By Riley Fontana
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The Needham Council on Aging (COA) hosted a groovy 1950s sing-a-long at the Center at the Heights (CATH) late last month. This event invited members to gather together and sing their hearts out to the hits of their youth. The sing-a-long was led by community favorite, Alan Cohen, on piano who has performed at a variety of similar events.
This event provides a delightful opportunity for center members to relish the music of their era and share anecdotes about the featured artists. The audience eagerly engages in conversations about each artist, recounting personal experiences of attending concerts or watching movies about their lives. Both the audience and the choir thoroughly enjoy Cohen's narratives, shedding light on the artists' paths to fame and their significant achievements.
Every attendee received a packet containing song lyrics, along with details about the artist, songwriter, and the year of release. Special emphasis was placed on acknowledging the often overlooked songwriters. The event featured not only the well-known hits of prominent artists from that era but also showcased lesser-known gems and songs penned by popular artists, revealing hidden connections that may surprise the audience.
The music includes songs by artists such as: Elvis, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Everly Brothers, just to name a few. The music brought so much joy to the center, as memories were brought back to life for everyone in attendance. Cohen has hosted other sing-a-long events at The Center for artists such as The Beatles.
Music can help unite communities in many unexpected ways, such as the laughter that follows someone hitting a sour note. No one in the audience minded when lyrics were inaccurate or if someone did not know a song. Everyone was there to enjoy the music and company.
The audience found so much joy in being able to relive the memories that were attached to these songs and singing along with their friends. The ability to share music and the stories music invokes in our memories reminds the community of the importance of the arts. The end of the sing-a-long ended with people suggesting what genre should be honored at the next event, with show tunes being the most suggested.
