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 |  Sujet: Jordanaires long on experience Sam 19 Avr 2008, 13:55 | |
| Jordanaires long on experienceGroup together for decades, once performed with Carl Sandburg on ‘Milton Berle’
 Photos BILL GAITHER/The Register-Mail
The Jordanaires perform Wednesday night at the Orpheum Theatre, backing up Al Hull in the Elvis Odyssey Tribute Show. From left, are Gordon Stoker, Curtis Young, Louis Nunley and Ray Walker.
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More related photos   By LAURA MILLERThe Register-MailPosted Apr 03, 2008 @ 08:38 AM
GALESBURG — Most Galesburg residents think of Carl Sandburg as a distinguished poet and famous former resident. The Jordanaires, who performed Wednesday at the Orpheum Theatre with Al Hull and the Elvis Odyssey Tribute Show, knew Sandburg as a folksinger with whom they performed on “The Milton Berle Show” in the 1950s.
“He was a really nice person,” said Ray Walker, a Jordanaire. “He was just pure class, homey class.”
Walker said Sandburg sat on a chair and he sat on the stage at his feet during the performance. They did not rehearse much before the show, but the Jordanaires were able to back him anyhow. Walker said Sandburg fumbled the notes a little bit at the beginning of the song, but he just looked at the Jordanaires and grinned.
“He was very much down to earth,” said Jordanaire Gordon Stoker.
Along with Walker and Stoker, Louis Nunley and Curtis Young make up the Jordanaires quartet today. The group, which started in 1948, has had several personnel changes. All members of the present group have been singing for more than 50 years and done projects on their own as well as together.
“We’ve all been out in the public since we were babies,” said Walker. “We’re still working in the studio.”
The Jordanaires have contributed to albums that won Grammys and been inducted into several halls of fame, including the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, Gospel Hall of Fame, and Country Music Hall of Fame. In addition to Sandburg, the Jordanaires have performed with more than 2,300 artists.
“For most of them, that was their first record,” said Walker.
One such up-and-coming artist the Jordanaires sang with was Elvis Presley. They sang on several of his records and appeared in a few of his movies.
“Doing film work is boring,” said Nunley. “It’s hours and hours of nothing.”
Walker said Presley liked his movie “King Creole” because he could be dramatic in that role. Currently, the Jordanaires perform with Elvis impersonators like Hull.
“Al’s a great guy to work with,” said Young.
The Jordanaires also have sung with Patsy Cline, Rick Nelson, Conway Twitty and Dolly Parton. They remember recording live with Ray Orbison, who was Presley’s favorite singer. Walker said Orbison was so nervous that Stoker had to sing the melody in his ear.
One of their favorite memories was performing on “The Lawrence Welk Show.”
“Lawrence Welk is just a funny guy,” said Walker.
Over the years, the Jordanaires have spent a lot of time performing and working in the studio. They performed for an audience of over 50,000 in Great Britain and often spent 60-70 hours in the studio a week. One week, Walker said they worked for 140 hours.
“It’s kind of a way of life,” said Walker. “When it becomes not fun, we’ll quit.”
“Nothing’s really hard because we like what we do,” said Young.
Walker said he sometimes uses the Internet in order to look up previous performances.
“The thing that is a blessing and a curse is YouTube,” said Walker. “If I’m looking for something I look there.”
The Jordanaires all wear the same suits when they perform. They also like singing songs as they were originally recorded.
“We don’t try to go out and be stars, we like where we are,” said Walker. “There is a lot of respect in the name ‘Jordanaires’ and we like to keep it that way.”
Proceeds from Wednesday's show will benefit the Knox County Child Advocacy Center.Link to the sitehttp://www.galesburg.com/homepage/x889571732 |
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