Regarding
our May 2009 Doo Wop (Part 2) Talk at the Franklin Township (NJ) Public Library
"Dear
Pam, We are happy to have attended your wonderful library presentation
last evening. It was both informative and entertaining. Charlie did a
fantastic job, as the audience seemed focused throughout. The bulletin board
display was put together nicely as well, and various parts of it weaved in
nicely to his talk. I am looking forward to going into I-Tunes the first
chance I get and listen to some of the terrific old music we heard last
evening. A great time and a lot of fun. Thanks again, and thank Charlie as
well. Yours warmly," - Lisa and Nels
Regarding
our April 2009 Doo Wop (Part 1) Talk at the Bridgewater (NJ) Public Library
"Hi
Charlie and Pam, Thank you again for a wonderful program. I’ve
already received a lot of positive feedback, complements, and requests to have
you back. You can tell that this project is a labor of love that brings
you a lot of joy." - Gerie Madak, Adult Program Coordinator Bridgewater
Library
"Hello Charlie & Pam, Just to let you know
that we thoroughly enjoyed the program on Thursday. I think I was smiling
through the entire time." - Elaine Whelan
Regarding our February 2009 Doo
Wop (Part 1) Talk at Franklin Township Public Library
"Hi Charlie, Last night went wonderfully! What
a turnout! You are a wonderful speaker and we would love to have you
stop in again for another lecture in your series. You and Pam are
certainly an asset to our community." - Erin Blatt, Programming/Outreach
Librarian, Franklin Township Public Library, Somerset, NJ
"Hi Charlie & Pam. Both Elmer and I enjoyed
the Doo Wop presentation last night. We are interested in Doo Wop Music
Part II. We'll check out your website. We also plan to attend the
Doo Wop Music Festival in Philadelphia as soon as the summer date is
confirmed. We look forward to receiving email updates from you as they
come available." - Florence & Elmer Ridley
"Dear Charlie & Pam. It was a really nice
presentation at the libaray. I do hope you'll have more such programs."
- Sty Weiss, Host of the Pop Shoppe Radio Show, Fridays 7 PM - 3 AM,
www.topshelfoldies.com.
"Dear Charlie & Pam, I really enjoyed the Doo Wop
lecture very much. I am the one who asked why the radio show outlets do
not feature this sort of music - even XM Satellite Radio has now let me down
with the removal of Harlem, etc. ... I think based on your
audience, you should prepare for Doo Wop Music Part 2." - Audree
Seltzer
"Hi Pam & Charlie. Really enjoyed your Doo Wop
presentation at the Library in Franklin Township. It was well worth the
rainy hour and a half drive to get there. Sure brought back a lot of
memories (a blast from the past). Looking forward to Part 2." - Reynold
& Sue Johnson
"Charles & Pam. My wife and I enjoyed your
presentation last Thursday night in Franklin. A also am a great fan of
doo wop. Regards.” - Charles F. Spicer
"Thanks so much for the wonderful lecture. Great
visuals! So much great information presented so respectfully!
Unfortunately, the folks who created this music were not viewed as important
to the American cultural landscape. After all, they were Black, mostly
formally uneducated, and not accepted by the larger society as artists. Their
contributions, no matter how unique, just didn't fit the bill. Many
thanks for placing this art form on a level worthy of analysis and inclusion.
I'd be interested in hearing Part 2, especially as to how the music continued
to evolve in spite of the English invasion. Sincerely," - Linda S.
Regarding our February 2009
Interview
with Deborah Chessler at the R&R Hall of Fame, Cleveland (OH)
“Hi
Charlie and Pam. Just a note to tell you how much I enjoyed your
presentation with Deborah Chessler at the Rock Hall. I looked at your very
cool website that night and I wish you great success with these seminars,
and hope you are also able to pay some bills with them, even though it's a
labor of love.
I always wondered about her story and thought her such a
great lyricist. Her lyrics are universal, from the heart, and not gender
specific, in that they are easily changed from he to she. Plus she writes in
a question form, which is the way humans naturally think when thinking of
love, or problems, or the future.
Hearing the beginning of “It's Too Soon To Know” booming out
of the speakers reminded me with a chill how luxurious that song is.
When you mentioned the switching leads the Orioles used I
thought of the Alabama Kings of Harmony. They were based in Cleveland in
1946 to 48, and as you know featured switching leads in their presentation
of the then emerging Gospel style. I also thought of modern jazz and
Charlie Parker. So much new music was happening in the later 40's. The
Orioles would have certainly been listening.
I talked to Debra after the show and was complementing her on
her good writing. She said lots of people were writing good songs then, and
I suggested it was a confluence of her writing and a great group to render
her lyrics that made for success. She agreed with that but was reluctant to
agree she was a great writer!
[There was a guy] ahead of me in line and I overheard her
tell him a story about working in a department store in Baltimore when she
was 15, and Ella Fitzgerald came in looking for a dress. She told him how
she waited on Ella, even though the store policy was not to serve blacks.
How many stories she must have!
Seeing Val Shively there was certainly appropriate, and it's
an honor to you that he would come so far to hear the stories.
So my best wishes to you Charlie and Pamela, for continued
success in a very worthy endeavor. I'm attaching one picture of an
unidentified Cleveland vocal group for your followers to hopefully
identify. Best Regards,” - Pete Wilgus
Regarding our August 2008 Doo Wop Talk at Renaissance Raritan
Valley (NJ)
"Charlie Horner, Thank you for your
presentation yesterday at our clubhouse. After I arrived home
I climbed a ladder to the top of my closet so I could locate and scan my
original Dion Fan Club Card for you. I thought you might be able
to use it or enjoy seeing it (attached). Thank you for keeping this
music alive." - Lynn Paster, Renaissance at Raritan Valley
Regarding our May 2008 Doo Wop Talk at Somerset Run (NJ)
"I thought the presentation was very well organized,
wonderful and exciting. I could listen to Charlie for many hours.
This music influenced my life and reminds me of my teen years." - Frank Tapper,
Somerset Run, NJ
"Your performance was absolutely wonderful! I don't
think I'm a Doo Wop devotee yet, but all the information you supplied was
very, very interesting. I especially liked all the personal anecdotes
you related about these famous people. I heard all the people around me
saying what a great evening it had been and Tom and I certainly agree with
them." - Ingrid and Tom Grosso, Somerset Run, NJ
"A belated, but most heartfelt, thank you for SUCH a lovely
and WONDERFUL, informative lecture." - Chris and Dave Retz, Somerset Run,
NJ
"I'm not surprised that you are receiving positive
feedback. We knew that the presentation was a success. We would
love it if Charlie would do a Part 2 presentation." - Lisa & Nels
Jensen, Somerset Run, NJ
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