Harding professor Charles Hicks entertaining the White County Historical Society.
By TOM PRY
The Searcy Sun, November 30, 2006
The press release, as they tend to do, was very dry in announcing that Charles “Chuck” Hicks would be presenting the final program of the year to the White County Historical Society. Blandly, it announced “He will discuss and perform music from a half-century ago.” Explaining Hicks’ background, the release said, “Hicks teaches in the Department of Music at HU and also directs the Good News Singers and Belles and Beaux. He received his M.S.E. from Harding in 1997 and has a background in stringed instruments.”
This is a great deal like saying a rainbow is kind of colorful: it fails to touch the true reality.
The reality is that Hicks, bare-fingered (no pick), an ancient amplifier, and a well-used acoustic guitar with a sound pickup in it, plus a huge talent, presented a colorful, tuneful, frequently-amusing trip down memory lane to some 200 Society members in the November 27 program.
The subject was music of the 1950s, and the youngish professor of music romped through a solid hour of singing and playing, taking his selections from all genres of hits, from the Nat King Cole ballad, “Mona Lisa,” to Johnny Horton’s rousing “Battle of New Orleans,” from Patti Page to Elvis Presley and then on to the Flamingos and The Weavers.
His interplay with the audience was informal and informative, and genially good-natured.
Hicks, in short, was the consummate professional in his presentation in what was, perhaps, the most enjoyable program of the year for the preservation group.
Deservedly, he got a standing ovation when he was done.
In other, short Society business, Tony Young was elected President to replace Dewitt Yingling. A new VP, Doug Faith, and new directors were elected to the Board, as well. All nominees were accepted by acclamation.
The White County Historical Society will not meet again until the fourth Monday night in January, 2007. The group – which now has over 500 paid members – meets at 7 p.m. at Harding Place. The public is always invited, and there is never a charge for admission.