'Senior Idol': singing without snark
This year's Senior Idol, the third annual, drew 14 contestants from eight senior centers in Salt Lake County. One of them, Sharee Anderson of Murray-Heritage Senior Center, goes to church with "American Idol" idol David Archuleta, but that's about the only actual connection to the TV show.
"If you feel like you're going to pass out, I want you to start counting. One-two-three-four-five-six," instructed master of ceremonies Eileen Pryor before the competition began.
In the end, no one fainted. One contestant wrote a few key words of her lyrics on the palm of her hand and then held her hands within easy viewing, but actually didn't need to consult them after all.
Contestant Laura Briggs and her wheelchair traveled 75 minutes by TRAX and bus to get from Friendly Neighborhood Senior Center to Harman Community Senior Center for the Wednesday afternoon contest. Briggs, who wore a yellow plastic flower in her hair, did a campy rendition of "Cry Me a River."
Justin Jolley of Tenth East Senior Center walked onto the stage pushing a chair. "I'm having a little trouble with my knees," Jolley announced. "My right knee, my left knee, my kidney." Then he launched into a comic poem about bees who don't use birth control, followed by a poem about grief.
This year's Senior Idol winner was Connie Teeter, who cried when her name was announced. Teeter, who lives at Friendship Manor senior apartments, was in a car accident 16 years ago that left her unable to sing for the next 15 years. Some new medication helps her breathe well enough now to belt out a breathy tune, reminiscent of her days singing in nightclubs in Canada and Arizona.
Winners were chosen by a panel of three judges, who never spoke. Teeter won the Senior Idol trophy with a jazzy rendition of "Summertime." Second prize went to Kelvin Hoover of Tenth East Senior Center, who sings with Teeter in a choir called The Music Makers; third prize went to Roene Whitney of Liberty Senior Center, for her performance of "Climb Every Mountain."
E-mail: jarvik@desnews.com
Recent comments
I invited 3 senior friends to join me in attending "senior...
Jeanette Murray | April 21, 2008 at 11:43 a.m.
This is by far more exciting and talent-filled than
this current...
Tracy Haynes | April 19, 2008 at 10:46 p.m.
04/19/08
Elaine Jarvik has a way with words. She's also a...
Laura Briggs | April 19, 2008 at 10:42 a.m.
