The Deep River Singers

              AMERICA'S CELEBRATED CONCERT ARTISTS
CLASSIC   FOLKLORE   POPULAR
THE DEEP RIVER SINGERS
SCINTILLATING MUSICAL PRESENTATIONS
Since 1928


FEATURED ATTRACTIONS

Male Octet
Male Quartette
Chorale
Soloists
Ladies Ensemble
Ladies Trio

With
Accompaniment




PROGRAMME

THEME: DEEP RIVER — BURLEIGH


I HEAR AMERICA SINGING

Ehrich


BIG BEN JR

C. Martin


SONG OF PEACE

J. Sibelius



Chorale



CLASSIC

Solo


THE OPEN ROAD IS CALLING—KOUNTZ Male Octet
OR
LET ALL MY LIFE BE MUSIC—GROSS Female Ensemble


INSTRUMENTAL SELECTION

To Be Announced



Accompanist



THREE SONGS: OPUS 70—VIRGINIA: A PRETTY DAY: REDHEADED RESTAURANT CASHIER*





Chorale
K. Rathus





INTERMISSION


THE GREEN LEAVES OF SUMMER

D. Tiomkin


LONESOME DOVE

W. Ehret



Chorale



FOLK TUNE

Solo


EXHORTATION—COOK
SUMMERTIME
Gershwin


WAGON WHEELS—P. Derose Malee Octet
OR
BY THE BEND OF THE RIVER—Hemstreet Female Ensemble


I'LL NEVER TURN BACK

Dett


THE OLD RUGGED CROSS

Dr. H. B. Wilson



Chorale



NEGRO SPIRITUALS




ROCK A MY SOUL

R. Page


GO DOWN MOSES

Hall Johnson


GIVE ME YOUR HAND

John W. Work


AIN'T GOT TIME TO DIE

Hall Johnson



Chorale




* Program subject to change





CHORALE

Figure



Musically Enchanting
Dramatically Gripping
Vitally Entertaining



CONCERT
Special Presentations
For
Conventions   Banquets   Parties

Excerpts From
Operettas and Popular Productions
DEEP RIVER SINGERS

DELANO OBANNION, B.E. Mus., FISK UNIVERSITY, DIRECTOR




Ecstatic Harmony   Superb Artistry


Figure


Complete Repertoire In
Classic   Folklore   Popular

Concert and Varied Presentations


Figure


LADIES ENSEMBLE
DEEP RIVER SINGERS

Special Presentations For Banquets, Conventions & Parties

E. RUTH POWELL, COACH




Musically Adept   Dramatically Inspiring


Figure



Classic
Folklore
Popular

Concert
Operatic Excerpts
Radio
Television
Theatre


Figure


MALE OCTET
DEEP RIVER SINGERS

Special Presentations For Banquets, Conventions & Parties

JOHN BURDETTE, COACH




SOPRANOS

Burnaugh, Louise—Chgo. Mus. Coll., Nat. Univ. of Mus., Amer. Opera Guild, Eureka Jub. Singers
Burdette, Allamae—Voice, Conklin, Apollo Ensemble and Mundy Singers
Cloud, Beatrice—Voice, Rosa Raisa, R. Coch, Nat. Bapt. Con. (Soloist), Cosmopolitan Choir.
Johnson, Ophelia—Voice, T. Wade Brown (Roos. Coll.), Gtr. St. John Choir, Con. East-Midwest
Martin, Frances—Voice, J. Work, Marie Brooks Strange, Tenn.  A&I Glee Club.
McCullough, Zolla—Amer. Cons. Awards, Chgo. Mus. Fest., O. Ditson, Chicago and Elkhart Symphonies
Miller, Hattie—Amer. Cons., Amer. Opera Co. (soloist), Aida & Santuzza, Olivet Ch. Choir.
Page, Mary Ellen—Englewood H.S. Chorus, Voice, J. Martin, Monumental and Gtr. St. John Choirs



