Singing Sunday and some sad news

[Mary Rose O'Leary]

Dear Singers,

Buell Cobb, an absolute pillar of our Sacred Harp community, a mighty and extraordinary treble singer, a brilliant author and scholar, and one of the kindest, most welcoming people you could meet, died this week in Alabama. Many of us Angelenos were lucky enough to meet him and learn from him about ten years ago when Jeff Begley brought him out here to teach a singing school for the All-Cal Convention.

Here he is in 2014 reading from one of his two books on Sacred Harp, Like Chords around My Heart: A Sacred Harp Memoir (one month after the Russian invasion of Crimea which, you’ll see, is relevant):

We miss you, Buell, and are so grateful for your too-short a time with us.

We will sing for Buell and all those we’ve lost and all those still living this

Sunday, March 4th

3:30-6pm

On the back porch here in Eagle Rock.

We have plenty of loaner books and will be happy to sing with you again.

Snacks and refreshment are always greatly appreciated.

If you need the address, please text or call Mary Rose at (323) 695-3020.

Also, a friend heard this Sacred Harp story on KPCC in the wee hours of the morning this week and passed it on. Definitely worth a listen, produced by the BBC. It features Tim Erickson and Bridge Hill Kennedy of Alabama, who’s sung with us at All-Cal Conventions in years past.

Hope to sing with you on Sunday!

Good wishes,

Mary Rose O’Leary