Walking At The Zoo

The quartet provided some musical encouragement to those participating in the Juvenile Diabetes Walk-a-Thon at the Clevelend Zoo on Sunday. It was the earliest performance that we have ever done. We had to be there by 7:30am, so my alarm was set for 5:30. That took me back to the days when I had a job.

It was very rainy during our drive to the zoo, but the weather improved and it turned out to be a nice day for the event. We sang a bit at the registration tent, then moved on to a good spot on the walking route. Everyone had to pass by us and we were at the top of a hill. Many people stopped to listen. Some just wanted to hear us and some used us as an excuse to catch their breaths after climbing the hill.

There were several thousand walkers, plus other entertainment groups. There were a couple small combo bands, a high school marching band, a strolling accordian player, jugglers and us. Our location kept us from having to compete with what the other entertainers were doing. That was good because if it's quartet vs marching band, then we lose.

Here are some pictures, where you will notice that we were not the only visitors from "out of town". Our tenor, Dan had gone on ahead when the 3-man quartet picture was taken. On the left is Gary Young who filled in for our regular bass, Jim. Jim was spending a couple of days in the hospital for observations and adjustments to his pacemaker. Gary is also now the bass in Mike's quartet The Summit Chordsmen.

(click on the collage to make it larger)

It was a great day and a very worthy cause. See, we don't always sing at casinos and racetracks.