Cape Central Music

I didn’t have much to do with Central High School’s music department. I could barely play my radio, let alone an musical instrument.

Mother used to make the argument, “Learn how to play the piano and you’ll always be popular at parties.” Somehow or another, I don’t think it would have made much difference in my case.

I ran across these two photos of Dale Williams, head of the music department. The 1964 Girardot was dedicated to Mr. Williams (1926-1964) and to Joycelyn Hook (1946-1963, Girardot Literary Editor Elect).

I couldn’t find anything in The Missourian archives that gave any more information about the circumstances of their deaths. Joy was mentioned in a story April 5, 1963, for winning two of three A Division debates she was in. It looks like she might have been partnered with Helen Miner.

Music at Central High School

When I was in Cape last fall, I toured our old high school, now a junior high school. I shot these photos in the music department.

Gallery of Music Department Photos

Click on any image to make it larger, then click on the left or right side to step through the photos.

Hootenanny Hits Central High School

I recognized Pep Foster in this picture, so I sent him a copy and asked, “Who are these people and what are they doing?”

Pep was kind enough to scratch his head a few times and fire back this message:

From left to right (the numbers after the names are class year, not ages):

  • Bill Withers 66
  • Gary Fisher 66
  • Preston ‘Pep’ Foster 64 (age barely 17)
  • J. Frank Moore 64
  • Ron Anderson 64

From the bulletin board,  it would be Dale Williams Choir Room. The 1964 wall calendar says Student Council Talent Show / Hootenanny Spring 1964.

Gary and Pep did a duet of two Kingston Trio Songs.  I remember that Bill and Jay and Ron all built Lutes or Guitars with Mr. Bush who lived in the 900 block of Perry Ave.

A few minutes later, Pep sent this amendment: Ken, on further checking, make that “Jay Moore“…a bow to those changes that have come with age.  His Facebook is “Jay”.  So be it!

I replied, That’s OK. Kenny morphed to Ken as soon as I crossed the Mississippi River headed out of state.

That’s what college is for, a chance to reinvent yourself.

Here’s a gallery of the group and their audience

As always, click on any image to make it bigger, then step through the gallery by clicking on the left and right sides.

Tribute to real folksingers

If you were a Peter, Paul & Mary fan, here’s a tribute I posted when Mary Travers died. I photographed them when they performed at Ohio University the day after Martin Luther King was gunned down in Memphis. They were a class act on stage and off.