[February 16, 2015]      

On Friday afternoon, residents and staff of St. Clara’s Manor were treated to some wonderful four-part harmony by the True Blue Barbershop Quartet.

The quartet hales from the Springfield area and is faction of The Land of Lincoln Barbershop Chorus. True Blue placed in the top 10 at an Illinois District Barbershop Quartet Association competition recently. Members of True Blue include tenor Larry Drake, bass Dean Olsen, baritone Pat Claussen, and lead Mike Drake. Mike Drake is also the director of the Land of Lincoln Barbershop Quartet Association. A fifth member, John Rigg, recently joined the True Blue.

The Quartet had been on the road Friday since 7:30 a.m. performing for the Singing Valentines Fundraiser for The Land of Lincoln Barbershop Chorus. Proceeds are used to offset music expenses and other costs incurred by the organization.

As part of the fundraiser, four different quartets were out and about Friday with an expectation of doing between 40 and 50 Valentine performances for the fundraiser. Each singing valentine recipient was given a red rose, a greeting card and two songs sung by a tuxedoed quartet. The recipient also had his/her picture taken with the quartet to commemorate the sweet day.

By Roy Logan

St. Clara residents gather to enjoy the music offered by True Blue.

 

 

The quartet from left to right -- Larry Drake, tenor; Mike Drake, lead and also the director of Land of Lincoln Barbershop Quartet Association; Dean Olsen, bass; and Pat Claussen, baritone.
Not pictured, John Rigg, new member and driver of the SUV for the quartet.

 

Local historian, Paul Gleason, a resident of St. Clara’s looks forward to hearing the quartet.