Music has always been an integral part of the Nelson family, though never with any formal training; that is not until the emergence of Amy Slizek Nelson , who holds a Master’s Degree in Music, and has formal operatic voice training. More on Amy later.
The Nelson children may well have inherited their singing abilities from Jennie’s side of the family. Though Bernie could carry a tune, his voice didn’t have the same flair as that produced by the three Anderson sisters: Jennie, Violet, and the youngest, Helen. Helen’s harmony added a richness that sent chills up the spine. Most of the songs they sang were old, turn of the century parlor tunes, and the genteel lullabies from the twenties and thirties. They even had a few Swedish folk songs in their repertoire. Helen was also an accomplished pianist.
In addition to his prowess at stickball, Bob, the oldest had a passion for music. He was self-taught on the piano, the vibraphone, drums, and a few other instruments. He had a baritone voice that rivaled the best crooners of the thirties, forties, and fifties. He entered and won several local singing contests in and around Brooklyn, and just missed a professional career in 1947 when, at the age of 25, he was beat out by Vic Damone on the CBS radio program Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, the equivalent of today’s American Idol contests. But that didn’t stop Bob from enjoying his music at every opportunity that presented itself. Later in life he dreamed of owning a music store, but it remained a dream only.
Bob's daughter, Lynda possesses a beautiful voice that reminds one of Barbra Streisand's. At one point she experimented with the night club scene, but the lifestyle wasn't a goof fit for Lynda.
From a different perspective, Dick, the third oldest, had a passion for Baseball that ultimately earned him an invitation to a Brooklyn Dodger spring training camp, where he had already been assigned number 16. However, that’s another story; this one is about the musical side of Dick. Dick had a delightful tenor voice, and he seemed to shine best in a choral group setting. He had a flair for charming women of all ages; what added to his stature were his tall frame and good looks (he always teased that he was the handsomest of the six boys). Those elements, combined with his fun-loving antics, made him a natural showman. Considering the strength of his commitment to the social life at South Reformed Church, it was only a matter of time that he would be influential in the growth of the Choristers at South Reformed. When he moved his family to Spencer, North Carolina in 1973, he immediately searched out a church that fit him and his family. St. John's Lutheran Church in Salisbury, just south of Spencer, filled the bill. He was heavily involved in church activities, and it took many years before he finally had the right elements in place to influence the founding of the St. John's Men's Chorus at the church.
Allen, the fourth oldest, had an unusually high lyric tenor voice, and his harmony was impeccable. He did well in a barbershop quartet environment, but he also sang some sweet, melodic Irish solos that were perfect for his vocal range and talent. In his younder years he and his friends Eddie Larsen and Sven Fagergren performed as singing waiters at a summer resort restaurant called the Linden House in Greenwood Lake, NY. Allen also learned to play the bass drum for the Cobleskill Coble Aires, an adult drum and bugle corps that performed in several summertime parades in the Schoharie Valley region of New York State, west of Albany.
Marilyn, the only daughter of seven Nelson children, inherited her mother’s charm, good looks, and sweet voice. In her early years she took piano lessons for a while, but she never pursued anything else musically beyond that, the singing parts she played in several of the Choristers performances, and her involvement with the choir at South Reformed Church .
Warren, the second oldest, also had a pleasant tenor voice. He loved to participate, though generally not as a solo performer. While living in Salisbury, North Carolina he sang with Dick in the Men’s Chorus at St. John’s.
The Nelson children may well have inherited their singing abilities from Jennie’s side of the family. Though Bernie could carry a tune, his voice didn’t have the same flair as that produced by the three Anderson sisters: Jennie, Violet, and the youngest, Helen. Helen’s harmony added a richness that sent chills up the spine. Most of the songs they sang were old, turn of the century parlor tunes, and the genteel lullabies from the twenties and thirties. They even had a few Swedish folk songs in their repertoire. Helen was also an accomplished pianist.
