Marlene!

During the years I have been active in trying to find former Sing-Out South cast mates, one person's name which consistently comes up is, Marlene Echols. It seems everyone has wanted to know where she is, and what she is doing these days.

Now you have that chance!

I am happy to say, thanks to my cousin, Gene Nolan who tracked down her contact information, we are back in touch with Marlene, who is now Marlene Echols Kinnard. She is living in the Townsend area outside Knoxville, TN. She tells Gene she would be happy to hear from her former SOS and Up With People friends and cast members.

Some of you will remember Marlene attended our SOS Reunion at the Maxwell House Hotel back in 1989. But unfortunately we had lost touch when we had our 40th reunion in 2006.

Now I have her home and e-mail addresses, which I will be adding to our SOS list and which I will be recirculating soon to all of you on our roster.

Marlene Echols(far left playing guitar) sings in female quartet including Gail Goodman (obscured), Debbie Jones and Karen Davis during show at Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon in the fall of 1966.

Marlene was a member of the original cast of Sing Out South. She attended the Action Now! Sing-Out Conference in Estes Park, CO in June,1966, and then traveled the rest of the summer with one of national casts. She returned to Nashville to continue her high school education and re-joined Sing-Out South.

A vibrant and,at times, an outspoken personality, she could more than hold her own during our "bull sessions" when we discussed the important issues on our minds. That included discussions with folks like Henry Swider or Bob Sharp who you see below going at it back in the day. This photo was taken by Alan Mayor (as was the shot at the top of this posting)

If you have memories or stories you like to share about Marlene please feel free to leave them below. Or Marlene, if you are visiting the site, please leave your thoughts and memories below to share with us.

We are so happy to be back in touch!