Gateway Recollections 3

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="2eb64643.gif"> <div> <A HREF="gatewaycd.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Singers CDs"><IMG SRC="2f0a0200.png" border=0 width="160" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <div> <A HREF="gatewaymemories7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 7"><IMG SRC="2f1a0200.png" border=0 width="160" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <div> <A HREF="gatewayhistory.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Singers History"><IMG SRC="2f2a0200.png" border=0 width="160" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <div> <A HREF="gatewayalbums.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recordings"><IMG SRC="2f3a0200.png" border=0 width="160" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <div> <A HREF="biographies.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About the Singers"><IMG SRC="2f4a0200.png" border=0 width="160" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <div> <A HREF="links51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Singers on the Internet"><IMG SRC="2f5a0200.png" border=0 width="160" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <div> <A HREF="gatewaysingers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Singers Home"><IMG SRC="2f6a0200.png" border=0 width="160" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" BGCOLOR="#111111" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div>              </div> <div> <B>THE FABULOUS GATEWAY SINGERS</B></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Now on CD</B></I></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="2f85a5a0.gif" border=0 width="90" height="90" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">      </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF99" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="30764640.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="100" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="30864640.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="100" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="30964640.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="100" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="30a64640.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="100" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="30b64640.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="100" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT><B> </B></div> <div> Puttin' On The Style -- hungry i -- In Hi Fi - On The Lot - Wagons West</div> <div> <I>Click Gateway CD button at left for more info</I></div> <div> Gateway Recollections  3</div> <bR> <div> Comments pages       <A HREF="memories15f.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 1">1</A>     <A HREF="memories260.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 2">2</A>     <A HREF="memories361.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 3">3</A>     <A HREF="memories45e.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 4">4</A>     <A HREF="memories562.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 5">5</A>      <A HREF="memories6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 6">6</A>     <A HREF="gatewaymemories7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 7">7</A>    <A HREF="comments8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 8">8</A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> The distinguished academic  ANN LIEBERMAN  is the wife of Ernie Sheldon. She shares with us some of her own memories of the great Gateway nights.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="32e61900.png" border=0 width="97" height="144" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="0">“I used to go to the Hungry I on Saturday nights (as we had two small children), and loved sitting through the 5 shows. The sound of the Gateways was so exciting, and having learned all the songs, I loved quietly singing along with them.</div> <bR> <div> When they took a break, I would go across the street where the Kingston Trio was singing and help make an audience for them (this was before they got a big hit). </div> <bR> <div> It is great that these CD's are being issued so that others can enjoy this important and wonderful music.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> Ann Lieberman</div> <div> May 2006</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="346bc080.gif" border=0 width="700" height="8" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> ROBERT JAMES in Missourifinds his Gateway CDs bring back fond memories, and especially enjoys playing “Midnight Special”</div> <bR> <bR> <div> “My Wife and I saw The Gateway Singers many times.. They were our favorite group. We were big folk fans in the 50s and 60s, and spent lots of time at the Gate of Horn in Chicago. “</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Robert James</div> <div> March 2006</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="346bc080.gif" border=0 width="700" height="8" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> BILL HINMAN, who especially likes “The Gateway Singers at the hungry I” recalls seeing the group live.</div> <bR> <div> “We saw the Gateway singers live in a performance at The University of California Riverside. Elmerlee Thomas carried us away!”</div> <bR> <div> Bill Hinman</div> <div> March 2006</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="346bc080.gif" border=0 width="700" height="8" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> KITTY KLEPPERT  considers The Gateway Singers a wonderful part of her childhood, and appreciates the new releases on CD.</div> <bR> <div> “I grew up listening to the Gateway Singers as a young girl.  My dad discovered them on a business trip to San Francisco sometime in the late 50s I believe. He had three  albums, and my sisters and I knew all the lyrics by heart. My dad still has the albums.   I recently decided I'd like to have CDs of at least Puttin' on the Style and wanted to share the music with a friend of mine.”</div> <bR> <div> Kitty Kleppert</div> <div> February 2006</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="563" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 179 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="294c8ab0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="171" ALT="Enrico Banducci's hungry i lives again at www.hungryi.net" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="356"><bR> <div> nrico Banducci's hungry i lives again!