[a Q ); £27 | The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, June 26, 1996 5S | ES X -”» HU 3 » “5 A 5 "TRIP' TURNS 50 y Barry Tenenbaum threw a party June 21 for a few hundred of his closest friends, who helped celebrate his 50th birthday. The affair was held at Hanson's at Harveys Lake. Enjoying the party, in top photo, Lenore Vnuk, seated; standing, from left, Lisa Neely, Larry Neely, Dan Vnuk, Barry Tenenbaum, ‘Anne Keefer, Jake Keefer. In photo at right, Joe and Judy Shaver danced to the sound of "Which Doctor." Below, from left, Debbie Sipsky, Frank Lutinski, Kathy Mulea, Barry Tenenbaum, Darlene Williams, Charlie Williams. f POST PHOTOS/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK [] As I was ack Hilsher The New York Times on a full page called her, “The Voice of Jazz." Another full page in the Daily News used “First Lady of Song.” Newsweek on two pages called her “The Scat Lady” and Time on one ‘page used “The Voice of America.” So you don't really believe'l could ignore the passing of Ella Fitzgerald do you? Impos- sible.. Newsweek had the most quot- able quote: “Ella Fitzgerald never hit an unsophisticated note, and always left a song better than she found it.” That explains why Ira Gershwin said, “I never knew how good our songs were until I head Ella Filzgerald sing them.” ‘Jazz critic George 1. Simon wrote. “Among the hundreds of singers and musicians whom I have interviewed over a period of 30'years, | estimate that between 80 ‘and 90 percent of them have named Ella as their favorite singer.” (That should tell you something.) With all the recent media cov- erage there is no point in going back over her career...that start as a leen with Chick Webb's band and her novelly song, “A-Tisket, A-Tasket,” nor the concerts (she worked most of the year), nor the many illnesses and vision loss (she still worked) nor all the En Ella Fitagerald is gone, but her music will live on records. Oh my. the records. The News said, “We're lucky she left so much.” (They quoted Deejay Bob Jones, “I'm just sitting here cry- ing... Many tributes listed her “best albums”. She was prolific, yes. but her output remained consis- tently brilliant and memorable. There are few turkeys. The authoratative Penguin Guide gives extremely critical record reviews. For example, in their seven cat- egories, **** means “outstanding, demands a place in any collec- tion.” down to the lowest single asterisk as "an absolute disgrace.” Fifty of the 60 Fitzgerald albums they review fall into their top two categories! Anyone interested in starting or adding to a Fitzgerald collec- tion of most pleasurable listening should pick: up one of the “Songbook” series from Verve. Her talent was never betler displayed than when doing classics by Cole Porter. Rogers and Hart. the Gershwins, Harold Arlen, Jerome Kern or Johnny Mercer. My special favorite is the 1956 collaboration “Ella and Louis,” with she and Armstrong demon- straling why jazz can also be fun. The good humor that shines through this and many other of her records leads to a personal note. During a trip to New York for the sole purpose of visiting jazz clubs on 52nd street. I had sat next to an empty seat. To my shocked pleasure it was soon filled (amply I might add) by our col- umn subject. She ordered a plain soda and began antimatedly dis- cussing the TV show she had just watched...Jack Webb's "Dragnet." She loved it. : It struck me then. It strikes me now. She was not your usual “star” performer. She was simply anice person who happened to be a helluva jazz singer, and I think that all came through in her sing- ing. Of course it also helped that her timing swings like crazy and her pitch is perfect. And then there is thal creative spark, no- where more in evidence than in a 1960 album “Ella in Berlin.” This is the live concert in which she first tried to sing the formerly male classic, “Mack the Knife." Newsweek said. “Sinatra and Darin can get in line behind her. She and a combo covered the tune just because il was a hit, and in her words. ‘we haven't heard a girl sing it.’ © Then she forgot the lyrics and her voice became grull as she improvised, “Aw, Boby Darin and Louis Armsirong/They made a record, oh but they did/And now Ella, Ella and her fellas/We're making a wreck, what a wreck of Mack the Knife!” Never thought I would be quot- ing our esteemed President, but what the hey, for once I agree with him: “The jazz world and the na- tion have suffered a tremendous loss in the passing of someone with so much talent, grace and class.” Santos (continued from page 1) Rev. Santos is also a profes- sional singer, having studied voice al Miami, Wilkes and Northwest- ern universities and locally with the late Clifford Balshaw. She was a soprano soloist with the Wyo- ming Valley Oratorio Society and has even sung for the late Rever- end Dr. Martin Luther King. Her vocation combines her two first loves — music and the minis- try. “This is the first time since 1973 that we won't worship in the Back Mountain.” Rev. Santos said. “We have considered the people of the Back Mountain to be part of our family. Our youngest son snored through services at Lehman and Huntsville, whose senior mem- bers were like foster grandpar- ents to our boys.” She has three sons, Erik, who has earned a PhD in music and teaches at the University of Michi- gan, Nathan, who earned a master’s degree in music from the University of Miami in Florida and lives in Johnstown, PA, and Ja- son, who earned a bachelor's de- gree in music [rom Wilkes Univer- sity and teaches in public and private schools. Her husband, the late Rosendo Santos, PhD, passed away in Feb- ruary, 1994. He had taught mu- sic at Wilkes, where he also com- posed many pieces, since 1966. As il learning her duties at a new church isn't enough. Rev. Santos has other aspirations for her future. She plans to study for her doctorate in evangelism and al earn a Doctor of Ministry degrée,. from Wesley Seminary in Wash4i!| ington, DC, starting in January s+ Reverend Santos's friends and neighbors [rom the community are invited to share in the speciale, 9:30 a.m. service and 10:30 Prot gram Sunday, June 30 at ‘tHe” Shavertown United Methodist Church. The Choice is Yours! Franklin First Savings Bank offers you IF YOU: Need a low minimum balance account with unlimited check writing or Want an interest bearing, low minimum balance account with unlimited check writing or Don't write a lot of checks or Are 55 or over and want added benefits or Want the convenience of direct deposit of your paycheck and added benefits And Don’t Want to Pay High Fees THEN: We have an account for you! Let us help you make your CHOICE. 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