Autumn Years Fall 2024

for me.” She loved to sing but was somewhat timid and un comfortable performing. The Wildcats were so kind and supportive during her audi tion that any apprehension she had quickly subsided, she explains. Although she is no longer a practicing nurse, the Wild cats consider Jeanne their per sonal nurse who fields their questions and concerns every week, gives advice and has compassion beyond compare. Fellow Wildcats describe her as a “golden find.” Carolyn Russo is another newer Wildcat. Group mem

kick things off. The altos take center stage, flanked by so pranos to their right and deep voices to the left. Dressed in their signature pink and black as a nod to 1950s poodle skirts, the ladies sport black sneakers with pink shoelaces and Joe Ferrante wears a black dress shirt and pink tie. They move with synchronized hand mo tions and sing with perpetual smiles. Susan Novie even does a self-professed “mean Elvis impersonation” during their medley of “Fools Rush In,” “Hound Dog,” “Don’t Be Cru el” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” Sheila Friedman, as narra

seeing a therapist shortly after the loss of her husband of 50 years. The thera pist told her, “Now is the time for you to do something you want to do.” When she returned home after this session, she noticed a Bergen Community Col lege Institute for Learning in Retire ment booklet on the table with her mail. She picked it up and opened it— to the page describing Sing, Sing, Sing. Although not generally a big believer in providence, she registered for the class. She, too, added her name to that Doo wop sign-up sheet distributed in class and has been with the group ever since. Wildcats performances typically in clude about 17 songs, selected for their specific audience from their playlist of some 60-plus tunes. “Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay” or “At the Hop” usually

bers describe her voice and talent as incredible. She started as a substitute pianist for winter rehearsals about a year ago. Although she had no experi ence singing Doo-wop, Carolyn says, “I couldn’t help myself from singing along.” A voice major in college with a piano minor and retired elementary school music teacher, Carolyn’s previ ous experience was primarily in mu sical comedy and musical theater. She found learning the words to songs to be challenging, but the transition to rock and Doo-wop to be great fun. “I didn’t know what to expect, and I absolutely love singing with everyone and I love everyone here,” she says. Sheila Friedman is the group’s pro gram director who narrates all Wild cats performances. In 2011, Sheila was

tor and a very personable and natural storyteller, brings cohesion to per formances as she seamlessly moves the program along, introducing each number based on her research of song origins and interesting tidbits. For ex ample, Sheila tells audiences that “In the Still of the Night” is the all-time, number-one Doo-wop song and that “At the Hop” was named “Do the Bop” until radio disc jockey Alan Freed sug gested it be changed. She tells them “You Belong to Me” originated from a 1940s song named “Come Back to Me” that was reworked as a more universal love story. She tells them that although he initially denied it emphatically, Dion of Dion and the Belmonts, years later confessed that Sue in “Runaround Sue” was in fact based on his ex-wife. “So

50 AUTUMN YEARS I FALL 2024