The Idlers

The Idlers of the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) are an all-male collegiate a cappella ensemble specializing in the performance of sea shanties and patriotic music.

Overview

A relatively exclusive group with a history and traditions similar to many fraternal organizations, the Idlers are the only all-male a cappella vocal group at the U. S. Coast Guard Academy. Membership is attained through annual auditions overseen by the current members and the director. Group size varies based on current requirements, but generally includes between 12 and 20 men. The ideal group includes 3 or 4 members for each part: Tenor 1, Tenor 2, Baritone, and Bass. The group began 2008 with 14 singers and two understudies. The Idlers have an elected President, who normally is the "pitch" and leads rehearsals in the absence of the director. The Vice President is the "vice-pitch", also an elected position.

History

Founding

The Idlers were formed in 1957 by eight members of the USCGA Class of 1959 on summer cruise. They quickly drew the attention of the Academy's bandmaster Don Janse and began building their repertoire and fame. Within two years the Idlers had recorded three vinyl albums (for both the Design [Design Discography [http://gravediggervideo.com/design.html Listing] , retrieved 2006-08-28] and MGM labels), and had performed for President and Mrs. Eisenhower at the White House and on "The Ed Sullivan Show".

1960s

Don Janse went back to school in the early 1960s and John Heffermann briefly directed the Idlers. When Don returned he brought a number of new tunes which would soon become Idlers staples, including arrangements of Banua, The First Time I Ever, and the Coast Guard Hymn.

1970s

The 1970s saw a resurgence of interest in folk music. Patterned after The Kingston Trio, a splinter group known as The New London Trio performed with guitar, upright bass, and banjo. The Idlers sang at the re-internment of Captain Hopley Yeaton, the father of the Coast Guard, on October 19, 1975 [ [http://www.lighthousedigest.com/Digest/StoryPage.cfm?StoryKey=2294 Hopley Yeaton: Father of The Coast Guard] , retrieved 2006-11-19] . The Idlers made an appearance on "Saturday Night Live" on February 28, 1976, where Leon Redbone was the musical guest, and the hostess Jill Clayburgh sang "Sea Cruise" backed by the group [ [http://snltranscripts.jt.org/75/75o.phtml "Saturday Night Live" transcript] , retrieved 2006-11-19] . During the Academy centennial in 1976, several reunion attendees and other Idlers living nearby performed at a black tie dinner held at the Norwich Sheraton - arguably the first reunion of past and present members on the same stage.

1980s

In both 1980 and 1982, The Idlers performed at Carnegie Hall during Eve Queler's performance of Wagner's Rienzi opera ["New York Times", March 5, 1982 [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F01E0DE153BF936A35750C0A964948260 Historical Article] retrieved 2006-08-28] . The 1980s drew to a close with Don Janse's retirement in 1987. Dr. Robert Newton had been conducting the Idlers sister group, The Icebreakers, and now began directing both groups. Dr. Newton took the Idlers on their first annual tour of Florida in 1988, performing for Magic Music Days at Walt Disney World, and at the Palm Beach International Polo Club. The Idlers performed at three Balls during President George H. W. Bush's Inauguration in 1989.

1990s

In 1990, The Idlers supported the Coast Guard's Bicentennial celebration with performances at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL, and the military tribute ball in Dallas, TX. With the start of the Gulf War, The Idlers supported dozens of USO functions throughout the country, with notable performances in and around New York City, at Ellis Island, and at Fisher's Island in Miami, FL. The Idlers were is such great demand that several quartets were formed, featuring one vocalist for each of the 4 parts. Singing Valentines, intimate dinner parties, accent performances for Flag Dinners - nothing was too small for an Idlers Quartet. The Idlers marched in the November 22, 1990 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with Miss America 1991, Marjorie Vincent. The group performed throughout Washington D.C. during President William J. Clinton's Inauguration in 1993. The group sang aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Intrepid as part of the October 24, 1995 tribute to slain leader Yitzhak Rabin [ [http://www.forward.com/articles/remembering-yitzhak-rabin/ Remembering Yitzhak Rabin] retrieved 2006-11-18] .;40th Year Reunion:1998 saw the first stand-alone reunion of The Idlers. Conceived and executed by Edward "Cherry" Beale, I'92, the reunion spanned an entire weekend in April. An opening dinner was hosted at The Griswold Inn in Essex, Connecticut on Friday night. Some remarked that this was the retirement dinner Don Janse never got. Saturday was filled with rehearsals for the reunion concert in Leamy Hall. The audience was full, and the show was opened by Forebitter of Mystic Seaport. Performances by the current Idlers, quartets, and Trios filled the middle of the program. John Heffermann, then Don Janse took turns conducting the combined 50-voice ensemble. Bob Newton finished the program, then handed out awards and recognition.

