Vocal trio The Local Girls has traveled the Midwest and this summer will travel to Europe. But this weekend they will perform at a local celebration of Ohio University's Bicentennial.
At Friday's The Ridges and Dairy Barn Bicentennial Gala, The
Local Girls, Brenda Catania, Gay Dalzell and Mimi Hart, will sing a few selections from the CD Four Year Heaven
as well as other songs. The trio worked on the CD for the OU Bicentennial along with groups including The Singing Men of Ohio and the Marching 110.
In addition to the title track, Four Year Heaven includes music representative of OU, such as My Ohio.
One of the songs, Old Manasseh Cutler was actually recorded in Cutler Hall and conducted by President Robert Glidden, Hart said. This performance was fun, Hart said, and allowed them to show the different layers of people who make up a college.
The CD was nearly a two-year project, Catania said, with Hart spending about a year and a half doing research. Hart, an English professor, found some songs in archives, Catania said. It also includes two brand-new songs as a result of a songwriting contest, Dalzell said.
The idea for the CD came from reading about a song in the alumni publication, Ohio Today Hart said. She wanted to create a CD to musically tell the history of the school.
I always feel that music enhances any celebration
Hart said.
She said the gala is a big event and an end of the bicentennial celebration for the town and school.
One of Hart's passions is to bring back obscure musical material, which she was able to do with the CD and with The Local Girls' performances. We try to bring back repertoire
Hart said.
The trio's specialty is early swing tunes of the '30s and '40s
Dalzell said, though they sing a variety of cover songs. The group is usually backed with an upright bass, guitar and drums.
The Local Girls came together as a group 16 years ago. They all had been lead singers in bands for years before deciding to come together for their three-part harmonies, Catania said.
The members of The Local Girls all have ties to Athens. Dalzell and Hart are OU alumni and Catania grew up in Athens. They began singing together as the house band at Seven Sauces, Dalzell said.
Working from within a three-part harmony, they switch the parts each individual sings, which is more challenging and keeps songs interesting, Catania said.
I always say it's to confuse the enemy
said Dalzell.
Some highlights of their career include appearing at the Town Hall in New York City for the Prairie Home Companion and singing in the Talent from Towns under 2
000 Contest representing Guysville, Ohio, where Hart resides.
The Local Girls also sang The New Birthday song
written by Jim Murray, at Hillary Clinton's 50th birthday.
As a result of that performance, The Local Girls were invited to sing at the candlelight public tour of the White House during Christmas 1999.
This summer they will be traveling to Germany and Austria as special guests on the Ohio University Singers tour, from July 5 to 19. This will be their first performance together overseas, Catania said.
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