NEAL SISSON, 81, Ray Rhymer, 71, Richard Lund, 64, and Bass Bill Pearson, 71, left to right,
are ready to deliver “Singing Valentines” on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14.
NEAL SISSON, 81, Ray Rhymer, 71, Richard Lund, 64, and Bass Bill Pearson, 71, left to right,
are ready to deliver “Singing Valentines” on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14.
Democrat photo by Dan Burkhart
Mid-February is a time when romance and true love rule, and the softer feelings take over the country - for a day at least. Pictures of Cupid and his arrows appear everywhere while Venus gloats in glory and Mars sulks behind the scene.
Store windows burst out in valentine decor, and “I Love You” balloons abound as well as valentine coffee mugs and cuddly stuffed animals bearing tender messages. Heart-shaped boxes come filled with chocolates, there is a run on red roses and restaurants do a brisk business as love and romance become the order of the day.
Feb. 14 inspires individuals with a special someone to think of ways to show their feelings. There are plenty of items to buy for a loved one, but the Placerville Gold Rush Chorus, a barbershop group that sings in four-part harmony, has a truly unique offering available, and the proceeds go to support music programs in El Dorado County schools.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 13 and 14, Gold Rush Chorus is delivering “Singing Valentines” by sending out barbershop quartets armed with red roses, valentines and love songs. The “Singing Valentines” cost $35 each and can be delivered at work, at home or at play anywhere within eight miles of Highway 50 between El Dorado Hills and Pollock Pines. The members of the quartet arrive dressed in snazzy red blazers. They sing two love songs and present the chosen one with a red rose and a valentine with a personal message from the sender.
“‘Singing Valentines' is a fund-raising activity that is practiced by all chapters of the Barbershop Harmony Society throughout the country. Placerville Gold Rush Chorus typically delivers 70 to 100 ‘Singing Valentines' each year all along the Highway 50 corridor. We do this over a two day period with about four or five quartets from the chapter,” said Gold Rush Chorus president Richard Lund.
Lund said that typically the “Singing Valentines” are delivered to women in an office setting. “We enter - four guys dressed alike carrying a rose, and all the ladies immediately know.” A conspiracy develops as the valentine's recipient is enticed to the lobby or an office. By the time she arrives, there are 40 people to witness the singing and the bestowal of the rose. “She melts and starts crying. Sometimes she even calls her husband to chew him out but invariably melts when he answers. It is soooo heartwarming.”
The “Singing Valentines” generate stories which run the gamut of human emotion as well as a range of ages and a variety of settings.
Barbershopper Homer Rail told a story about the senior side of love.
“We delivered a valentine to a lady at the Gold Country Senior Apartments. We met the gentleman who had arranged for the valentine on the ground floor, and he escorted us to his lady friend's apartment upstairs. They were both in their eighties which goes to show that love is still alive and well.”
Barbershopper Bill Faulkner described a husband's final valentine to his wife.
“Our last delivery came with some instructions. ‘Use the phone at the gate and tell the person who answers to put away the dog so that four packages could be delivered.' We followed the instructions, and an elderly lady came to the gate and let us in. She had a puzzled look on her face when we entered the house. There we found an elderly gentleman in a wheelchair with oxygen. It appeared that this would be their last Valentine's Day together. We sang from our hearts, and it was obvious to us we had touched theirs.”
Rail told this story of love among the fishes.
“We had a call to the Raley's fish market where we delivered a singing valentine to the man behind the counter. He was duly surprised by the time we finished, and there were about 30 or 40 customers joining in the fun.”
Rail also described romance at the blood bank.
“We were delivering a singing valentine to the nurse who was drawing blood that day at the Placerville Blood Bank. We glanced over at the lady donor laying on the couch, and she had big tears rolling down her cheeks.”
Barbershopper Carl Miller reminisced about love in a dental office.
“We delivered a valentine to a woman working in a dental office in Placerville. The office was filled with employees and patients. The ‘Singing Valentine' was a total surprise to the young woman, and as we sang to her in front of several audience members, her tears began to flow. We told her our singing often brings people to tears, especially those who appreciate good music.”
Lund told this story of love in the classroom.
“The first singing valentine I ever delivered was to Ponderosa High School for a male teacher. After the shock of what was actually happening, that we were singing a love song to him, his face got redder and redder. The tears came to his eyes, he sat down, looked around at all the kids in his class and just cried. After we finished, he hugged all the kids; then he came up and hugged us.”
Faulkner told of a case where the lady was somewhat informally attired.
“We went to a house where the gentleman greeted us and said to wait right there. He called his wife who had just gotten out of the shower. She appeared in the doorway with just a towel around her and a bright red face. We started to sing, and finally she got over her embarrassment and began to snuggle up to her husband, and all was well.”
Lund told about a couple intensely absorbed in each other.
“It was dark when we drove up. It was quite late. There was a light in the yard some distance from the house, and we noticed that there was a couple sitting outside sharing a bottle of wine. The area was lit by candles all round. We started singing our love songs. They were in another world. They were snuggling and whispering to each other. It was an amazing display of total love in a setting where we were starting to get cold. We almost crept away, the love was so palpable.”
On Feb. 13 and 14, quartets from the Placerville Gold Rush Chorus will be delivering “Singing Valentines” consisting of two love songs, a red rose and a valentine. The cost is $35.
To order, call 644-4151 or go online at goldrushchorus.org.