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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 4, 2018)
Wednesday, April 4, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 9 For the love of music historic Ryman Auditorium to a state-of-the-art facility in Opryland,” she recalled. Fortunately, they had saved wood from original stage in Ryman and put it on the new stage. As I stood there singing, I could not help but remem- ber the many music legends who have stood on those very E v e n t u a l l y, D a r l e n e returned home to Southern Correspondent California, got married and If there is a perfect home- raised a family. For the next town for Darlene and Mick 24 years, she taught choir, McGrady, a place filled with general music, music theory music, horses and wide-open and guitar. spaces, Sisters is most defi- “During my last eight years nitely it. at the school, they switched Enjoying a morning at me to orchestra where I had their home sur- to learn how to play the rounded by a violin in order to teach plethora of musical it,” she said. “Oh my instruments includ- gosh. I play 10 different ing two standing instruments but the vio- Irish harps, Darlene lin was, by far, the most told me of her pro- difficult to learn. It is lific and joyous so easy to get off pitch! career in music, one My poor husband had to that included tour- suffer through me learn- ing with the 1960s ing it.” folk group the New Te a c h i n g m u s i c Christy Minstrels. seems to be in “I have been McGrady’s blood. in music since I “I love it. To see a was knee high to a child who has never grasshopper,” she held a violin, who laughed. “I even doesn’t know the strings have a report card or how to hold the bow from my kinder- and then, in a couple garten teacher that months, watch them says, ‘Darlene has a play in a concert with nice singing voice.’ other students, it is very So, I think my PHOTO PROVIDED fulfilling knowing that mother encouraged Darlene McGrady toured with the New Christy Minstrels. you have played a smart me in music. Piano lessons. Singing in the choirs. same boards before me.” Life touring on the road Being a cantor. Yes. Music is my gift. It makes me happy. It was both wonderful and hard. “You live out of a suit- makes others happy, too.” After touring with her case,” McGrady said. “Every Citrus College choir, Darlene, other day you were flying in her early twenties, joined somewhere. But when you are the New Christy Minstrels young…” After the New Christy and toured nationally in the Winter is past...fl owers are coming. The turtledoves are singing in the land. late 1970s. With hits like Minstrels, McGrady toured “Green, Green,” and Woody with Ray Anthony, a big-band Guthrie’s “This Land is Your trumpet player in the style of 35 yrs. exp. • Peter Herman, Owner Land,” the New Christy Glenn Miller. This was fol- Minstrels embodied American lowed by a short stint as a folk music during the rock- solo performer at the Playboy and-roll era. Once described Club in Japan. “Everybody always wants as “young Americans who demonstrate — with guitars,” to know, ‘Did you wear the the large ensemble group was bunny costume?!!’ No. No! I started by Randy Sparks and wore long evening gowns. It over the decades included was a classy place,” she said. If singing at the Playboy singers and musicians such as Barry McGuire, Kenny Club was at one end of the cultural spectrum, in 1987, Rogers and Kim Carnes. For Darlene, the high point Darlene was chosen to be a of touring with the group part of a choir that sang before came when she sang at the thousands at Dodger Stadium Grand Old Opry in Nashville. and the LA Coliseum during “The Grand Ole Opry Pope John Paul’s visit to Los had just moved from the Angeles. By Eileen M. Chambers Carpet & Upholstery 541-549-6471 Take-out and FAMILY FRIENDLY DINING until midnight every night 541-549-RIBS SistersSaloon.net 190 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters PHOTO PROVIDED The harp is one of 10 instruments Darlene McGrady plays. part in building their confi- dence and encouraging them to be unafraid of making mis- takes. It is an experience that I always hope will provide a good foundation in their lives outside of music.” In the last 10 years, Darlene took up the Irish harp just for fun. “I have been inspired by harpers over the years, espe- cially Keri Lynn Zwicker from Canada,” she said. “The music is so haunting and, for someone who plays piano, it’s People & Pet Friendly Lawn Maintenance Services really not as difficult as you might expect.” Though officially retired, Darlene and Mick are any- thing but sedentary. Both are active with their horses, even serving on Los Angeles County Mounted Assistance Unit. Not wasting any time, they are volunteering with Sisters Rodeo and Back Country Horsemen of Oregon. “We chose Sisters because of the music and the woods,” she said. “This is a dream come true for us.” Organic, natural n products Personal approach for a every lawn Spring cleanups S Mowing M o & pruning 22 years in business • LCB#9583 83 3 541-549-2882 2 Irrigation Ir r repair & start-ups
