When Sing-Out First Came To Nashville--January 17, 1966

After two full weeks of front-page promotion by its sponsor, THE NASHVILLE BANNER, (the city's afternoon newspaper), Sing-Out '66 roared into Music City for the first time about 3:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon, January 17, 1966. It arrived on charter buses after shows in Little Rock, AK and Memphis, TN. The arrival at the War Memorial Square came with a full police escort of motorcycle officers.

The cast immediately went to the steps of the nearby State Capitol where it gave an impromptu "sing out" performance, according to the cut line for the BANNER's front-page photograph above which ran on Tuesday, January 18. Sing-Out had already been welcomed to the city the day before with the BANNERS's ringing editorial seen below.

The editorial began saying saying it is "this newspaper's privilege" to bring Sing-Out and Moral Re-Armament to Nashville, adding "despite its detractors, MRA stands solidly against Facism, Racism, Communism. It stands positively, unequivocally, openly for clean, decent behaviorism, Americaism, and belief in a Supreme Being." The paper also made it clear that it saw Sing-Out (just formed in August, 1965) as "an almost spontaneous answer by America-minded young people to the threadbare ravings of assorted punks who were getting their kicks out of hymns, and whose misanthropy was aimed also equally at disowning the United State of America and banishing God."

The evening the cast arrived in town, it was honored with a welcoming banquet held in the ballroom of the historic Hermitage Hotel. As a part of his welcoming remarks, BANNER Publisher, James G. Stahlman, the driving force at the newspaper to bring the Sing-Out '66 to Nashville, said: "I have never before seen or felt Nashvillians and Middle Tennesseans so keyed up as they appear in anticpation of your appearances here. Your fame has preceded you. I am certain that your impact and influence will be tremendous, memorable and lasting."

The cast responded to the warm welcome with a short performance at the end of the banquet. Blanton Belk (described the next day in the paper as a "former PT boat commander and U.S. Director of Moral Re-Armament") also told the audience at the banquet that "Nashville will be the launching pad for a shot heard round the world" through Sing-Out's appearances launching 'a revolution that attunes old-fashioned patriotism with the modern musical beat of youth in a new America."

The banquet show by Sing-Out '66 on the evening of January 18 also marked the premiere performance of "Volunteers of Tennessee," a song which later became a standard in every Sing-Out South show.

The lyrics and introduction of the new piece appeared in the next day's BANNER (see above) with the explanation that it was written on the "Sing-Out" bus on the way to Nashville (something which became a standard as Sing-Out and later Up With People traveled to cities and states across the country).

One interesting item about this, if you click and enlarge the news clipping above, you will find a third verse to "Volunteers", one which I don't think we used in Sing-Out South. That is likely because it made a specific reference to Mr. Stahlman that probably wuld not have translated for use in future shows. The mention of "the courage of" Confederate General Nathan Beford Forrest might have also created so issues as well down the road.


Audience response from Sing-Out's first night in Nashville was overwhelmingly positive.

According to THE BANNER, Governor Frank Clement (seen above) told the cast that "he had attended shows from New York to Hollywood, from Moscow to Hong Kong, and from London to Paris, but never had he seen one that thrilled him as your performance here tonight."

Then Congressman, later Nashville Mayor, Richard Fulton (seen above) also praised Sing-Out. According to THE BANNER, Congressman Fulton (who came down from Washington specifically to attend the opening banquet and show) said "patriotism is truth and truth leads to understanding. I believe the truth expressed here tonight could bring an honorable peace throughout the world." The Congressman also said he was going to place a tribute to the cast into the Congressional Record the next day.

Both Congressman Fulton and Governor Clement also became long-time supporters of Sing-Out South, along with Mayor Beverly Briley (see above in 1967 issuing a proclamation on behalf of Sing-Out South). The night Sing-Out '66 came to town for the first time that Mayor told the cast: " You are a fine example of American youth and you are telling the story of love of country in a language that every person can understand."

Certainly the rest of the audience responded that way. THE BANNER reported audience reactions of "fantastic, unbelieveable, tremendous, great" heard time and again. The paper added:"There were cries for "More." There were shouts of "bravo" and during the speaking the restrained but insistent and rolling undertone of the British "Hear, Hear."

So it was quite a opening night for Sing-Out '66! But it would soon be rivaled, if not exceeded, by local reaction as the cast began its tour of the city, especially its many college campuses which started the next day on Tuesday, January 18.

More on that in our next posting.F