JIM REEVES FAN FORUM: Remembering another fine singer

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Remembering another fine singer

Posted by Larry Jordan on April 25, 2008, 9:04 pm
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Those of you who appreciate good singers may know the name Joe Feeney, who was the Irish tenor who appeared on the long-running "Lawrence Welk" TV show (still seen weekly on PBS).

Sadly, Joe passed away a few days ago at the age of 76.

He was a wonderful singer, and a funny guy, full of good cheer. Even as he grew older, his voice remained intact. His rendition of "Danny Boy" was unforgettable. Mostly he did Irish songs on the Welk show, but he also loved doing religious numbers. His version of "Jerusalem" could send chills up your spine.

Joe was a barrel-chested guy with an incredibly powerful voice and a very wide range. When he'd hit those high notes, he could shatter glass.

In recent years he had appeared in Branson at the Welk theater there, along with one of his ten children -- a son named Chris -- who is an opera singer.

I've been around Joe Feeney on a number of occasions, due to a friendship I have with one of the female singers on the Welk show. I remember one night sitting on a bus with Joe in Madison, Wisconsin -- just the two of us, waiting for the other performers to come out of the auditorium after a show. I mentioned to Joe that I liked his version of "Sunrise, Sunset" (from "Fiddler on the Roof"). If you know the song, it is rather melancholy. Well, Joe sang it for me acapella, and I'll never forget the way his voice echoed throughout that bus, with all the right shadings of emotion, and of course -- like Jim Reeves -- that perfect pitch.

Maybe the reason Joe could sing that song so well is that he had 10 children!

Another time, we were all in a hotel lounge when somebody recognized him and asked him to sing. Needing no prompting, Joe jumped on top of a table and serenaded the crowd with several spirited Irish numbers, such that the house band just packed it up and went home. Joe Feeney needed no excuse to sing.

But he sang for five U.S. Presidents and the Pope. He also performed at Carnegie Hall. Yet to his kids, he was just "dad." A very modest guy. His son Tim said "he came home and never told us he sang for the President."

Joe did his last public performance in December 2007, and spent his final days in hospice with emphysema, which was very strange because he did not smoke.

There are just certain people born into this world, like Joe Feeney and Jim Reeves, who are meant to sing, and they usually end up leaving us far too soon.

I'm sure a lot of you Reeves fans also appreciated Mr. Feeney's fine voice and I just wanted to let you know of his passing...

Link: Joe Feeney Obit in New York Times

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--Previous Message-- : Those of you who appreciate good singers may : know the name Joe Feeney, who was the Irish : tenor who appeared on the long-running : "Lawrence Welk" TV show (still : seen weekly on PBS). : : Sadly, Joe passed away a few days ago at the : age of 76. : : He was a wonderful singer, and a funny guy, : full of good cheer. Even as he grew older, : his voice remained intact. His rendition of : "Danny Boy" was unforgettable. : Mostly he did Irish songs on the Welk show, : but he also loved doing religious numbers. : His version of "Jerusalem" could : send chills up your spine. : : Joe was a barrel-chested guy with an : incredibly powerful voice and a very wide : range. When he'd hit those high notes, he : could shatter glass. : : In recent years he had appeared in Branson : at the Welk theater there, along with one of : his ten children -- a son named Chris -- who : is an opera singer. : : I've been around Joe Feeney on a number of : occasions, due to a friendship I have with : one of the female singers on the Welk show. : I remember one night sitting on a bus with : Joe in Madison, Wisconsin -- just the two of : us, waiting for the other performers to come : out of the auditorium after a show. I : mentioned to Joe that I liked his version of : "Sunrise, Sunset" (from : "Fiddler on the Roof"). If you : know the song, it is rather melancholy. : Well, Joe sang it for me acapella, and I'll : never forget the way his voice echoed : throughout that bus, with all the right : shadings of emotion, and of course -- like : Jim Reeves -- that perfect pitch. : : Maybe the reason Joe could sing that song so : well is that he had 10 children! : : Another time, we were all in a hotel lounge : when somebody recognized him and asked him : to sing. Needing no prompting, Joe jumped on : top of a table and serenaded the crowd with : several spirited Irish numbers, such that : the house band just packed it up and went : home. Joe Feeney needed no excuse to sing. : : But he sang for five U.S. Presidents and the : Pope. He also performed at Carnegie Hall. : Yet to his kids, he was just : "dad." A very modest guy. His son : Tim said "he came home and never told : us he sang for the President." : : Joe did his last public performance in : December 2007, and spent his final days in : hospice with emphysema, which was very : strange because he did not smoke. : : There are just certain people born into this : world, like Joe Feeney and Jim Reeves, who : are meant to sing, and they usually end up : leaving us far too soon. : : I'm sure a lot of you Reeves fans also : appreciated Mr. Feeney's fine voice and I : just wanted to let you know of his : passing... :

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