Singing group shares message of love on Valentine's Day

February 8, 2002
El PasoTimes
Erica Molina

Photos by Victor Calzada / El Paso Times   Sungold Chorus members, clockwise from foreground, Kathy Teel, Freeda Westmoreland, Mary Welsh, Rosie Daw, Kathy Ramos and Joyce Locke rehearse a number at the Vinton fire station.

Members of the Sungold Chorus, clockwise from foreground, Joyce Locke, Freeda Westmoreland, Mamie Holloway, Mary Welsh and Kathy Ramos, use money from the singing valentines to help purchase music supplies and finance trips to competitions for the 25-member chorus.

Valentines in song   ·  What: El Paso Sungold Chorus will deliver singing valentines. ·  When: Feb. 14. ·  Cost: $30, includes rose, possibly a photo. ·  Information: 598-4443. ---- Another chorus, Celebration, also will deliver singing valentines: ·  What: Celebration, a women's vocal harmony group. ·  Cost: $35, includes live song, cassette tape of the song and sweets. ·  Information: Rosemary Calderon, 584-9765; Sharon Thrasher, 592-8811.

Eastsider Hugo Arellano enjoys finding different ways to show his wife of 15 years that he loves her.

For about 10 years, he has had the Border Chorders, El Paso's male barbershop singing group, serenade his wife on Valentine's Day.

About six years ago, he found a second barbershop group to bring music to his wife's ears on that special day for romance: the El Paso Sungold Chorus.

"After a while, you can only send someone so much flowers, chocolate and jewelry," Arellano said. "You have to do something very special."

For $30, the Sungold Chorus, affiliated with Sweet Adelines International, will send a female barbershop quartet to sing two love songs to a buyer's sweetie. The recipient also receives a rose, and sometimes a Polaroid photo.

"It's very exciting because you never know what you're going to find," chorus president Sandy Stone said of delivering the valentines.

The chorus meets weekly at the fire station in Vinton to rehearse for various competitions.

On Feb. 14, three quartets will drive around town delivering their songs of love to a variety of people. They will deliver up to 80 valentines.

"Music does something to you ... it takes you out of your regular world for a short time," chorus director Maxine Johnson said.

The money raised from the singing valentines is used to help purchase music supplies and finance trips to competitions for the 25-member chorus.

Billie McCann has been with the chorus for 35 years. She remembers one particularly unusual valentine delivery from two years ago.

The quartet visited a tattoo parlor in Northeast El Paso and sang to an employee in a "room full of tattooed bikers."

The ladies sang "Let Me Call You Sweetheart," and when they looked at the recipient, tears were running down his hardened cheeks.

A co-worker of the man said the quartet should be offered free tattoos.

"We got out of there right away," McCann said.

Smiles, laughter and tears are usually the result of one of their singing valentines.

"Their singing is amazing," Arellano said. "They bring a touch of magic to (Valentine's Day)."

Another ladies' group, Celebration, also is delivering singing Valentines this Feb. 14.

"I would imagine people will be very surprised," member Sharon Thrasher said. "This makes (the day) pretty special."

Erica Molina may be reached at emolina@elpasotimes.com