2000s

The group traveled to New Orleans for a November 9, 2001 USO concert [LSU News, November 5, 2001 [http://www.lsu.com/UNV002.NSF/(NoteID)/41051965C558CA1386256AFB0077FAAF?OpenDocument Article] , retrieved 2006-08-28] . The Idlers performed from the Parade of Roses' Abe Lincoln float on New Year's day, 2004 [ [http://homepage.mac.com/rezonate/Movies/iMovieTheater32.html Idlers Perform in Parade of Roses] , retrieved 2006-11-19.] . The city of Fort Worth, Texas declared January 13, 2006 to be USCG Academy day in honor of a performance by The Idlers. [PR Newswire, January 9, 2006 [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1:140669163/City+of+Fort+Worth+Declares+January+13,+2006+United+States+Coast+Guard+Academy+Day+in+Official+Proclamation.html?refid=ency_botnm Article] , retrieved 2006-08-28] - [Fort Worth Academy, December 22, 2005 [http://www.phprinc.com/Releases/2005/fw-academy-uscga.html Article] , retrieved 2006-08-28] Members of the group performed a patriotic salute and the National Anthem in Browns Stadium to a sold out crowd on September 9, 2007. [USCG Academy official website, September 18, 2007 [http://admissions.uscga.edu/i2e/news/news_details.asp?CID=349] , retrieved 2007-10-07] Work is proceeding to schedule the Spring 2009 concert tour dates in Italy.;50th Year Reunion:The 50th year reunion was held April 18, 2008 at the Griswold Inn, and April 19, 2008 at the Coast Guard Academy. Thirty nine men returned to pay tribute to the 50 classes of graduates, and five decades of spreading goodwill through song.

Music

General

The Idlers memorize all their music. The repertoire varies from year to year but typically is heavy on Sea Chanteys and patriotic tunes. The occasional show tune and holiday song round out the mix. The Sea Chanty list is weighted towards capstan songs. Several numbers feature soloists, but a principal concern of all Idlers is the ability to blend well. No individual voice stands out, as they work together to create a smooth and pleasing harmony.

Repertoire

;Core numbers
*Banua
*Eternal Father
*Alma Mater
*Mingulay Boat Song
*The Rattlin' Bog
*The Armed Forces Medley

;Regular favorites
*10,000 Miles Away
*The Idlers Song
*South Australia
*High Barbaree
*A Whale of a Tale
*Drunken Sailor
*Eddystone Light

Discography

(incomplete, [http://www.cgidlers.com/beta/music/albums.shtml reference] )
*Sing Along with The Idlers, 1960, Pickwick
*Americana, 1960, Pickwick
*Blow Ye Winds (with CGA Singers), 1960, MGM
*Songs of Action (with CGA Singers), 1965?, MGM
*Good Times Are Not Over, 1968, CGA
*Songs of Seas and Waterways (with CGA Singers), 1976, CGA
*A Seabag of Songs (with CGA Singers), 1977, CGA
*Cadet Music (with Icebreakers), 1993, CGA
*Cadet Music (with Icebreakers), 1997, CGA
*USCGA Cadet Glee Glub (with Icebreakers), 2004, CGA

Instruments

Some performances are augmented by various instruments. An upright bass, banjo, and 12-string guitar are typical - these instruments were the staple of the New London Trio in the mid and late 1970s. Over the years, The Idlers have also performed with a squeezebox (or concertina), the harmonica (or mouth organ), spoons, washboard, tin whistle, and squeeze-bulb klaxon horn.

Notable and famous Idlers

*Gary Blore, I'75, Rear Admiral ( [http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-w/Flag%20Bios/GDP.htm Bio] )
*Dan Burbank, I'85, Astronaut ( [http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/burbank.html Bio] ), musician
*Everett Rollins, I'79, Captain [cite web|url= http://www.uscg.mil/History/faqs/firstsindex.asp | title= US Coast Guard Firsts |publisher= "US Coast Guard" |date=November 21, 2007]
*Jerry Cronin, I'80, Musician ( [http://www.southernbranch.com/dramtreeo/ Dramtreeo Site] )
*Nicholas Dujmovic, I'80, Historian & Author ( [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0080359698/] )
*Frank Giampietro, I'91, Poet ( [http://www.frankgiampietro.com/] )
*Richard Healing, I'62, Member: NTSB ( [http://www.slu.edu/readstory/more/3442 Article] / [http://www.ntsb.gov/pressrel/2005/050718.htm Article] );
*Joel Sipes, I'59, Rear Admiral
*Joseph Vorbach, I'59, Rear Admiral ( [http://www.uscg.mil/D13/ipa/d13_commanders/vorbach.htm Bio] )

External links

* [http://www.cgidlers.com/ Idlers Museum site]
* [http://www.uscga.edu/display.aspx?id=434 Idlers page at USCGA]

References