Chautauqua Tea celebrates Jerome Kern

By JENNIFER BRUMMETT

Staff Writer

The popularity of Jerome Kern keeps rollin' along, just like Ol' Man River. This year's Chautauqua Tea will be a celebration of the life and music of composer Kern.

In several previous years, retired Centre College professor Paul Cantrell has given readings for the Chautauqua Tea. This year, due to illness, he is unable to attend.

Presenting the program will be singer Janet Staton and pianist Tweedie Minor. Staton lives in a house on Lexington Avenue once owned by Kern's daughter, Betty Kern Miller.

"Kern had once lived here in Danville and his music is so beautiful so we decided to do something with his music," Minor explains. "We're going to do the familiar songs and tell the story of Kern's life.

"But nobody could take Paul's place."

Minor has read a great deal about the famous composer, who wrote songs such as "The Way You Look Tonight," "Ol' Man River," "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," "Look For The Silver Lining," and "Why Do I Love You?"

"Kern was a perfectionist -- everything had to be just right," Minor says. "If he didn't like the way (musicians) were doing (his music), he would raise Cain. But was very generous with money. He gave to a number of causes.

"It was really interesting (reading about Kern). I could hardly put the book down to go to bed. Now, I can't go to sleep for humming all the tunes and thinking about what I'm going to say."

She adds Staton has a "wonderful voice" and the program will be filled with information about his life "as well as many of his better-known songs."

And here's another tidbit: Jerome Kern was born 115 years ago this year.

The theme of the tea portion of the event is Orange Tea this year, says Tea Leaf owner Rosemary Hamblin. On the menu: mini-orange scones, orange-chocolate truffles, orange-coconut balls, pecan tarts, fruit kebabs, hot or cold orange-spiced tea, benedictine sandwiches, mini-vegetable tarts in phyllo pastries, chicken salad puffs, pimento cheese ribbons and BLT mini-sandwiches.

The cost of the Chautauqua Tea is $13. Reservations are required due to seating limitations. The performance starts at 4 p.m. at the West T. Hill Community Theatre, followed by the tea at The Tea Leaf. For reservations, call 236-7456.

Ol' Man River

Here we all work 'long the Mississippi

Here we all work while the white folk play

Pullin' them boats from the dawn till sunset

Gettin' no rest till the judgment day

Don't look up and don't look down

You don't das make the boss man frown

Bend your knees and bow your head

And pull that rope until your dead

Let me go 'way from the Mississippi

Let me go 'way from the white man boss

Show me that stream called the River Jordan

That's the old stream that I long to cross.

He don't plant tatters, and he don't plant cotton

And them what plants em, are soon forgotten

But Ol' Man River, just keeps rollin' along

You and me, we sweat and strain

Body all achin' and racked with pain

Tote that barge and lift that bail

You get a little drunk and you lands in jail

I gets weary and sick of trying

I'm tired of livin', but I'm scared of dyin'

But Ol' Man River, he just keeps rollin' along.