Master Personnel Directory - E through L
E
* Deceased RIP
F
Fennell, Trudy* - Trudy was solely responsible for Michael Roy coming to RCC in 1990.
She was an old friend of Michael's and advised him that the position of music director
was soon opening up and urged him to apply. The rest is history. The Fennells (Tom,
her beloved husband) owned the famous Orchid Jungle for many years, even after
Hurricane Andrew blew it away in 1992. The RCC choir often met at the Jungle for
rehearsals and picnics. Trudy was so well-loved by Jan and Michael that they wanted
to share this photo with her. Oh yes... she was a fine alto singer. May she rest in peace.
John Flynt - John was our principal tenor soloist and section leader. He came to RCC in 1993, soon after Andrew blew Homestead off the map. He was a member of the choir for several years before relocating, but continued to come back as a guest singer for special concerts. John continued to be guest artist in the concert series at Immanuel Presbyterian. He is one of the most versatile and multi-idiomatic singers ever to perform in South Florida, being equally adept in sacred classical/oratorio, and in contemporary Christian styles. He sings the tenor arias from Handel's Messiah, and also accompanies himself at the piano in modern idioms. Hear John on just about any page of the RCC choir in a vast array of diverse styles. John is such a consummate pro, you will be amazed. Click to
hear John sing a ricit. & aria, "He That Dwelleth in Heaven" and "Thou Shalt Break Them" from
Messiah.-----> Hear him sing "Danny Boy" in the Ancient & Celtic --->
Fry, Gary - Gary sang tenor in the Michael Roy Singers back in the mid '70's. He was a classmate at U of M during MR's graduate career in music theory/composition. Somehow, there is no photo of Gary back in the day, therefore we had to go to his professional website to retrieve this one. Gary is a well-regarded composer-arranger with many national jingles and music for films on his resume. Go here to learn of Gary's fine career --> http://www.garyfrymusic.com/
Frye, Pepe - Pepe, always congenial and enthusiastic, sang soprano with the RCC choir for the entire eleven-year span during which the choir held forth on Sunday mornings and gave three full production concerts a year. Her husband, Jerry, was an elder of the session.
Garraffo, Zulema - Zulema was a member of the early consort that performed in the Ancient & Celtic Concert at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church in 2007. She played recorders and is a fellow member with Michael Roy of the Miami Recorder Society. This historic concert was a continuation of the ancient concert series founded by MR at the Redlands Community Chruch where nine productions were presented during the '90's. It was one of the last two concerts presented before the choral program was discontinued at Immanuel.
Gonzalez, Adelaide - Adelaide was an important part of the formidable soprano section at RCC, teaming with Becky Spence, Annette Chapel, Peggy Hunt and Katie Burdick to form a superlative section. She and her husband, Angel, were for most of the 11 years the owner of an antiques shop in downtown Homestead. She contends for the title of friendliest person in the choir and her conviviality and friendship will never be forgotten.
Goolsby, Allen - Allen was a guest tenor soloist who was involved in the concert series of both RCC and Immanuel churches. You can hear him by clicking here ----->
In the Sea Songs medley, Allen is singing the lively tenor solo in "Santiago." Listen for it. Allen did a lot of good work as our tenor soloist & section leader.
Grab, Ted - Ted was a guest soloist and section leader in the concert series at Immanuel Presbyterian. He also sang in the Redland Singers. He was himself an organist and choir director. Ted was the sole bass-baritone that Michael Roy engaged to help him in singing the bass parts, and he was a consummate pro, bringing immense musicianship to the task. The button below to Sea Songs has a solo by Ted in "The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald," the second song of that medley. His portrayal as the sea captain of the doomed ship is spot on, and gives one a good idea of Ted's range of talents. MR always enjoyed singing alongside Ted on the bass parts. He plays the organ solo in "Gone," in the Country Rock medley. --------------->
Greer, Linda -
Guthas, Charlene - Charlene sang in the alto section at Redlands Community Church. She was an important part of a powerhouse section of altos during her time. She and her husband relocated to Crystal River, FL near the end of that era (1998), and Jan and MR visited them once over in that paradise.
Guzman, Rodolpho* - Rodolpho was a professional recorder player and doubtless was the most excellent in South Florida. He played with the early consort at RCC for the nine ancient concert productions mounted there. You can hear him play the air from Bach's well known "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," with the RCC choir singing the accompanying chorale, and with other early instruments playing (portative organ, harpsichord and bass viols)
It's one of the most unusual and finest renditions ever presented in So. FL.
