Good for the soul

Join a singalong in support of three North Tulsa public schools

I remember seeing my parents glued to our black-and-white television screen, watching “Sing Along with Mitch.” Mom joined in, belting out “Yellow Rose of Texas,” “You Are My Sunshine,” and that marvelously nonsensical “Be Kind to Your Web-Footed Friends.” Dad never sang, but he enjoyed watching. I, on the other hand, held Mitch and his choir of stiffs in their little bow ties in utter contempt. They were the antithesis to my beloved rock ‘n’ roll. I wondered how that silly television show captivated my parents.

Then came “Hootenanny,” a singalong show that kept this rock ’n’ roller singing along. Hootenanny is a term from the folk music scene in the early ‘50s. The popular rise of the word, defined as “an informal gathering with folk music,” is often attributed to Pete Seeger. Folk is a participatory, egalitarian genre handed down from generation to generation by folks gathered on porches and in town squares. Even today the music draws people together at festivals. Contra or square dance nights still exist in rural Oklahoma.

In “The Incomplete Folksinger,” Seeger says he encountered the word hootenanny when he and Woody Guthrie played at a New Dealer fundraiser in the ‘50s. Seeger helped Guthrie bring Appalachian fiddle tunes and other European folk derivatives into the American music mainstream, eventually spawning the airing of “Hootenanny.”

I’m fortunate to have grown up in Tulsa, with its rich and diverse musical heritage. I listened to Bob Wills on KVOO in the ‘50s. I grew up when bluegrass, rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly, blues, and the Tulsa Sound poured out of every dive. That history preceded today’s cityscape of top-notch musical venues. Our community understands the value of music in bringing a people together, evidenced by the growth of singalong events like “Rise Up Singing” at Congregation B’nai Emunah, various singalongs at the Woody Guthrie Center, and “Sing for Our Schools,” sponsored by All Souls Partners in Education, an annual fundraiser benefiting Jackson and Gilcrease Elementary Schools and McClain 7th Grade Academy.

When any rockstar today invites the audience to join in singing a beloved song, there is a near unanimous and enthusiastic response. An impromptu singalong brings joyous freedom—we check our egos and worries at the door and connect with each other through the familiarity of a song.

This year’s “Sing for Our Schools” will take place on Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. at All Souls Unitarian Church (2952 S. Peoria Ave.), with a suggested donation of $10.