Earl Volpert sings with his Stone Mountain Barbershop Chorus for the first time since triple bypass a short 5 weeks ago. (Top far left)
We call my dad by many names. For the grandsons, most of the neighborhood kids,and the hockey and soccer teams, he is affectionately known as Dado. The chorus he sings with just call him Earl or the Big E. Much of the family has known him as Butch. For my mom and the family who have watched him struggle for several months with what turned out to be three blocked arteries, he is known as Chief Mended Heart.Whatever name he might be known or by whom, he is a man with a big heart and a booming bass that was gloriously and most clearly heard during his first public performance since his triple bypass just five short weeks ago. The folks at Gwinnett Medical could be proud of their “poster child” for bypass. But is was the eclectic crowd who gathered to listen to the voice they have come to cherish who made it most remarkable. For the ones who call him Dado, there were both the seasoned listeners and the kids who were new to this genre of music. Reports were that it was great to hear Dado sing and that even though they were “just kids” it was kinda “cool”. There was family and there were friends who came to listen and to cheer and clap for The Big E. But whatever the audience called him, they all sat silently to listen to his voice as it brought out the deep and abiding reverence that is due when singing the words Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory Of The Coming Of The Lord…for Dad…he has seen that Glory just a little too recently and the words seemed to have more meaning this rendition. Whatever the reason, his voice rang strongly on the stage and captivated his personal audience who all felt grateful to have the chance to hear the voice they have long cherished proclaiming the glory of the day.
FreelanceBeth 