O Tannenbaum
Macurdy was born on March 18, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan. He was of Scottish descent by way of Nova Scotia. As a three-year-old a neighbor paid him 10 cents to sing "O Tannenbaum". Growing up, he sung in the Grosse Pointe Memorial Church choir, singing as a soprano until his voice changed at age 12. Marie Curtis, the church choir director, encouraged him to take singing lessons. At age 16, she sent him to Avery Crew, a top voice teacher in Detroit, who became his mentor for many years.