Part 2

Tanner-Monagle Studio, Milwaukee, WI

Click.  John Tanner, our incredible person behind the recording scenes, was talking to us over the headsets: “That was beautiful.  Let’s do another take just to be sure.”

I hold up my arms, ready to conduct the piece one more time.  Looking out over my music stand, I see Mac and Mary MacDonald standing there, with headphones on, prepped and ready to go for another take.  I shake my head in awe and wonder.  For a moment, my mind drifts away to a day long past – way long past – 47 years ago to be exact.

Flashback.  Fall of 1975, the University of Wisconsin Whitewater.  I was a first-year student, in a pop choir called at that time, the UWW Swing Choir.  I had made it into the group as a rather young baritone.  We were meeting for a rehearsal, and I was feeling incredibly inadequate.  After all, in this small group, I was one of few who made the group as a freshman.  Most were juniors and seniors, and believe me, I could tell, especially with this one couple.  I had heard many stories about them – they were legends in the choir.  And when they opened their mouths for the first time, I was in awe.  Out of those two mouths came the most beautiful, fully-developed, creamy, rich, and musically sensitive voices I had ever heard.  One was a soprano, the other a tenor.  It was worship time.  In an instant, they became the second coming of singing gods.  I knew at that moment that they were out of my league and that I was incredibly mis-cast in this swing choir.

This couple was Mac and Mary MacDonald.  They were singing a duet together – Breaking Up is Hard to Do by Neil Sedaka.  How could I ever sing with them in this choir?!

Click.  John on headset again.  “Ok, I’m ready when you are.”

And here I am, about to conduct this same couple, 47 years later, singing my music, and recording it for prosperity.  We’ve now travelled together, drunk together, sang at our friends’ weddings and funerals together.  Our kids have played together.  What a crazy life circle this is.

The music track starts, and I begin conducting.  They watch closely, concentrating and focusing like the utmost professionals that they are.  They sing their bit, I cut them off, and we wait in silence for the verdict from John.

Click. “That was just beautiful.  Let’s go on.”

I smile at them and Mary gives me a thumbs up.  We all may be a lot older and much grayer, but we still have what connects us – our love of music and singing, and our love for each other.