I had the privilege of directing this amazing chorus back in 1992-93. This video/demo tape isn't of the best quality but the audio is pretty decent. I hope y'all enjoy.
True story...I was "this close" to joining the 82nd Chorus. My supervisor asked me point blank one day, "Do you want to sing with the 82nd Chorus?", and I told her "Yes". She told me to go to the building where the chorus was based, and I got to meet some of the singers. Unfortunately, my unit SGM wasn't willing to allow me to leave his unit to go to the chorus. I would've been nice to sing with these guys...just a signature away.
These soldiers look like combat troopers. They look fit. Today’s soldiers just don’t look fit. This the Army I was part of-fit and look good in uniform.
Mine doesn’t start out a happy chorus story, but everything happens for a reason. I got to the 82nd April 1992. I saw the chorus perform at the cherry center and immediately knew it’s what I wanted to do. I got to HHB Divarty and tried starting the process. My efforts were thwarted by a then Spc who for some reason or another hated me. He ended up becoming SGT and my supervisor and I ended up with 14/14 thus ending my bid to audition. Shortly after they allowed a cook (Mel Williamson I think)to audition and he made it with ease. I ended up helping with karaoke around Fayetteville instead. I was always at Fat Daddy’s and New York Slice and others. Time went by and I, with the help of a new 1SGT was able to move to B 2/319 in spring 1993. I got the BS 14/14 squashed from my record and once again made a try. I was promised permission to audition after a field exercise and best FST competition. So one morning after pt and breakfast in October 1993 I made my way to the chorus barracks. A couple guys recognized me from karaoke in town. I went in to a members personal room for the audition (can’t remember his name) cuz something was going on in the rehearsal room. I did pitch matching and followed him on a few runs. Then he said sing something of my choice. I froze for only a moment and then began. It was “The Morning Paper” by Prince. I barely got through the first verse when he stopped me. He then said for me to follow him. Into the NCOIC office we went. He went over to a Ssgt leaned in and said something. I trembled for just a moment with a thought of failure. The Ssgt. got up and walked over to me. He said Spc so and so said u can saaang. I smiled and said I sing a little and he said no no he said saaang! Lol Blushing slightly I nodded. He said so then...SAAANG! It was Boyz II Men “Please Don’t Go” and when I got to the chorus several fellas in the office joined in. I was in! 2nd tenor squad leader (name is on the tip of my tongue) handed me my repertoire sheets and cassette and said I was in a probation type status. I would have 4 weeks to learn it all and I would be IN IN. 3 weeks flew by and I did my 3rd week audition before lunch. I planned on doing week 4 after lunch so I could go perform at a school or something over the weekend with the chorus. However, Uncle Sam had other plans for me. After the audition NCOIC said my 1SGT needed to see me. I walked into his office and he congratulated me on being levied to Germany. I broke down. My dream over the last 2 yrs trashed in an instant. I forced down my lunch by the lump in my throat. I couldn’t believe it. I told the fellas at the chorus. The NCOIC said he would try with div. SGM. We went to his office. He told me I could turn down the levy but I would be unable to reenlist. I couldn’t make that choice at the time as I thought I was in for the long haul. I returned to the chorus barracks and said my goodbyes. I never again had the opportunity since I chose not to reenlist after my time in Germany. I still look back at my memories and smile, but a tear usually falls for what could have been. I think I still have my sheets and cassette somewhere in storage. The All American Chorus cd still sits in slot #6 in my truck. I play a track or two for the kids from time to time. Thanx so much for the video! Sorry for the novel. Airborne!!!
Was in the Chorus before and after the Grenada operations (82-83). Even did MC duty, which was a true honor for me. Best service I will ever remember. Great group!!
I was in the chorus in 70 - 71 shortly after it was formed, I was moved to headquarters company from the 2nd 504th , we even recorded an album which was done in only 4hrs, most of the members of the chorus then were glad to not being sent to Vietnam including me….a few members had been in vietnam……this version of the chorus sounds better than we did…. We appeared a few times on TV out of wilmington nc,marched in parades, sang at West Point….and for retired and very old General Omar Bradley , as I recall that was in Birmingham,AL , we marched past him as we were leaving and he was asleep in his chair. In his defense he must have been in his 80’s. The MP’s shared the hq barracks with us, so they called us the ‘Tweety Birds’….so we had sweat shirts made with tweety bird printed on black shirts with a big yellow tweety bird from the tweety bird cartoon on TV, I still have that shirt , I’m 72 now and was drafted in july of 69 I spent all my time after training with the 82nd including approximately 20 jumps carrying an M60 machine gun at Ft Bragg. I was 11bravo2p as I recall.
