

Here's Who Is Coming This Weekend

Here's the latest list of those who are joining us this weekend (March 25-26) at the Millennium Maxwll House Hotel for the 45th Sing-Out South Reunion. There have been some late additions so read the list closely to find some new names just added:

(cast members only)

Revised Friday, March 25, 2011

Pat Nolan
Gene Nolan
Linda Blackmore Cates (Sing-Out '66 & UWP)
Bill Cates
Bob Cates
Harriet Hall Cates
David Cannon
Mrs. Raymond Cannon
Darlene Cannon Duncan
Hazel Robinson
Ann Garrett Clay
Patsy Hankins Kemper
Pam Jones Hazelwood
Lyn Neal-Walker
John Anderson
Debbie Jones Bauder
Molly Hudgens Fox
George Thomas
Randy Diamond
Paula Thompson Winter
Ricky Trotter
Scott Mayberry
Tommy Sloan
Jeanette Denami Coke
Michelle Abston
Buster Barry
Ann Graham Bozman
Colleen Dowd (UWP' 84)
Terry Hendrixson
Margaret Stokes Johnson
Ruth Hammontree Anstey
Allison Smith Ricks
Pam Mark Hall
Beth Amonett (Sing-Out Smithville)
Alan Mayor
Loie Vilars Diggs
Edna Vilars Grable
Jerry Baker
Ted Overman
Bobby Johnston
Wanda Ricks Horrell

Possible late additions:

Deborah Hutchison Fries
Jacki Hutchison


With spouses and friends, the total attending will just over 50.

It is going to be a very special weekend!

We've Done This Twice Before

As we gather this coming weekend at the Millenium Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville (Friday evening, March 25 & Saturday, March 26), it will mark only the third time there has been a Reunion of the cast since Sing-Out South ended its 5-year run back in 1971.

The first Reunion was held Saturday, December 29, 1989, also at the Maxwell House Hotel,(see the group shot above being taken by Alan Mayor). My wife Betty Lee, actually took all the Reunion photos seen in this posting, although Alan will take some again this time around at the Reunion this weekend.

The idea of a reunion started with a small group of us (Wendy Jones Sisson and I first discussed it over lunch when she was in Nashville visiting her folks that summer). More people got involved (Patsy Hankins Kemper, Ann Garrett Clay, Gene Nolan, Alan and others) and we thought doing the Reunion during the holiday season might make sense as it appeared a number of former cast people would either be in town to visit family for the holidays or already lived in the area.

While we started from almost zero in putting together contact lists and other information (no one had e-mail addresses or blogs or Facebook and only Al Gore had the Internet in those days), nevertheless using old cast rosters, letters and phone-a-thons, we gathered over 80 people from 20 different states to come. Some are coming back again this year!

One thing we will have more of for this 45th Reunion is memorabilia. The photo above shows about all we had then, along with a slide show Gene, Alan and I crafted together.

This time, Alan has put together a 30-minute DVD with photos from all eras of the cast along with the audio track music from our half-hour "Memorial for Tomorrow" TV show we did for Memorial Day weekend in 1967. It aired on then WSIX-TV, Channel 8 (now WKRN-TV, Channel 2). A photo from that show can be seen below.

The DVD will be shown to begin our Saturday afternoon session at 1:00 p.m. at the hotel. It will replace the SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS documentary. That's unfortunate in a way, because I know several people really want to see it. The problem is the film has not yet been released on DVD and we faced possibly having to pay a $250 performance fee for showing it. While the producer Lee Storey was very gracious in trying to work something out, it still appeared someone would have to pay the fee and it could NOT be us (there is no money in our budget for it).

Nevertheless, Alan's DVD will do a great job in getting us in the mood Saturday afternoon to look back and reflect on our time in Sing-Out and Up With People from the perspective of 40 years plus! So be thinking about your best stories, especially the funny ones or the ones that still stick out in your mind so many years later.

Here's a brief re-cap of our schedule of events. I will try and e-mail this to everyone coming (about 50 folks) as well as post this again here on the blog several more times before the weekend!

Also if you have your own memorabilia, please feel free to bring it as well. The more the merrier. Just mark your name on it so it won't get lost or confused for someone's special stuff.

ALL EVENTS AT THE MILLENIUM MAXWELL HOUSE HOTEL ON ROSA PARKS BLVD NEAR METRO CENTER


FRIDAY, MARCH 25,2011

7:30---9:30 P.M.....An opening dessert reception, come get back in touch your former cast members (pick up those conversations again in mid-sentence) and see all our memorabilia. It will take you all weekend to see everyone (and everything). This will be a great beginning!


SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2011

1:00 P.M.........Our look back at our time in Sing-Out and Up With People from a perspective of 40 years plus. Bring your best and funniest stories, then watch our 30-minute DVD that will bring back even more memories.

3:00---5:00 P.M......Time for those performing in the evening's talent show to practice and prepare! Will do our practicing somewhere in the hotel, maybe even the hallways if we don't disturb too many people. Don't forget, if you want to perform, please contact David Cannon (and he has a NEW E-MAIL address) rdavidcannon3@comcast.net.


6:30-----9:30 P.M....a buffet dinner and one last chance to see everyone, look back at the memorabilia (and try to remember again exactly who that person standing next to you in that picture really was back in the day), and then enjoy our talent show!

ONE LAST IMPORTANT NOTE: NAMETAGS WILL BE PROVIDED AND IT IS MANDITORY THAT EVERYONE WEAR THEM AT ALL TIMES AT THE EVENTS THIS WEEKEND!

It is going to be a special time! We will take time to remember our departed cast members. And we will take special note of the original SOS cast members who are with us. It was on this very weekend, 45 years ago to the day, that they performed in Sing-Out South premiere shows at Hillsboro High School.

We'll talk more about that in a future posting here, as well as look back on our second Sing-Out South reunion held five years ago this weekend in 2005.