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Dorothy Copus Brush Will folks remember Fred
Waring Last week I began the story of Fred Waring
and the Pennsylvanians and their many contributions to the musical
scene of the country from the 1920s until their farewell concert
at Carnegie Hall in 1980. Waring's shows were marked by a variety
of music plus showmanship. It was music that outlasted crazes.
For Waring the explanation was simple: "Poems can be read
or spoken, melodies can be played or whistled, but words and
music were blended into song, and a song was written to be sung." Following World War II Waring and his group
turned to the new medium -- television. One of the sponsors said,
"When you say, 'Waring' you know you have an audience."
Their Sunday evening show in 1952 had 10 million viewers. In
1949 the TV industry saluted the group as the most exciting innovators
of the medium. Just as Fred had insisted on additional mikes
for better sound on the radio broadcasts he introduced a traveling
boom camera dubbed The Monster for improved visual effects. Music was his prime interest, but Waring was
also an inventor. In his home workshop he did woodworking and
played around with ideas. One day a man approached him with the
idea of a kitchen blender. Waring asked several men to join him
on the project, and they worked for three years developing the
Waring blender. Next came the steam iron. He was also a turkey
breeder and the architect for several golf courses. During the summer months Waring gave workshops
for music teachers and directors of choral groups at his Shawnee
Inn. They were immersed in staging, lighting, sound and microphone
techniques from morning 'til midnight. Fred led rehearsals with
the emphasis on his innovative phoenetic method of lyric singing.
There were youth classes, too. The Shawnee Press was added to
make choral and orchestral arrangements available. For his dedication to bringing "music
most pleasant to all ears of all years" to the nation for
60 years, President Reagan presented him the Medal of Honor.
Fred Waring's life ended in 1984. Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians were on
tour in 1971, and they performed several shows in the Michigan
town where I lived. I had asked the sponsoring group if I might
interview Mr. Waring, but they gave me little hope. Still, I
went to the library and read every article on the man they had
on file. I was busy preparing supper when the phone
rang. The caller told me if I could go to the hotel in an hour
Mr. Waring would give me a short interview. Needless to say I
was there and well-prepared, and that preparation resulted in
a full hour's visit with this hero of mine. He had a friend with him, and we settled in
his hotel room. Very early in our taped conversation I asked
about some of the quotes I had found in my research. He often
responded with, "Who said that?" and I would tell him
which magazine had used that information. He was fascinated that
I had prepared so well. He relaxed and even sang the song from his
first appearance at a prohibition meeting when he was five years
old. He was Cupid and sang the song, "Cupid is the Captain
of the Army." Later he demonstrated his tone-syllable method.
I have the tape of that memorable full hour with Fred Waring. He mentioned that he hoped to write his life
story one day, and then he commanded that I turn off the tape
recorder and he would tell a story he would use in the book.
Now that he is gone I feel free to tell that story. As a friend he performed during Eisenhower's
campaign for the presidency, and they remained close. Lawrence
Welk was often Fred's golf partner on a course where the president
vacationed. Following their round of golf it was not unusual
for Eisenhower to invite them in for lunch. Welk never accepted
because he always had lunch at home with his wife. Fred could
not understand that. I'm hoping for the day when the music of Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians enjoys a revival. |