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Be sure and check out the website </div> <div> celebrating the great San Francisco club at <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.hungryi.net" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.hungryi.net"><U>www.hungryi.net</U></A></FONT></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> For more great recollections, don't miss The Folk Memories Archive at</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.starbeams.com/folkbeat.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.starbeams.com/folkbeat.htm">www.starbeams.com/folkbeat.htm</A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> GRANT CALKINS of Camarillo, California writes in with the very special perspective of having seen the Gateway groups perform several times.</div> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> ”"I was a freshman at Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo) in the fall of 1957 when I saw an advertisement for a concert in the gym featuring some folks named The Gateway Singers. Great R&B was all around at the time (Elvis, Fats Domino, etc), but when I was introduced to folk music via The gateway Singers that evening , I was blown away!</div> <bR> <div> Later that year - or was it the year following - The Gateway Singers returned to San Luis Obispo for another gig, this time in the auditorium at SLO High School. As with the previous concert in the Cal Poly gym, the place was packed!  Again, I had never heard better music in my life. I had by that time started dabbling in guitar and banjo myself, and so I appreciated how Jerry Walter made his 5 string sing!  I'll never forget that, and the same for beauty of Emerlee Thomas' contralto voice as well. I recall seeing the Gateways one last time at the Ice House in Pasadena several years later - perhaps 1963 or '64? Were they still the same group composition?  I just don't recall. One song that stands out to this day was Walter's version of Pretty Saro. The slowly picked 5 string accompanying his rich baritone voice made this beautiful haunting song a lasting memory!</div> <bR> <div> I have seen and heard all the great folk groups many times - Kingston Trio, Bud and Travis, Limelighters, Chad Mitchell trio, etc - and each was excellent in their own right and I would go to see any one of them again.  But the best of them all by the usual measures - harmony, instrumentation, vocal rhythm - and the most important measure of all, emotional impact, - was The Gateway Singers!”</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Grant Calkins</div> <div> December 2005</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="346bc080.gif" border=0 width="700" height="8" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> wTONY OOSTENBRINK of Edmonton, Alberta, hopes to bring the Gateway sound to a whole new audience of listeners.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> “Comments: I borrowed or "inherited" the Gateway Singers in Hi Fi album from my father, who went to a Gateway Singers concert at the University of BC in the early 60's I believe, where he bought the album. My Dad said that the hall was packed to the rafters, and was a very memorable experience for him.</div> <bR> <div> I happened to play this album in 1973 when I was 10 yrs old, and discovered Big Rock Candy Mountain. I must have played that song hundreds of times. I've never let the album get away from me. I love every song.</div> <bR> <div> In recent years I've done internet searches but didn't turn up too much till now. So thank you. I knew I wasn't alone in appreciating this group. </div> <bR> <div> My wife gave me a new retro turntable last Christmas. The first album I played was the Gateway Singers. And my Dad just happened to be right there. </div> <bR> <div> I've never heard any Gateway Singers songs other than those on the Hi Fi album. Is there any chance of GS material coming out on CD? I would love to hear about this </div> <bR> <div> I've been thinking of bringing my album to the CKUA radio station, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.ckua.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ckua.com/"><U>http://www.ckua.com/</U></A></FONT>. They  plays all kinds of historical music. They are based here in Edmonton, but this station has an audience </div> <div> all over this world (no pun intended!).”</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Tony Oostenbrink</div> <div> September 2005</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="346bc080.gif" border=0 width="700" height="8" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> DOUG GREENBERG in Berkeley has been waiting for Gateway Singers CDs to come on stream for many years, and he shares here some of his recollections about the group.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> “I grew up in Palo Alto, California, where my parents were huge Gateway Singers fans. So all of us kids (born between 1948 and 1953) became fans, as well. We had all of their LP's, plus the solo album by Elmerlee Thomas.  We went to see the Gateway Singers at Palo Alto High School, an experience I will never forget. </div> <bR> <div> For me, hearing them brings back a very happy and harmonious  time in my own childhood.  I remember the Gateway Singers playing in the background  frequently as I enjoyed a tabletop baseball game, sorted baseball cards, or played with our pet dog. Their music is something that brought us all together.</div> <bR> <div> More recently (some years back now), I had a very interesting conversation with Elmerlee Thomas' son, Elmer Lee, who is an accomplished blues singer.  He had some interesting things to say about the group's career.</div> <bR> <div> My parents saw the Gateway Singers perform at the Hungry i several times. My mother, who is now 83, waxes nostalgically about those days. </div> <bR> <div> I have to say I remain perplexed as to why the record companies who hold the  original tapes of these albums continue to have no interest in re-releasing the material.  I can't imagine it would cost that much, and there would be lots of people interested. Of course, the silver lining here is that your project benefits Travis Edmonson a lot more than would a commercial re-release.”</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Doug Greenberg</div> <div> August 2005</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="346bc080.gif" border=0 width="700" height="8" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> JACK LEACH is a first-generation Gateway Singers fan who elaborates on what was so special about the group.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "“San Francisco was the place to be in the 60's for many reasons, especially folk groups and new entertainers---there were many small</div> <div> clubs such as the Purple Onion and the Hungry I where numerous stars</div> <div> got their start, such as Barbra Streisand, Bob Newhart, and others. The city was easy to get to and prices were reasonable so my wife and I, just out of college, came often.