Rural Missouri - March 2020 - 21

Carl says if donations don't make the guarantee of $500, he and Kay pay the
difference.
The couple says not all the venues in the home concert network provide a
guaranteed fee like Carl and Kay do. The guarantee makes
a stop in a rural area like this one in southwest Missouri,
even more appealing to musicians as they travel from one
gig to the next.
"We don't get out as much as we used to years ago," says
the spry 83-year-old man, "So we decided to put our entertainment budget toward the concerts since we beneﬁt too."
"We're close to I-44 and I-49 and pretty much a crossGolden City
roads for musicians traveling to and from Kansas City," Carl
says. "We chose Tuesday nights because musicians usually
perform on weekends and are going on to the next place
during the week. It's worked out well for us."
"I look forward to it every month. I know it's a lot of work
though," says Kay, as Carl and their daughter, Nicole, move the furniture
around in anticipation of people coming out that evening to hear the energetic
Canadian duo of Helen Austin and Paul Otten aka Big Little Lions.
"Being able to bring the community to them is a huge reason why this
works," says Nicole, who happened to be visiting her parents from Boston. "It
takes several days to prepare for the concerts, but it really invigorates them."
The Singers have held 86 consecutive monthly concerts in the past eight
years. Each performances draw 35 to 60 attendees with many driving nearly an
hour to hear the music.
Artists from a dozen states and four different countries have graced Carl and
Kay's living room. The success of the concerts have led the Singers to be named
one of the top 10 venues for the Listening Room Network out of the more
than 500 locations nationwide.
"We're pretty proud of that standing," says Carl. "There are a lot
of other entertainment options. Knowing both the entertainers and
attendees enjoy coming here means a lot to us."
The musicians bring a variety of styles to the concerts, so far
encompassing genres such as folk, blues, jazz, bluegrass, country, classical and pop music.
Carl's career included radio broadcasting, as well as fundraising as vice president of development for Southwest Baptist
University in Bolivar. His former career comes in handy when promoting the concerts.
"Right now, we're already booking into 2021," he says, smiling.
When Carl's not talking to musicians or promoting the next month's
concert, he steals away to his workshop where he turns discarded
musical instruments into beautiful works of stained glass art.
"I just hang them for people to admire when they're here," Carl
says. "I only use guitars and ﬁddles that are beyond repair."
He says he only pays a few dollars per instrument, then draws
whatever pattern he's inspired by and goes about covering it
with pieces of cut glass. In the end, a beautiful piece of art is
ready to hang on the wall.
"I'd sell them, but nobody will pay you for all the time you
put into making one of these," he says. "I'm good with just
hanging them up and letting people enjoy them."
Carl looks out the front door and sees the headlights of
the ﬁrst concertgoers pulling up.
"It's always good to have another reason for friends to
visit," says Carl in his warm voice. "We're blessed to share
these concerts with the community."

One of the
numerous
stained glass
artworks
Carl Singer
makes from
discarded
instruments.

For more details about the Singers' Miracle of Music
Home Concerts in Golden City, call Carl at 417-342-5858,
email carlsinger.7391@gmail.com or follow them on Facebook at Singer Hill Miracle of Music.
MARCH 2020 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP

http://www.RURALMISSOURI.COOP

Rural Missouri - March 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - March 2020