BBC Somerset’s visit to The Rivertones

BBC Somerset 95.5FM and 1566AM THE BEN McGRAIL SHOW

9am to 12 noon

Monday 20th January and Tuesday 21st January 2014

Audio Recordings:

Part 1:

 

Part 2:

 

Part 3:

 

Visit Ben McGrail’s BBC Somerset website –

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001d78n

 

Ben McGrail and his producer Ross Pollard paid a visit to a rehearsals night of The Rivertones Harmony Chorus at the Bishop Henderson School in Taunton on Thursday 16th January.

The idea came from a feature on BBC Somerset back in November when they were talking about people’s hobbies. An invitation was e-mailed to Ben inviting him to come along for a brief introduction to The Rivertones Chorus, how it works and an opportunity to talk to the members about how they got involved and why they love singing. There was also the open invitation to the show to take part in a very brief opportunity of learning some singing skills along with The Rivertones, with the aim of broadcasting the results on air. Ben and Ross keenly took up the challenge!!

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Ben McGrail and Ross Pollard on the back row of the risers with The Rivertones, carefully taking in their tuition from Chorus Director Peter Gover

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It’s all getting very serious!!

The intention was for the two of them to come along for an hour or so but in fact they stayed well over three hours and eventually left us at 9.10pm having a three hour show to get ready for the following morning! The result was Ben (Lead/melody voice) and Ross (Baritone) joined Colin Harlow (Bass and Mutton Chops as Ben saw him!) and Murray Porter (Tenor) in singing as a quartet in full harmony a tag line from the end of the Bee Gees Song ‘Words’. All of this in front of nearly 40 members of The Rivertones. What guts, determination and enthusiasm Ben and Ross showed in making an outstanding success of this worthwhile project. The whole chorus erupted with GENUINE applause and cheers at the end of the tag! Brilliant stuff!

This is how it should be done! Quartet raining with Murray Porter (Tenor), Chris Roberton (Lead/melody), Colin Harlow (Bass) and Kevin Coughlan (Baritone)

This is how it should be done! Quartet training with Murray Porter (Tenor), Chris Roberton (Lead/melody), Colin Harlow (Bass) and   Kevin Coughlan (Baritone) 

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 Who needs Gareth Malone?! . . . this is easy!

Ben featured The Rivertones with the quartet, interviews and the chorus-recorded songs over two days of his show. The Rivertones are extremely grateful to both Ben and Ross for giving them such an enjoyable rehearsal night and congratulate them on their successful voice assessment!

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 The Rivertones Chorus Director explains to Ben and Ross what lies ahead

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Ben interviewing Stephen Martin-Scott with Allen Day,The Rivertones singout secretary and Ross looking on.

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Kevin Fisher, a Rivertones member who lives in Dorset chatting to Ben and Ross