</div> <bR> <div> The folk era had begun in the East with Pete Seegar and the Weavers, but the West Coast was where the music had blossomed  - Joan Baez, Kingston Trio, Limeliters, to name a few. But the best and earliest were the Gateway Singers.</div> <bR> <div> They had style, voices, and stage presence. None of the succeeding groups could compare with the raw musical talent. Elmerlee Thomas was an accomplished classical singer. Lou Gottlieb was the resident intellectual who was completing his doctorate in music. Jerry Walter</div> <div> was a fine baritone who played the best 5 string banjo of any group (who had also played Jack Armstrong, The All American Boy on radio in</div> <div> his youth). And then there was the excellent tenor of Travis Edmonson, later Travis of Bud and Travis.</div> <bR> <div> I remember the superior harmonies and arrangements which were punctuated with Elmer lee's perfect pitch. When Travis  did Malaguena Salerosa, it brought the house down. Lou played the bass and acted as emcee and his droll wit kept the audience in stitches. He later left to go back to school and eventually started the Limeliters with Glen Yarbrough and Alex Hassilev. He was replaced by Ernie Sheldon, a competent singer and guitar player, but not the personality of Lou.</div> <bR> <div> Today I replayed all three of my vinyl records and although they are well worn, the quality of the singers came through. I have been fortunate to have seen all the early San Francisco groups, and there is no doubt that the Gateway Singers were the finest, in my opinion, of all time."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack Leach</div> <div> August 2005</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="346bc080.gif" border=0 width="700" height="8" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Californian GEORGE WILSON  has played his Gateway Singers LPs into oblivion, and is pleased to get his favorite albums on CD.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> “I probably heard of the Gateway Singers for the first  time in a place called the Rainbow Sign in Belmont Shore (Long Beach) CA. in the '50's. They played a lot of folk, flamenco, classical and jazz at the time. I never had the privilege of seeing the Gateway Singers in person, but, I bought an LP and have just about worn it out through the years. " The Good Reuben James" is an all-time favorite. I don't spend a whole lot of time reminiscing, but music brings back memories like crazy. The music lives on.”</div> <bR> <bR> <div> George Wilson</div> <div> June 2005</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="346bc080.gif" border=0 width="700" height="8" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> JACK WOOLSEY , semi-retired vet and breeder of champion horses, is a first-generation Gateway Singers fan who remembers their live performances at the hungry I, and sheds a bit of light on what the experience was like.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> ”I have great memories of the times my wife and I attended Gateway Singers performances at the hungry i.  They were hilarious and exceptional on their  instruments.</div> <bR> <div> The Gateway Singers  were ALIVE, and continuously carried on with things that were important to us, such as political comments  and remarks about local events around San Francisco. They were a hoot ,and my wife and I enjoyed them very much.</div> <bR> <div> They would banter back and forth., and you never knew what they were going to say. The Gateway Singers  were always extremely funny and upbeat."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Jack Woolsey </div> <div> May 2005</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Comments pages       <A HREF="memories15f.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 1">1</A>     <A HREF="memories260.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 2">2</A>     <A HREF="memories361.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 3">3</A>     <A HREF="memories45e.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 4">4</A>     <A HREF="memories562.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 5">5</A>      <A HREF="memories6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 6">6</A>     <A HREF="gatewaymemories7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 7">7</A>    <A HREF="comments8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gateway Recollections 8">8</A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Hold On"</div> <div> from The Gateway Singers at the hungry i</div> <bR> <div> <I> <embed src="HTMLobj-1062/hold_on_mp.mp3" autostart="true" width="145" height="70">  </I></div> <div> <I>Click forward arrow to play again</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> For more great recollections, don't miss The Folk Memories Archive at</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.starbeams.com/folkbeat.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.starbeams.com/folkbeat.htm">www.starbeams.com/folkbeat.htm</A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   <script language="Javascript"> // do not make any changes to anything past this point or tracking script will not work var data; document.cookie='__support_check=1'; if (location.host) { var domain_name = '&d=' + location.host; } else { var domain_name = '&d=unknown'; } if (document.referrer) { var referrer_website = '&r=' + document.referrer; } else { var referrer_website = '&r=unknown'; } if (navigator.appName) { var browser_name = '&b=' + escape(navigator.appName); } else { var browser_name = '&b=unknown'; } if (navigator.userAgent) { var full_browser_info = '&fbi=' + escape(navigator.userAgent); } else { var full_browser_info = '&fbi=unknown'; } if (navigator.appVersion) { var app_version = '&aV=' + escape(navigator.appVersion); } else { var app_version = '&aV=unknown'; } if (navigator.javaEnabled()) { var java_enabled = '&jE=' + navigator.javaEnabled(); } else { var java_enabled = '&jE=unknown'; } if (screen.width) { var screen_width = '&sw=' + screen.width; } else { var screen_width = '&sw=unknown'; } if (screen.height) { var screen_height = '&sh=' + screen.height; } else { var screen_height = '&sh=unknown'; } if (screen.colorDepth) { var color_depth = '&cd=' + screen.colorDepth; } else { var color_depth = '&cd=unknown'; } data = 'a=track' + domain_name + referrer_website + browser_name + full_browser_info + app_version; data = data + java_enabled + screen_width + screen_height + color_depth; document.write('<img border=0 hspace=0 vspace=0 src="http://stats.directnic.com/tracker.php?' + data + '">'); </script> <noscript> <img border=0 hspace=0 vspace=0 src="http://stats.directnic.com/tracker.php?a=noscript"> </noscript>   </div> </td> </tr></table></body>