A Postscript

One very interesting update to share about something we discussed here on the blog yesterday.

It concerns Linda Blackmore of Sing-Out '66 (photo above). She got rave reviews for her performances here in Nashville, including one at then-Belmont College. You can see the student reaction below.

I pointed out Jim Troutner, a future Sing-Out South and UWP leader and cast soloist in the photo above (he's on the left in the photo, at the end of the second row in a coat and tie).

I also speculated that somewhere in the photo above might be her future husband, Bill Cates, who, like Jim Troutner, was also a Belmont student at the time. Bill would have been seeing Linda and hearing her sing for the first time.

Sure enough, I got this e-mail from Linda who relates: "Bill says that when he was sitting in the audience near Jim Troutner during that first performance in Nashville(I think Bill is in the row in front of Jim third from the left), and while I was singing, he leaned over to Jim and told him he was going to marry 'that girl'!!"

And sure enough they did, as Bill (seen above) also became a leader and musical director of both Sing-Out South and Up With People. They met and married during that time, ultimately moving back to the Nashville area to raise a family. They just recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary!

And it all began with the show at Belmont that fateful day and week 45 years ago!

A photo of Linda and Bill in recent years.