VANESSA GOULD
 

NCS MEMORIES

From Steve Engle

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​In June of 1966, I was playing the tape of our May 19th final Juniata College concert at a friend’s house in my hometown. His mother came into the room and asked, “So, how’s it feel to be a ‘Has Been’ at 23?”  Though it stung a bit, she wasn’t wrong, for the NCS was a special (and literal) “Band of Brothers and Sisters” whose uniquely shared experiences and accomplishments were not to be replicated. Sixty years later, those days still reside lovingly in the mind. My sincere gratitude to all who made them happen.

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In 1967 I met Joey Welz, an old         

rock-n-roll performer, at the Baltimore    

studio where I recorded before Juniata    

and before Ray Vernon. He once played   

piano for Bill Haley and the Comets.    

I think Joey gave me a copy of        

his version of “Our Summer Love”    

at that time. I assumed he had         

recorded completely new versions       

of the song. But later, upon listening,     

it blew my mind when I realized         

what he’d done! He literally just        

SANG OVER OUR RECORD!!!          

And it’s on YouTube Music!            

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Our first performance in Oneida included “Crooked Little Man,” “Freedom’s Star,” “We Shall Overcome,” and “Sinner Man.” 

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Evidently, when we recorded the album, "Pogo" was not with us. Soon after, Bru and I drove him and "Chauncy" back to Accokeek to record the bass on a 2nd track.  The crazy guy was DANCING while he recorded! (Didn't flub a note.)

In August of 1965 we were given permission to return to the campus a week early.  Ted and Ruth Reinhart, owners of nearby Edgewater Acres Resort, were nationally known western music entertainers and were very generous supporters of our group.  They wanted us to entertain at Edgewater Acres for a special yearly guest, New York City Traffic Commissioner Hank Barnes. The Reinharts thought he probably had some “connections” that could help us. 

So, after rehearsing that week, Ted recorded a demo tape to give to Mr. Barnes.  And we did a performance for him.  It went well.  Sometime later, according to Ted, Mr. Barnes took our demo tape to CBS Radio in NYC.  As the tape was playing, it was overheard by Johnny Carson’s brother, Bob, who inquired about the group. Being told it was a college group, he suggested it would be easy to get the group on the show, possibly in the fall of 1966.  Unfortunately, the NCS disbanded in May, 1966 when Steve graduated.  But we were left with this additional recognition of what we had accomplished

In early 1965, “Ivan” came in third in “Record Races” on WEEM Radio in DC after The Four Seasons and Leslie Gore.

Our two-hour concert earned us $350.00.  In our second year, we took in about $3,000.00. We gave the college $1875.00 worth of entertainment. In 1966, the New Century Singers pressed and sold circa 1,000 albums.

At our second appearance at Lycoming College, we opened for comedian Dick Gregory.  

Driving back to college one night, past Tyrone (home of a paper mill), from the back seat came the quiet, seldom-heard voice of Pogo saying, “In the beginning, God farted on Tyrone.”

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So much for “HAPPY Valley” . . .  We were in a car wreck coming home from State College.  A Penn State couple “parking” on the mountain was late getting the coed back to the dorm. They slammed into Steve’s car pushing it back almost into Dave's Chevy. Fortunately all were safe. Steve’s car was totaled. The attending cop's "hello" to Steve: “Sure messes up an evening, don’t it.”

Numbers not included (for various reasons) in the final concert CD: “We’re Young All Over Again,” Softly, As I Leave You,” “California Dreamin’,” “Born Free,” and “Chivalry Is Dead.” 

I wrote “What Did She Wear?” after going over to watch the Homecoming Dance. I also wrote “It’s A Wild, Wild World” the same night.

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Our "First of July" recording was used by the GAF Film Company in their booth at the Gettysburg Battlefield during the summer of 1966.

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Dr. Ken Crosby and his wife Jane were generous supporters of ours. More than once they invited us to their home to rehearse and then fed us supper. Their young son, Jeff, was so taken with Kirsten that when he married and had a daughter, they named her "Kirsten."

In 1999, JC student Kirsten Crosby sang in the chorus of RUMORS OF ANGELS written and conducted by Steve.

From John Russell

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My time with NCS was very special.  Both the camaraderie and the music were first rate.  One of my favorites was “First of July.”  I used to go to a lot of meetings in DC and then go to my parents’ farm on the weekend.  I drove US 15 and would think of that song every time I passed Gettysburg, and I still think of it every 4th of July.  An unappreciated benefit at the time was that those road trips helped teach me time management.  I got a C from Dr. Rockwell’s intro course, so I can remember taking the chordates book with me and studying early in the morning!

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​​​​​​​From Suzanne Judy Wright (as told to Steve Engle)

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After JC graduation, Jess started at Jefferson Med, and Sue wanted to start grad work at Temple.  She felt her interview did not go well. I don’t know just where the interview took place, but that evening we were performing somewhere nearby. The interviewer was there! Sue went back for a second meeting, and the interviewer said something to the effect that “Well, if you can do that, I think you are a candidate for us.  You’re in!”

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From Kirsten Miller Gould

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​​I came to Juniata in September, 1963 as a freshman with dyed black hair, the result of having played the role of Rosie Alvarez in my spring high school production of "Bye Bye Birdie." The photos show that it took several haircuts over time for me to get back to my more blonde self.

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I recall that, as we were finishing one of our recording sessions, the rock band Natty Bumppo arrived for their session.             

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Following my sophomore year, I began wondering if I should be attending an art school instead of JC.  So I left Juniata in search of such an answer.  It also meant that I would no longer be the alto member of NCS.  I spent the first weeks of summer visiting several other schools, but was still unsure and undecided.  Then, at home in Sinking Spring, PA, I had a summer visit from NCS member David Gould who convinced me that Juniata College was indeed a good school for me.  So I matriculated once again and returned as a junior, and was very happy to continue on with the New Century Singers.  It was the best decision.  And I always had my eye on that tall guy from Brisbin!​ ​

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From David Gould

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There are so many wonderful memories of The New Century Singers that it is difficult to single out one or two.  Perhaps the most powerful lingering reflection is the combination of serious frequent rehearsals producing very "tight" public performances contrasted with the almost non-stop laughter and fun we had together.  It was a glorious time for me, a lasting memory of Juniata, and the beginning of a life-long love for that sassy alto . . . Kirsten Miller!

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(To Steve, while he was trying to tune his guitar)​: 
"You keep picking that thing, it'll never heal."

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