Rodolpho was always a very gentle and kind man. May he rest in peace. Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring
H
Hale, Debbie - A missionary home on furlough, Debbie and her husband Robert sang for a good while in the Immanuel Choir, 2006 - '08. She was a soprano, and you can hear her sing a beautiful solo, "When I Return," an Irish ballad featured in the Ancient & Celtic concert. The uilleann pipes are also heard in this enjoyable and unusual choral piece. Click here
Hale, Micha - The 18-year old son of the Hale missionary family, Micha never sang in the choir, but richly deserves a mention in this personnel listing for his uncanny portrayal of Gilligan (Bob Denver of Gilligan's Island) in a sketch. The cast of Gilligan's Island was impersonated by impromptu actors recruited from the Immanuel congregation, and the theme of the TV show was a part of the Sea Songs medley, 2006. A tongue-in-cheek intro misinforms the audience of the false fact that the sea chantey they are about to hear is a rare one saved from extinction by musicologists. Listen to the reaction when a TV theme song ensues. Also hear the audience's reaction when the impersonators make their entrance at the end of the song. For a look at the whole cast photo go to Immanuel Choir, then to Country/Bluegrass 2004-2006, then to Country/Bluegrass Photos. You can also hear the full Sea Songs medley.
Gilligan's Island theme song
Hale, Robert - The musical Hale family continues with baritone, Robert. Like his wife Debbie, he was an excellent reader with fine musicianship. Robert was a strong addition to the bass section, and here you see him in Renaissance attire for the Ancient & Celtic Concert, 2007. As you see, we all had too much fun.
Hinkson, Jeline - Jeline sang alto with the Immanuel choir for several years while her husband, the late Rev. Kent Hinkson, was interim senior pastor. She displays her Renaissance garb in this photo, but hear her sing a song far removed from European period music in this selection:
We'll let it be a surprise, but keep in mind that, according to Shakespeare, medieval Richard III offered his kingdom for the beast invoked in this song.
Hohn, Kelly - Kelly sang alto with the RCC choir back in the early '90's. Her presence was always a congenial one, and she was a good chorister and a fine soloist. Everyone was sorry when she and family relocated to the northern part of Florida.
Hudson, Clyde* and Lydia - A valuable husband and wife team of singers, Clyde was a bass, singing with MR, and Lydia was an alto singing alongside Jan. Both were experienced choristers with the Immanuel choir for the four years (and 1 month) Michael Roy was music director. After MR left his music
director position, and the choir program was phased out under a new administration, Michael, Jan, and Diane Maltby, our pianist, remained fast friends with the Hudsons and lunched with them usually every Thursday, which situation continues to this day with Lydia; Clyde passed away just recently (July, 2018). It's been ten years of great friendship, sharing choir memories,
and eating lunches all over the area (we'd read a list
of possible destinations - MR always included fictitious
restaurants like "Squids 'R Us," and "Octopus Eatery").
Clyde regaled us all with WWII stories of being
stationed in the Navy on stark Adak Island in the
Aleutians. We were and are so close, that we wish
to share this photo with them. It's one of many
down the years of fun and food. Lydia's photo
is celebrating her 95th birthday as a very spry girl.
Diane, MR, Jan and Clyde stand ready with a fire hose.
Peggy Hunt* - Awaiting us in the heavenly choir, Peggy was one of the sopranos in a stellar section. She performed many solos in the Sunday morning services and esp. the concerts. She was Patty Pluto's sister, and moved up to central FL with Patty soon after the end of the era at RCC. I post four photos of Peggy in that it takes more than one to attempt to do her justice as a friend, as a fellow goofball, and as a singer, and as a Christian who has gone on before us to be with the Lord.
Peggy and Diane horse around. She and Di & Jan & Michael were great personal friends and ate much Thai food together. We'll see here again and yet a moment of earthly time in the multitude that cannot be counted before the throne and before the Lamb.
Hurwitt, Doris - Doris was with the RCC choir until the very end of days for Michael, Jan, Diane, the concert series, and the choir program as we knew it: She was a music teacher, an alto singer, and a professional flutist: she and Michael played many flute duets together, and Doris can be heard playing on choral pieces throughout the 11-year history of the Redlands choir. Her late husband, Eliot, was an elder at RCC, and a firm supporter of the music program. He did not sing in the choir, but it seems that he was always there. After the RCC era ended, the newly formed Redland Singers, created just for the purpose of keeping the displaced singers together until all could find their new callings, met at the Hurwitt home, affectionately called "Horseywood." Doris and Eliot were true friends and devoted Christians.
H thru M: Barbara Johnson (the Rev. Douglas), David Lines, Art Miles, Chris Moore, Diane Maltby
* Deceased