In addition to his prowess at stickball, Bob, the oldest had a passion for music. He was self-taught on the piano, the vibraphone, drums, and a few other instruments. He had a baritone voice that rivaled the best crooners of the thirties, forties, and fifties. He entered and won several local singing contests in and around Brooklyn, and just missed a professional career in 1947 when, at the age of 25, he was beat out by Vic Damone on the CBS radio program Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, the equivalent of today’s American Idol contests. But that didn’t stop Bob from enjoying his music at every opportunity that presented itself. Later in life he dreamed of owning a music store, but it remained a dream only.
Bob's daughter, Lynda possesses a beautiful voice that reminds one of Barbra Streisand's. At one point she experimented with the night club scene, but the lifestyle wasn't a goof fit for Lynda.
From a different perspective, Dick, the third oldest, had a passion for Baseball that ultimately earned him an invitation to a Brooklyn Dodger spring training camp, where he had already been assigned number 16. However, that’s another story; this one is about the musical side of Dick. Dick had a delightful tenor voice, and he seemed to shine best in a choral group setting. He had a flair for charming women of all ages; what added to his stature were his tall frame and good looks (he always teased that he was the handsomest of the six boys). Those elements, combined with his fun-loving antics, made him a natural showman. Considering the strength of his commitment to the social life at South Reformed Church, it was only a matter of time that he would be influential in the growth of the Choristers at South Reformed. When he moved his family to Spencer, North Carolina in 1973, he immediately searched out a church that fit him and his family. St. John's Lutheran Church in Salisbury, just south of Spencer, filled the bill. He was heavily involved in church activities, and it took many years before he finally had the right elements in place to influence the founding of the St. John's Men's Chorus at the church.
Allen, the fourth oldest, had an unusually high lyric tenor voice, and his harmony was impeccable. He did well in a barbershop quartet environment, but he also sang some sweet, melodic Irish solos that were perfect for his vocal range and talent. In his younder years he and his friends Eddie Larsen and Sven Fagergren performed as singing waiters at a summer resort restaurant called the Linden House in Greenwood Lake, NY. Allen also learned to play the bass drum for the Cobleskill Coble Aires, an adult drum and bugle corps that performed in several summertime parades in the Schoharie Valley region of New York State, west of Albany.
Marilyn, the only daughter of seven Nelson children, inherited her mother’s charm, good looks, and sweet voice. In her early years she took piano lessons for a while, but she never pursued anything else musically beyond that, the singing parts she played in several of the Choristers performances, and her involvement with the choir at South Reformed Church .
Warren, the second oldest, also had a pleasant tenor voice. He loved to participate, though generally not as a solo performer. While living in Salisbury, North Carolina he sang with Dick in the Men’s Chorus at St. John’s.
The four older boys were wrapped up in the music of the big bands during the thirties and forties, and their hands-down favorite was Glen Miller's Orchestra. General Jimmy Doolittle once said of Glen Miller's music that, next to a letter from home, Glen Miller's music was the next best thing for the GI's overseas during World War II.
Gene, the second youngest, learned to play marching band drums at South Reformed, and he too joined the Coble Aires in Cobleskill, New York for a summer session. His tenor voice was either first or second tenor, depending on who was directing at the time. He also joined the St. John’s Men’s Chorus for one season, and he had a Christmas season with the Virginia Choral Society in Newport News, Virginia.
Howie, the youngest, took music less seriously, but did have a nice tenor voice as well. He was always laid back, and just kind of went along for the ride when the family was involved in singing ventures, playing his part well.
It was Eileen Shaw, musical director of the Choristers, who successfully merged the singing talents of the Nelson boys into a harmonious unit.
(More on Amy later).
Gene, the second youngest, learned to play marching band drums at South Reformed, and he too joined the Coble Aires in Cobleskill, New York for a summer session. His tenor voice was either first or second tenor, depending on who was directing at the time. He also joined the St. John’s Men’s Chorus for one season, and he had a Christmas season with the Virginia Choral Society in Newport News, Virginia.
Howie, the youngest, took music less seriously, but did have a nice tenor voice as well. He was always laid back, and just kind of went along for the ride when the family was involved in singing ventures, playing his part well.
It was Eileen Shaw, musical director of the Choristers, who successfully merged the singing talents of the Nelson boys into a harmonious unit.
(More on Amy later).
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