A 1973 TRIBUTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
The greatest single achievement of the Steve Rhodes Voices is the fact that the group has stayed together - and improved.
The twelve voices that performed at the first appearance of the group were: 0lga Miller, Veronica Rhodes, Danata Lawrence and Jeanette Rhodes - sopranos
Gloria Rhodes, Arabang Raditapole, Julie Lawrence and Bukola Soleye - contraltos
Tunde Lawrence and Dayo Ogunro, Femi Adeniyi-Williams - tenors.
Bill Haigh and E H Harrison - basses.
The second appearance of the group was one week later on television, at which time the group was:
Olga Miller, Veronica Rhodes, Donata Lawrence and Jeanette Rhodes - sopranos Gloria Rhodes, Arabang Raditapole, Julie Lawrence, Bukola Soleye, and Yewande Ankrah - contraltos
Tunde Lawrence, Dayo Ogunro and Femi Adeniyi-Williams - tenors
Bill Haigh and E. H. Harrison - basses .
A month later, the group made its first public appearance at the Y.M.C.A. Hall in Lagos and included:
Olga Miller, Veronica Rhodes, Francesca Emanuel, Donata Lawrence Juliana Lawson, Nnena Boco, and Ori Enyi - sopranos. Julie Lawrence, Arabang Raditapole, Henrietta Jones, Yewande Ankrah, Gloria Rhodes and Valentina Johnson - contraltos .
Femi Adeniyi- Williams, Akin Craig, Micheal Williams and Tunde Lawrence - tenors.
E. H. Harrison, Bill Haigh, Linus Kotey and Ayodele Da-Silva - basses.
The largest group ever presented was at a concert at the Federal Palace Hotel on 12th April 1971 when the line-up was:
Olga Miller, Veronica Rhodes, Francesca Emanuel, Donata Lawrence, Juliana Lawson, Nnena Boco, Ori Enyi, Jeanette Rhodes, Cecilia Piper, Shamn Kehinde, and Victoria Oruye -Sopranos.
Julie Lawrence, Henrietta Jones, Yewande Ankrah, Gloria Rhodes, Valentina Johnson, Bukola Soleye and Eva Abia-Okon, - contraltos
Femi Adeniyi-Williams, Dayo Ogunro, Micheal Williams, Tunde Arinbola and Raphel Toluhi - tenors.
E. H. Harrison, Bill Haigh, Linus Kotey and Ayodele DA-Silva - basses.
By January 1972 when the group celebrated its first anniversary, the membership had crystallised and the stalwarts were now known. The months following the anniversary were truly hectic, as we had been accepted to participate in the
International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales in ,July, and preparations for this historic event in the group s life were in full swing. The group which made that trip, and won a large number of friends for Nigeria was:
0lga Miller, Frances ca Emanuel, Juliana Lawson, Sharon Kehinde, Idem Efiong, Funmilayo Irele, and Jeanette Rhodes – Sopranos
Henrietta Jones, Eva Abia-Ol<on, Veronica Rhodes, Gloria Rhodes, Bukola Soleye and Dora Iyoho - contraltos.
Tunde Arinbola, Olusola Ogunboye and Kayode 0jo – tenors
Enlo Scott, Bisi Ogunbadejo and Ayodele Da-Silva - basses.
Today, December, 1973, our membership is:
Olga Miller, Francesca Emanuel, Sharon Kehinde, Jeanette Rhodes, Juliana Lawson, Idem Efiong, Funmilayo Irele, and Felicia Mukoro - Sopranos.
Veronica Rhodes, Henrietta Jones, Gloria Rhodes, Bukola Soleye, Maxine Rhodes and Victoria Sadoh - contraltos,
Olusola Ogunboye, Kayode Ojo, Ganiyu Agbaje, Funso Aladese and Tunde Obasa - tenors. |
