Larry Harman and I first met in 1971 as freshmen at William Jewell College.  He was one of the cool kids, self-assured, immediately well-known, while I was more hesitant, in the background, watching from afar.  As far as I know, we were the only two kids in that class to be at Jewell on music scholarships who were not music majors.  He made a big splash in the Concert Choir; I was afraid to audition.  He was the star of the Fiji musical skit; I watched from the balcony.  But we were friends.

            As our college years passed, Terry Teachout (you’ve heard about him) and Dr. Forbis convinced me that I could sing, so eventually Larry asked me to fill in for the regular soloist in his jazz combo.  He played every Saturday night at the St. Joe Shriner’s Club, and I got my first taste of singing with a band, which I loved.

            Over the years, Larry and I have stayed in touch, because just as we were both the non-major musicians back then, we both ended up as lawyers.  He is now the Presiding Judge in Liberty (Clay County), and Max ends up appearing in front of him quite often.  Who knew?

            Well, Larry and his wife, Debbie, ran into Max and me at a party in Liberty, and he told me about his newest musical achievement – Two and a Half Tenors.  Larry had met Bryan Taylor, also a Jewell grad, but much younger, who is the music director at the Liberty United Methodist Church.  A few years ago, he asked Larry’s daughter to sing a solo.  She then convinced Larry to join the choir.

            A little after he began singing in the choir, he and Bryan did some duets.  Then Larry heard another tenor voice in the choir, that of Steve Waters.  Larry was sure that the three of them would sound good together, and so with his formidable powers of persuasion, he convinced Steve and Bryan to form a group that sings all kinds of music – Broadway show tunes, sacred music, and other classical and popular music.  Thus, Two and a Half Tenors was born!

            Larry’s musical background is pretty spectacular, but when he told me about Bryan Taylor, my eyes widened.  Bryan sings with the Kansas City Chorale, a group that won a Grammy last year and has another under its belt.  He also has sung in Carnegie Hall, currently directs the Liberty Community Chorus, and has started a group called Worship Through the Arts, which is dedicated to bringing the arts – not just music, but also dance and visual arts – to the church.  This program has sponsored contemporary Christian music groups, Kansas City’s legendary jazz singer Ida McBeth and her group, as well as regional artists, such as the Annie Moses Band, and Mark Schultz.  I admit my prior ignorance of these last two artists, but I Googled them and was quite impressed.

            Steve Waters is also a musician who not only sings, but also is a very busy piano technician, tuning pianos in Kansas City area homes, and those in schools and organizations.  Originally from a small Missouri town, he graduated from UCM with a music education degree, and directed a church choir.  He also has taught private brass lessons. 

            Rounding out the group is a most necessary party – the accompanist.  The group’s usual accompanist, Sharon Parker, is not going to be with the Tenors on Sunday, as she had to undergo some kind of surgery on her foot – which I’m sure would affect her pedaling!  Instead, Eryn Bates, yet another Jewell grad, will act as the Tenors’ accompanist.  Eryn is on the teaching staff at William Jewell, and, according to Larry, has great talent.

            The group did its first concert as a benefit for the Corbin Theatre on the Liberty Square, where Larry performs in a jazz group once a month.  For that first concert, held at Belvoir Winery in Liberty, about 100 people were on the waiting list for tickets.  The Tenors did their next concert at a larger venue – the Liberty United Methodist Church – and another 100 people were on the waiting list.  Since that time, Two and a Half Tenors have performed in many different locations, including Farris Hall in Richmond, Missouri – and soon, Sedalia! 

When Larry and I met at the party in Liberty, he played an iPhone recording of the group singing special music on Mother’s Day.  I immediately asked Larry if they would come to Sedalia to perform, and he jumped at the chance.  He says that the group loves performing, taking musical notes that are written on a piece of paper, and then transforming those inanimate objects into beauty that can touch a person’s heart.  “We love doing music,” he told me on Tuesday, as he scoped out Broadway’s sanctuary and sound system.  “Over the past couple of years, we have developed a real affection for each other, kind of like brothers – brothers who quarrel occasionally!” 

I asked him why he began the group – why he still has the desire to perform.  “My Dad was a professional musician for a while,” he said.  “My Mom walked door to door selling Avon so my sister and I could have a piano and drums and lessons. So I sing and hope they are listening. And besides,” he continued, “music happens when your emotions embrace your soul.  That’s magic."   

            I am excited to present this concert for music and arts lovers in Sedalia – and soon-to-be music lovers - and I hope that plenty of people will turn out for a special night.  The program begins at 7 and admission is free.  We will take up a “love offering” to help defray costs, and, we will also provide refreshments after the program. 

