The Omaha guide., 1938-06-11

we DSSdh uOlHS IilhSo
with songs,a. thinks to the help of
Clarence.
"Then in 1887, we jumped off
the Swanee River and got a
theme song of our own, "Swanee
Home" Jones also arranged music
for the Lords Prayer that We use
i, our work. That was done three
years ago and it was so popular
we had to keep it in the program.
"Edmonson was the teacher and
low he scored in that role. We
have appeared on other programs
besides the regular Sunday pro-
gram, some of them not so hot
and others pretty good. We have
guests starred for 2. number of
programs and have now, four sche-
duled appearances weekly.
During that time, we have
built a huge musical library of
spirituals and Negro work songs.
1--WE have appeared in a number
of reeitals in other cities, but we
look back with pride at the con-
earts we used to stage here in
Harlem, when we briught the big
time acts from tn studios to APP
pear with US. We have had Phil
Cook, May Singh Breen. Peter
Rose and a host of National Broad
casting Company Stars here to as
sist US in this program.
Benefits? Well, We can't play
all that we are asked, but we have
doBe some for the YMCA, of
which the entire group are mem
bers. Once we sang for the Har-
lem's Business Mems Club ut their
econd annual banquet at the Vito
ka of Tuskegee. We don't know
(which was the most pleased. We
with his address or he with our
singing. At any rate, he made a
request number which we gladly
did.
weekly hundreds of letters
rod into the studio for US, but
few of them come from our OWL
folks. We are sorry abcut this,
fer we want them ~ write in and
let US know how they react to our
work.
Germans Send Most Letters
Our most ardent admirers are
the Germans, strange at is may
sem. and they send us many let
tiers weekly. Our program is
broadcast to Europe on ID short
broadcast to Europe on a short
wave length end over there, we
are almost as popular there as we
+ here. Had it not been for the
var scare in Europe, we would
hove had a tour there this year.
But that is being arranged as
soon as the conditions abroad are
a little more settled.
COS III programs, we have had
meny notables from our race. Mr..
{. c. Spaulding was once guest
speaker and others too numerous
to mention, We have presented as
guest artist the great operate
star, Caterina Jarbroo Inv her only
appearance other than in the
opera ut the Hippodrome. That
particular morning was a memoir
allie one. Miss JarbOr sang several
operate selections in Italian and
made quite a hit. But it wasn't
until after the regular broadcast
taht she really Sang. For, in an
informal concert, she asked for re-
quests from the handful that wait
ed to hear her-and her magnifi-
cient voice thrilled the little gath
sring that with Because" That
was of the last guest appear
anees IN the old studio at I'll
Fifth Ave.Say, maybe that num-
Der did nave some bit of luck in
It for us Ell?
well, we are just plugging
along and thank our cany friends
for their fine support through all
these nine years. These next two
programs will be devoted entirely
co music by colored composers,
and we hope it meet the approval
of our listeners who are urged to
write in and say how they like
the work.
incidentally, the entire group is
MARRIED with the exception Of
Lowell Peters-who is a confirm
ed bachelor and has no idea of
marrying at any early date. They
hail from the four corners of the
United States. Homer Smith,
first tenor is from Florence, Ala;
Jay Toney, second tenor, Column
bia. Tenn; Lowell Peters, second
bass. Cleveland. Tenn and Viii
lac Edmondson first bass from
Spikene, Wash. Jones, the plan
ist, halls from Wilmington, Ohio.
Just another case of five small
town boys making good in the
Bic City and having the best
wishes of their friends for arbth-
en- nine years Of success on the
4ir.
Smith declares that the trip he
enjoyed fost was the one made in
1885 When the entire group was
taken to Mama, Fla, for a two
minute broadcast on the Florida