CONTRALTOS

Jordan, LaVada—Voice, Girvin, L. White, Ring Dem Bells, Mikado, Min. Mus. Jubilee Temple
Raye, Lois Julliard Sch. of Mus. Awards, M. Anderson, Chgo Trib., Chgo Sun-T., Phila. Symph.
Robertson, Lanier—Rust Coll., Laredef Chorus, Beth Eden Choir
Sunday, Christine—Amer. Cons., H. Hammond Choral Silhouettes, Monumental Choir
Wallace, Arnetta G.—Knox Coll., B. E. Mus. Coll. Glee Club, Jr. H.S. Teacher



TENORS

Anderson, Lawrence—Voice, Kans. St., N.Y. Univ., D. Baker, Chgo., Fred Waring Singers
Eskridge, John—Voice, Chgo. Mus. Coll., D. Graham, Neota McCurty, Dyett Scholarship
Jones, Harold—Dunbar H.S. Choir, Voice, M. Crowley Monumental Choir
Smith, John—New Haven Conn. H.S. Glee Club, Sherwood Sch. of Mus., Laymen Chorus
Smith, Merton—Voice, (late), A. Muhlman, Clef Barons, Con. Radio and Theatre
Yarbrough, Albert—Voice, Chgo. Mus. Coll., U.S. Navy Chorus, Opera Guild, Eureka Singers



BASSOS

Logan, Albert—Voice, B.E. Mus., Roos. Coll., 649th T.D. Band and Glee Club (Dir.), Nat. Opera Guild
Logan, Arthur—J. Wesley Jones Chorale, Shuffle Along, Get Lucky, Pro's Con. Radio Thea.
Page, Albert W.—Fisk Jubilee Singers, Voice, J. Keep, Umbraim Singers, Con. Radio Thea.
Robinson, A. Earle—Linn. Mo. Glee Club, Voice, Bos. U., Mrs. C. M. Langsing, A. Shandor, Concert

* See Staff for other Members



ACCOMPANISTS

Lindsay, Yvonne—B.E. Mus., Chgo. Tea. Coll., DePaul Sch. of Mus., Chgo. OP. Guild and St. James
Martin, John A.—Chgo. Coll., B.A. Mus., Amer. Cons., Intl. Tours Soloists and Accomp.
Perkins, Ruby—Private instruction, E. Bonds, Chgo. Mus. Coll., Jubilee Temple Cho. Acc.
Saunders, Clarice P.—Amer. Con. of Mus., W. Gossette. D. D. Richardson, Woodlawn A.M.E. Acc.



STAFF

*Burdette, John—(Basso) (Coach of Male Section), Voice, M. Conklin Awards, Chgo. Tribune Mus. Fest.  1930, Chgo. Worlds Fair 1934, Orig. Deep River Quar. Mem., Con. Radio and Theatre.
*O'Bannion, Dclano—(Basso) (Dir. of Chorale), Voice Scholarship, Sherwood Sch. of Mus. 1953, Fisk Scholarship 1955, Fisk. Jub. Singers, B.A. Mus., Fisk 1959 Concert.
Powell, E. Ruth—(Sop.) (Coach of Female Section), Amer. Cons., Northwestern Sch. of Mus., Concertized U.S. & Canada, Teacher and Mus. Directress in Chicago area.




DEEP RIVER SINGERS
Winner First Prize Male Quartette
Chicago Tribune Musicland Festival


Figure


Organized in 1928 by four young men with convictions, one that music was the best ambassador of good will they knew.  Also it was an art of expression second to none and served as an excellent channel of entertainment for those who appreciated this fine art.

Preparation began and after fifteen months they launched the ship of goodwill, in a much disturbed world.  First recognition was gained in competing and winning the award in the Chicago Tribune Musicland Festival 1930.  Further prominence came their way thru one of the members (John Burdette) who also won the trophy as the best competing male soloist, who went on to renown with his thrilling renditions, becoming legendarily known as Old Man River.

