Local barbershoppers to perform on 'A Prairie Home Companion'

HUTCHINSON, Kan. -- Listeners to Saturday night's live radio broadcast of "A Prairie Home Companion" will hear the voices of 10 McCook-area singers among a large barbershop chorus.

The chorus, performing at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson on Saturday afternoon, has been invited to sing on Garrison Keillor's live radio show following the state fair performance.

The local singers, members of the Prairie Statesmen Chorus, include Mike Langley and Chuck Druse of Cambridge, Dennis and Logan Hoyt of Culbertson, Clair Rumford and Ronald Scheimo of Norton, Arlan Wine of Wauneta and Merlin Brown, Don Blank and Jack Reichenbach of McCook.

According to Blank, when Keillor heard of the performance preceding his broadcast, he asked them to stay around and sing on his show.

"The show producers have indicated that the barbershoppers probably will sing in the first 30 minutes of the show, singing up to five songs, with Garrison Keillor joining in on "Aura Lee-Love Me Tender," and "America the Beautiful," Blank said.

Keillor also will be made an honorary member of the Kansas State Fair Barbershop Chorus.

A Prairie Home Companion will be broadcast live at 5 p.m. Saturday on the NET Radio Network at KLNE 88.7 FM Lexington, KPNE 91.7 FM North Platte or the Culbertson translator, K224CH, 92.7 FM. The show will be repeated at 11 a.m. on Sunday.