December January Issue

Page 1

www.idahoseniorindependent.com

TAKE ONE!

FREE!

Troubadours spread joy to Mini-Cassia and the world year-round

The Troubadours perform at care centers in the Mini-Cassia area. From left are Rod Draper, Paul Brown, Bill Jackson, Ned Carter, and Mel Pfeifer. [Photo by Dianna Troyer]

By Dianna Troyer Singing tunes from their youth, five friends who call themselves the Troubadours bring joy to the world of Mini-Cassia residents year-round. Every month for an hour, the Troubadours sing country-western and rock-and-roll classics from the ’50s and ’60s at eight care centers. They also perform at reunions, anniversaries, receptions, birthdays, block parties, and other community events such as the Caring and Shar-

ing Christmas Tree Festival in Rupert. One afternoon at the Mini-Cassia Care Center in Burley, many residents clap to songs sung by Ned “Guitar Man” Carter, “Uncle” Bill Jackson, Paul “The Crooner” Brown, Mel “The Dance Man” Pfeifer, and Rod “The Sheriff” Draper. “A lot of times, at the end of our performances, residents ask us to stay and sing more songs and wonder when we’ll be back,” says Rod, 67, during a break. “For me, that’s priceless, to see the joy they feel. Entertaining them is a way to pay it forward. Who knows, some day I may be in a care center.” As they pack up after their gig, they talk about how they formed the Troubadours three years ago. Paul, Rod, and Mel had been singing together as members of the Snake River Flats, a local barbershop harmony group, and decided they would like to sing more often and started the Troubadours. Ned and Bill heard about them through friends and tossed in their talents. “We each specialize in a certain type of music, so we take turns at the mic,” says Paul, 78, a retired residential builder. “We have hundreds of songs in our repertoire. One of my favorites is ‘Walk Across Texas,’” says Paul, whose deep voice is reminiscent of the late Hank Snow, Don Williams. and Jim Reeves. “I do a lot of their songs.” Paul says Ned is their “guitar man and hummer and strummer” who gets them warmed up. Before he performs, Ned picks from one of his eight guitars at home. “I’ve been playing guitar since I was 12,” (Continued on page 22)


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.