Using these laurels as a springboard, this group began concertizing the midwest, including the Chicago World's Fair where they also won honors.  Radioland thru Stations W.G.N., K.Y.W., at that time an affiliate of N.B.C. and other outlets enjoyed the talents of this fine organization.  They continued their presentations in concert, radio and theatres until 1936, when the first European tour was made.  Since then history has repeated itself with tours national and international for this fine group.

In the last decade a new idea was born with the hope of increasing this group to a chorale.  Auditions for both male and female were held and artists were selected for this new venture.  Thanks to the 'Almighty' the project has been very successful and we now offer our audiences programs with much more variety and the most pleasing entertainment in this art.  Each artist in addition to their excellent choralistic abilities is also a soloist in his or her own right.  The accompanists are no exceptions.

What is music?  Music is the art of expressing ones thoughts in tones.  In order to gain the objective three parties are needed.  The composer, audience and the artists.  We the artists do sincerely hope to express the true thoughts of the composer, at the same time make it very pleasing for your listening pleasure.  It is a real joy to sing whether it comes from the minds and pens of the masters or a new arrival on the musical scene.  It is just a joy, singing.  We would not think our audiences are so naive as to think we as artists do not have a preference, sure you guessed it the Negro Spirituals and Folklore that so ably express the feelings of our people whether it is joy or sorrow, hope or despair.  As you listen please think of a group with a purpose.  That purpose is goodwill.  Goodnight.




Appearances

DUKE UNIVERSITY, DURHAM, N. C.
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
WINONA LAKE CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY, WINONA LAKE, IND.
A & T COLLEGE, GREENSBORO, N. C.
ARIZONA STATE COLLEGE, TEMPE, ARIZ.
TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE, TUSKEGEE, ALA.
EMORY UNIVERSITY, ATLANTA, GA.
AETNA INSURANCE CO. (SALES MEETING) HARTFORD, CONN.
EDGEWATER BEACH HOTEL (MARINE DINING ROOM) CHICAGO, ILL.
TEXAS A. & M. UNIVERSITY, BRYAN, TEXAS
KIWANIS — LIONS — ROTARY — CLUBS
CONCERT, THEATRICAL, RADIO AND TELEVISION
INTERNATIONAL TOURS



Comments

ONE OF THE FINEST SINGING GROUPS IN THEIR FIELD.
Gene Morgan, Chicago Daily News


EXCELLENT HARMONY AND NATURAL RHYTHM THAT GAINED THE APPLAUSE OF EVERY MUSIC LOVER.
The Editor's Dilemma Louisville Courier

NOT ONLY HAVE THEY DONE A SPLENDID JOB MUSICALLY, THEY HAVE BEEN AMBASSADORS EXTRAORDINARY FOR THEIR RACE.

James Lombard, Field Adv. Univ. of Minn. Gen. Exten.

HELD CLUB FIFTEEN MINUTES OVERTIME.  NOT A MAN LEFT.  SWELL.

L. H. Barret, Sec. Altoona, Pa. Kiwanis

THE THING THAT APPEALED TO ME MOST ABOUT THIS QUARTET WAS THE FACT THAT THE TYPE OF MUSIC THEY GAVE THE MONTGOMERY AUDIENCE WAS DEFINITELY CALCULATED TO BUILD THE MORALE IN ANY COMMUNITY.

Edward S. Maclin, Pres. West Va. Inst. of Tech.


AS FOR THE DEEP RIVER SINGERS THEY OFFERED A PROGRAM THAT INCLUDED EVERYTHING FOR WHICH TALENTED COLORED SINGERS AND ENTERTAINERS ARE NOTED … AND THE ENTIRE PROGRAM LEFT THE HUGE CROWD SPELLBOUND.
LaFayette Journal LaFayette, Ind.

DEEP RIVER CONCERT BUREAU
DRexel 3-3193
362 East 48th Street   Chicago 15, Illinois