Many times, I stand back and look at the connections I have made over my lifetime and am surprised about how they weave into and out of my days.  This is one connection that I am happy to have kept, and after you hear Two and a Half Tenors, I think you will be happy about it, too.

This has been an extraordinary weekend!  Everything began on Friday, when I discovered that I had accumulated 197 of the 214 signatures of registered voters I needed to put me on the ballot for Associate Circuit Judge as a non-partisan candidate.  That means I will be entering the race on Monday, July 28.

After that news, my good friend Kim Schroeder invited me out to dinner with her, her husband, her son, and her son's friend.  We had a great time at Colton's, and I came home to finish up some work.

Saturday morning, I woke up and got a few more signatures just to be sure, and then I actually sat in the black leather chair in our living room and watched Air Force One, one of my favorite movies, starring Harrison Ford as an "ordinary man" President.  I had just begun to watch The Parent Trap, staring Lindsey Lohan before she lost her mind (she was SO cute!), when a couple of clients showed up.  We talked about their situation and I felt lucky to be able to help them.  A little bit later, my friend from William Jewell, Judy Luxton, showed up with her brand new puppy, an English Mastiff named Finn.  Finn is seven weeks old, and he was very cute and reminded me why puppies are simply precious!

Judy was here because I had invited her to sing at Broadway Presbyterian on July 27.  I invited her to come to Sedalia on Saturday and spend the night (slumber party!) so she could sing at worship on Sunday without having to drive two hours before church.  We sat around and visited and talked, had a couple of glasses of wine, went to El Tapatio for dinner, and about 10 p.m., finally decided what she was going to sing about.  We then went to sleep to rest for the next day.

About 8:30 this morning, I got a text from a friend who said that she was coming over to sign my petition.  I hadn't seen her for a while, and so I was excited to talk to her.  I love the part of campaigning that allows me to see people and talk to them about what has been going on in their lives and with their children!  She signed, and we talked some more, and then I got ready for church.

This is where the magic started happening.

Judy and I got to church and started practicing.  The song we had decided on the night before was nothing short of spectacular.  She sang beautifully, and I played well - even though the song has five flats.  The service began, and Pastor Rob was talking directly to both Judy and me in his sermon, telling us that we needed to be "all in" for living our lives the way we were meant to live them.  That, of course, included doing music.  So when it was our turn, Judy sang her heart out, I played my fingers off, and we were stunned at the power of one little song.

I could barely see the music through the mist in my eyes.

Then we went to lunch and talked about being married.  Judy's husband was killed earlier this year, and she is still reeling from the suddenness of that change in her life.  Our discussion was frank and direct, something that I would never have expected even a year ago.  But somehow, through that shared music experience, it seemed natural to share other things in our lives that were just as natural and right as the song we gave to the congregation that morning.

Though we were having a good time, I had to leave, and so I waved good-bye to Judy, knowing that next year, we will do this again.

The reason I had to leave was that I was headed to a 65th anniversary party for the parents of my BFF (really - she and I have been friends since we were babies).  The party was at Highland Springs Country Club outside Springfield - so while Judy was heading back to Springfield, so was I - and I had bought a new dress for the occasion!

My friend Susan had prepared a short movie depicting the decades of her parents' marriage.  I sat and wept hot tears as I saw the pictures of not only the things that changed the world since 1948, but also her mother and father through the years.  It felt as if I were just reliving my entire life!

Another one of my good friends was at the party with her new husband.  Jo Beth's first husband died several years ago, when her daughter was in high school and her son in the fourth grade.  She raised her children alone, and then tragically lost her daughter to leukemia a few years ago.  At the same time, Larry's wife Janice was diagnosed with and succumbed to ALS.  About the time I left for Afghanistan, Larry and Jo Beth began dating, eventually married, and now are nothing short of moon-eyed for each other.  Seeing them together made me really happy.

Part of my emotional reaction at the party had to do with the fact that Hazel and Joe - Sweet Hazie and Papa Joe - spent a great deal of time contributing to my growing up.  Hazel fed me innumerable meals, and Joe gave me one of my first jobs - wrapping Christmas presents at the Five and Dime my freshman year.  I spent many a Friday night at Susan's house, listening to music, giggling, and talking about what was happening at school.  It was as if her family was my family, too.  So I watched the movie that jogged my memory about a white leather chair, a house with a pool, and two little girls who grew up and still like each other.

And now it is 10 p.m., and this magical weekend has come to an end.  I am still smiling - and weeping hot tears. But I am happy.