“The National Federation of Music Clubs observes American Music Month annually in November through the
Parade of American Music,” said
Annetta Graham.

And the Lake Wales Music Club
celebrated it in style.

Literally, that is.

All through November they held activities in keeping with the observation.

On Nov. 5, Wilma Greenwood, the Music Club’s president, hosted the club at her home, featuring a report about singer Stephen Foster. Greenwood gave a Chronology and Timeline in History from 1820-1865 and the group discussed Foster’s song and his life. The Florida Federation of Music Clubs observes his music the first weekend in October with a competition for a “Jeanie” since 1950, and now a “Stephen” is chosen since 2009 and they receive cash awards at White Springs, Fla.

Then on Nov. 10, the Sassy Singers, under the direction of Marge Drago, presented American Music at the Lake Wales Arts Center. Their songs were, “Hey, Look Me Over,” “Let There Be Peace,” “I’ve Got Joy,” “The King and I,” “Row, Row, Row,” “Song Sung Blue,” “Happiness,” “Sugartime,” and “God Bless America.”

On Nov. 12 and Nov. 20, the group presented a program with Claude Vance and Friends, Frostproof Methodist Choir and Music Club Members at Frostproof Methodist Church. After a welcome by President Wilma Greenwood and prayer by Pastor Brian Smith, the American Flag was presented by Bert Wallen with organ by Annetta Graham and piano, Rebecca Schutzenhoffer playing “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” followed by the Christian flag with “Onward Christian Soldiers” carried by Jim Loveman.

The next program presented by Vance and Friends included “The Light House,” brought by Vance, “How Great Thou Art,” by Elaine Lesher, “When Mercy Walk In,” by Sharon Lawrence, “White Oak on the Hill,” by Sue Walworth, “Somebody Touched Me,” by Carolyn Perry. Also included was “It’s Unworthy,” by Sharon Lawrence, “One Breath Away,” Elaine Lesher, “Try a Little Kindness,” by Vance and Lesher. Wilma Greenwood presented “Fifty States in Rhyme,” with Darlene Dahn, Carolyn Walton, and Lois Lucas with choir and congregation singing the 50 states in alphabetical order and doing it in double time. Vance did “Little Trailer House,” an original composition, which tells the ordeal of living in a trailer house with Sue Walworth adding additional humor. June Felt brought a sing-along with everyone singing, “Shine on Harvest Moon,” “For Me and My Gal,” “Side by Side,” “Five Foot Two,” “Ain’t She Sweet,” and “Dear Hearts and Gentle People.”

During the Nov. 12 program, Katherine Loyd brought an original reading “On Patriotism,” and on Nov. 20 Greenwood presented “Merry Autumn.” The program ended with Annetta Graham playing the organ and Marilyn Fisher playing “America the Beautiful” with pictures on the screen of the country, followed by the National Federation of Music Clubs Benediction — “The Gift of Song,” by Lana Bailey, the former president of NFMC.