SARUM U3A
SARUM U3A JUNE COFFEE MORNING
We at Sarum U3A are so fortunate to hold our monthly coffee meetings in St Francis Church. It is such a bright, light, adaptable space. Chairman, Jenny Mawer told us that this will continue as our meeting place.
Our speaker this month was Chris Walker, clarinettist and author.
His talk entitled “The Great American Songbook”, featured the music and stars of Broadway, Hollywood and Tin Pan Alley in the 1920’s to the 1960’s. Our feet were tapping, fingers clicking and some were humming along as we enjoyed film clips of some of the “Greats” of American Twentieth Century Music. George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, Nat King Cole, Fats Waller, Johnny Mercer and Benny Goodman are just some of the songwriters, musicians, bandleaders and singers he talked about.
The music thrilled us but we learned such interesting facts as well. For example, Cole Porter’s song “Miss Otis Regrets She’s unable to lunch today”, is the result of a bet that he could write a song about absolutely anything. So, having just heard a waiter report the cancellation at a restaurant, he wrote the song. Fats Waller preferred to stay in jail as he was having so much fun playing his piano for fellow inmates. “Rent Parties” were parties held by the rising stars in their flats playing for donations to pay their rents.
This was a really lively, interesting musical morning!
Don’t forget the monthly Tea Dances held jointly with Spire U3A.