I was in the 82nd from 1978 to 1993. They had a Christmas song about the 10 or 12 days of Christmas, and one that was made after Grenada. Two of the best song done. I love the them when they lead the Div 4 mile run.
Last of our great troopers, I was there 91 to 97 we did not care about race or religion. We cared about each other and our country and family and our country, protecting our borders and our country.
This is great, man! I joined when BDUs were still being issued, and absolutely loved the pride-in-uniform that we all took in ourselves. BDUs look great on the chorus who also sound great.
'98-'99 here. I've been looking for years for a video of the chorus' complete performance in the uniforms before they apparently went with desert boots, no ascot/belt and unironed uniforms. Thank you for posting!
We were stationed at Bragg in this time frame. I was in lower elementary at the time, and may have watched you guys perform in person. Pretty neat to watch a blast from the past.
BDUs are best. My fellas were looking sharp and sounding sharp. These men are almost all in their 50s at this point. I'm glad they have this memory saved online.
Hi Clark! Glad to find you here its Louie(Spec-4 Hernandez, 2nd Tenor) man those were the days! Wow I just read your comment that Daniels passed away! Sad :( btw I'm assuming you remember me? I served there 91-94 though I went to Korea for a year mid 92 to mid 93 which is why the Air Cav guy is there instead of me lol, I represented Aviation (2nd BN 82nd AVN).
Clark, thanks for posting this! One of my best friends--and my oldest--was Chorus at this time: Dwayne St. Cyr (7:55 in the video--still tall, skinny, and honery).
Dwayne's a great guy! Super personality and a strong baritone, for sure! In case you didn't know, he was the shrill sound of the bird in the Under The Boardwalk song. ;-)
He was my roommate while there in the chorus and still my friend. He's the one who turned me on to country music, I had never heard of Shania Twain until him lol
All the way! I got to travel with the chorus to Boston as Rigger support. As I recall the bird broke and we ended up on the ground in Rhode Island for a while on the way back to Fort Bragg. As always it was an honor to serve with you guys.
This crew did a lot shows for me when I was a recruiter in Lumberton, NC. I later was the NCOIC for about a year. Some members from 1992 where there when I became NCOIC in 1993. I see Brialas, Bone, Cliffton, Lyles, Ruxlow, Armalee, Blackmon, Burke. I missed a few.
There's one thing that never changes with time; the young face of the American Soldier looks the same with every generation... Innocent, but ready to go.
The specialist who sings "the wind beneath my wings " at the 23 minute mark has an iincredible voice. It literally made me stop what I was doing and look up. The chorus doesn't sound like this anymore, I really wish it did, there were such different standards during this time frame.
+Jennifer Gates You're so right, Jennifer. The chorus today sounds nothing like this one I directed in the 90s. Sad, really. The Specialist singing "Wind" is Freddie Daniels, an amazing talent who, unfortunately, left us early to cancer earlier this year. RIP Freddie.
Hello Mark. I used to sing with the chorus in 1991. Do you you happen to know where I could attain a few recorded videos from back then in that time frame by chance?
Hey I remember a Bell I used to hang out with, is this you? It's 2nd Tenor Louie, the Bell I remember was tall and thin and sang Bass and we used to go to a Italian restaurant in Fayetteville at times to eat their motzarella sticks, are you the same one?
I reported in April 1993 and I remember them singing to us during the in processing period. I am 99% sure the soldier who did all the explaining in this video was still there when I watched them for that first time. '93-'01 & '03-08 ATW!!
Yes, Tim Raines was our Emcee...and a very talented one at that! Everyone LOVED his voice...sounded like a radio personality. He went on to become a Warrant Officer, I believe, flying helicopters (?). Good guy!
They still sing the traditional Airborne and military songs. Their shows are tailored to the audience. To military units they sing the military stuff, to civilians, it's the pop stuff.