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A Summer Symphony in the Chautauqua Sky

Pam Tillis with the Pops Orchestra in 2012

Pamela Yvonne Tillis is an American country music singer and actress.  She is the daughter of country music singer Mel Tillis.  Originally a demo singer in Nashville, Tillis was signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1981 for which she released nine singles and one album.  Tillis was born on July 24, 1957 in Plant City FL.  She grew up in Nashville and made her first debut on the Grand Ole Opry at age 8, singing Tom Dooley.  She also began taking piano lessons at this age and taught herself how to play guitar by age 12.

Her father, Lonnie Melvin Tillis was born August 9, 1932 in Tampa FL and died on November 19, 2017.  Her brother, Mel "Sonny" Tillis, Jr. is also a singer and songwriter. One of their father's biggest hits was I Ain't Never.

Pam's father found a way to turn his speech impediment into an asset by using his ready smile and innate comedic timing to get his audiences to laugh along with him.  He stuttered his way to regular appearances on television talk shows and to clowning bit parts in Hollywood movies.  He even went so far as to make the nickname Stutterin' Boy the title of his autobiography (written and published in 1984) and to have it painted on the side of his tour bus!  He named his personal airplane Stutter One and referred to his female backup singers as the Stutterettes.  He certainly had a sense of humor despite it all.

Mr. Tillis stuttered only when he spoke, not when he sang.  His stutter might not have figured so prominently in his career had he focused exclusively on songwriting or had country entertainer, Minnie Pearl not asked him to perform some of his songs on her television show.

Mel was named entertainer of the year by the CMA in 1976.  He was also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.

September 1, 2012

On that date after Pam performed on the floating stage she drew the Car on the Barge winning ticket for Neil Boardman (story published April 18). The proceeds from this car raffle benefited WCA's Sharing the Gift of Health which was the capital campaign for their emergency department. 

Julie Morton, RN at WCA Hospital; Tim Shults, President/Owner Shults Chevrolet and Todd Glenn, New Vehicle Manager join Neil Boardman

Pat Locke

Maestro Muse

 

For Neil Boardman the night of September 1, 2012 turned out to be an evening of great surprise for him and his entire family! One that Neil nor his wife, Sue will ever forget! During my recent interview with Neil he expressed that he and his wife bought 2 tickets in each of their names on the same day of the drawing to help benefit the local hospital.  The 2013 Ford Mustang was generously donated by Shults Auto Group. 

Video of when Pam Tillis drew the winning ticket

Neil Boardman was not in the audience when his ticket was drawn among thousands in the barrel though he was in Bemus Point at the time with family and eventually made his way to the stage and had his picture taken with Pam. When his grandkids told their "Boppy" he had won Neil replied .. "Ok, kids, that's real funny".

The word Neil shared with me that best described what transpired on that September evening in Bemus Point was .. exciting.  He had never won anything before so I think, for him, winning a car was surreal as it would be for most of us!  When Neil and Sue took delivery of the car they drove it to a friend's home though later in the day most of their neighbors weren't around to see what he had won!

A few years after winning the car Neil learned that Pam Tillis would be performing at the Warren County Fair in nearby Warren PA.  Neil and Sue drove to the fair and were able to meet Pam after her performance.  She remembered drawing the winning ticket in Bemus Point and was happy to see Neil Boardman, again.  She told Neil that she enjoyed performing at the Bemus Bay Pops and hoped to return.  Pam gave him an autographed photo and a photo was taken of Neil, Sue and Pam to remember another exciting moment for the Boardmans.  Prior to Neil crossing paths with Pam at the fair after winning the car he and Sue met her at the Chautauqua Institution when they saw Mel Tillis give a concert performance.  Pam was with her father that evening so while backstage they purchased a CD and had Mel autograph it.  Neither Neil nor Pam could have known that evening at CI they would meet, again.  Their paths would, indeed, cross two more times .. on a stage that floats and at a nearby county fair! 

My first question to Neil was .. do you still have the car?  The answer was no though Neil and Sue enjoyed the Mustang on nice weekends in the summer months for approximately 3 years eventually trading the car in at Shults Auto Group with less than 5,000 miles, for a new pickup truck.  The new pickup was red so I think it's safe to say .. Neil liked the color, red!

Thank you, Neil for sharing your fun story of winning the Car on the Barge at the Bemus Bay Pops and sharing this photo that officially reads And The Winner is ... Neil Boardman!

Congratulations!

Pat Locke

Maestro Muse

 

A Match Made in Vegas!

Two great artists paying tribute to their characters.  Singing the most memorable music and songs ever written!

Sharon's national success has created a whirlwind of Barbra fans.  She has performed her Tribute to Barbra Streisand to critical acclaim nationwide in major showrooms, for corporate events and as a headliner in Las Vegas.  She graced one of the finest stages in Berlin, Germany performing in Stars in Concert.  She also appeared in Legends in Concert at Bally's Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. 

One of the highlights of the Barbra and Frank, The Concert That Never Was show was a performance in the Rainbow Room, New York City!  

"New York City is quite a site from the 66th floor!"

Sharon Owens

Sebastian is fast becoming one of the top "Sinatra" interpreters in the country.  He has honed his act to perfecting the essence of the musical icon.  With the voice, looks and mannerisms of 'Ol Blue Eyes, Sebastian has wowed audiences from coast to coast.  Sebastian originates from Omaha NE and grew up in a musical family (father was a sax player and later a talent agent, his mother a singer). Sebastian started playing drums and singing at age 11.  Eventually, his passion for jazz led him to New York City, compliments of The National Endowment For the Arts.  

Sebastian Sings Sinatra is the result of a great love and understanding of the 'Great American Songbook' as Francis Albert sang it.

"Let's face it, "I'm a fan, too!"

Sebastian Anzaldo

Pat Locke

Maestro Muse

 

Lake Night at the Movies was featured last year on May 13, 2020 though this time I wanted to express my thoughts regarding the final movie that played in 2019, The Greatest Showman starring Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum and why Dan Dalpra chose one of Barnum's quotes to truly sum up the Pops .. for the people. 

The tradition of Lake Night at the Movies continued in 2019 as a popular free event at the Chautauqua Lake Pops in Mayville. The featured movies were The Cobbler, On Golden Pond, The Prestige, Jumanji, Beauty & the Beast and The Greatest Showman.  There were 2 large screens on the floating stage to allow viewing from the lawn or from a boat. 

On a personal note, my favorite movie that summer was The Greatest Showman.  At the end of the movie there is a quote by P. T. Barnum .. "No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else."

Another P. T Barnum quote is "The noblest art is that of making others happy." 

This blog adopted those nine words after seeing it printed in black on a wall in the Chautauqua Lake Pops office in Mayville. I adopted it simply because I truly feel that Dan Dalpra lives by those words.  They best describe why he created the Pops .. for all of us to enjoy.

The Greatest Showman

Pat Locke

Maestro Muse