Singing Hurricanes on Campus
at the University of Miami School of Music
The Singing Hurricanes came in two convenient sizes: the on-campus ensemble, which usually had up to 20 or more singers, was larger than the internationally touring troupe, which always numbered 15: seven mixed couples (for choreographic reasons), and the pianist.
This is called (by me) the "Lily Pond" photo, and was taken on the main part of the campus about a half mile from the music school. From left to right: Glenn Draper (RIP); Julie Rohr; Doug Daubenspeck; Lynn Schneider; Pat Kirby; Larry Toppal; Kathy Bentley; Brian Olson; Dorma Sisk (RIP); Lee Norbraten; Fran Fabianni (RIP); Bill Brown (RIP); Dee Lamanna (RIP); Jerry Degennaro. Up top: Rick Whitney (RIP) on string bass; Margaret Bitz in the middle, and Michael Roy with the guitar.
Occasionally, the on-campus troupe gave performances to the general university in the Student Union. One can see the transcendent Dorma and her singing partner, Lee; and Kathy, who was my spectacular singing partner. Everyone had a singing and dancing partner with whom you bounced around the stage doing rather easy (and corny) choreography. As depicted in these two photos, there was a lot of finger-snapping; in fact, if you couldn't make a sufficient noise with your fingers, no SH for you!
This is same performance:
That's Brownie on the end of the men's line, with Jim Humphries next. Jim, Pat Kirby and I formed "The Modern Folk Trio" in those halcyon days; we were Singing Hurricanes, but this was an independent group.
Somehow all the girls got together for this shot. The missing names I'll have to extract from Lee Norbraten's prodigious brain stem. When I get them all (and anyone can give me info) I'll update this photo. The date is probably 1965 - '66.
This is dubbed "The Stairs Shot" in my archives. The stairs were out the backdoor (which students seldom used) of the Choral Room. They led to a second floor of the building that had Broby Hall (choral), Fillmore Hall (band), and Nancy Green Hall (orchestra). I personally went up to see what was on that mysterious second floor at least once during my nine years at the music school; as I recall, nothing was there except a broken cymbal and a long dead bandsman still in his sweaty marching uniform: cause of demise, prob. heat exhaustion. It was good to be the chorus and not in the band. These 15 Singing Hurricanes are exactly the spring-of-1965 European tour group. Notice that the pianist, first in line below, is Warren Broome, who was and still is, as he resides in Louisville, KY, a monster on the piano and organ. There once was an errant newspaper article that misspelled his name: we guys, thereafter, called him Wally Boom.
From the top down: Bill Brett; Vicky Berns; Doug Daubenspeck; Julie Rohr; Michael Roy; Lounelle Draper; Bill Brown; Cindy Polk; Rick Whitney; Betty Pressley; Jerry Degennaro; Glenn Draper; Dee Lamanna; Charlie Mowry; Warren Broome. We are looking out upon the athletic field... or maybe the women's dorms.
This is also the 1965 European tour Singing Hurricanes. This site is right next to the music school, and right on the shore of Student Lake, also called Lake Oscelola.
We note with interest that Bill Brett and Betty Pressley are standing next to one another; coincidence? We think not; it was about time.
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Bill Betty (never mind about these others)
Connie later became the lead singer for my vocal group, the Michael Roy Singers, throughout the '70's. "Lead singers" are very special vocalists; their job is to add a wealth of personality to the lead part on top, and it must be exactly right. A lead singer also supplies the interpretive aspects of the music: voice slides, vocal figures and other nuances; the other vocalists follow her lead. Connie was perfect in it all and was one of the best small vocal group lead singers in the country. Hear her on the Michael Roy Singers page, which button is on the main "The Choral Man" page (see at the top).