Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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16 UCW MAY 3-9, 2017 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM STEPHANIE CRIDER, Editor. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200 The year was 1966. The Righteous Brothers, The Four Tops, The Monkees and The Mamas and The Papas were all in the Billboard Top 10. The No. 1 spot for five weeks, though, was held by a special forces soldier who had taken a punji stick to the knee in Vietnam. It was Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler's "The Ballad of the Green Berets." The song sold 9 million records. Sadler earned more than $500,000 in royalties in 1966 from the song. Later, Sadler would say the song was the worst thing that ever happened to him. Historian, journalist and author Marc Leepson captures Sadler's triumphs and misadventures in his recently-published book Ballad of the Green Beret: The Life and Wars of Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler, from the Vietnam War and Pop Stardom to Murder and an Unsolved, Violent Death. On Sunday, May 7, City Center Gallery and Books will host a book signing and author presentation for Leepson. When Leepson decided to write about Sadler, he had some general knowledge of the green beret. "I knew about the song, and I knew about Sadler and that he was involved in some mercenary stuff. I discovered a lot of what people don't know," said Leepson. "I interviewed 71 people, most all of them knew him and many of them trained or served with him. I found people he grew up with, a guy he was in the Air Force and Army with and in Vietnam. They told me a lot of stuff." There was stuff about the guy Sadler killed in Nashville in 1978 and how Sadler got away with it. "There are three chapters in the book about it," said Leepson. "The detective from the case was very cooperative. Barry's mug shot is in the book." After serving in the Army, Sadler's dream was to become a recording artist, screenwriter and actor. While he did score some bit parts in a few western series on TV, his dreams of fame and fortune as a performer and musician never came to fruition. He was broke and in debt by 1973. Sadler did write 29 pulp fiction novels, though. All but seven of them were part of the Casca: The Eternal Mercenary series. While the books sold well, Sadler never recovered financially. That didn't keep Sadler down; he moved to Guatemala where he claimed to train Contras. While there, he was shot in the head, kidnapped and more. Leepson covers it all. "This is the first biography of Barry Sadler and he has a local connection. He lived in Fayetteville. He trained at Fort Bragg and was assigned there. The song is the unofficial theme song of the special forces," said Leepson. "It is still played today. I don't think anyone knows how it came to be. I tell that story in detail. It involved a public affairs lieutenant, a general and Barry. He went viral before anyone knew the word internet." While this is Leepson's ninth book, he is no stranger to Fayetteville. He spoke about his book Lafayette: Idealist General during a Lafayette Birthday Celebration weekend in recent years. Leepson has also written about Francis Scott Key, the Civil War, the history of the American flag and Monticello. On May 7, guests who attend the book signing will have a chance to ask Leepson questions and hear him speak. His presentation begins at 2:30 p.m. Books will be available for purchase. Find out more about City Center Gallery and books at www. citycentergallery.com. Find out more about Marc Leepson at www.marcleepson.com. Ballad of the Green Beret: Intrigue and a Chance to Meet the Author by STEPHANIE CRIDER EVENTS Cumberland Oratorio Singers Build Our Community by DR. MICHAEL MARTIN For years, the Cumberland Oratorio Singers have been bringing incredible music and cultural opportunities to our region. Originally, the group was an "ensemble," but more recently the group has expanded and partnered with various other community organizations. COS now includes three choirs: The Cross Creek Chorale, Campbellton Youth Chorus and the Cumberland Oratorio Singers make up the core of the group. This growth is due in part to the work of Dr. Michael Martin, who will soon be leaving the COS. "I think we have done much to increase the positive reputation of the group and advance a support for choral music. This mission began with my arrival in 2007: to create a local symphonic choral organization that could partner with my choral program and create high-level music opportunities for the community and ourselves," he said. "With the foundation provided by Alan Porter's prior leadership, we have partnered with local colleges and professional music organizations. We have also delivered large orchestral and choral works with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra." The music produced by the Cumberland Oratorio Singers is phenomenal. It may surprise some audience members to know the members of the group all have day jobs. For Martin, this is one of the best aspects of the group, as it allows for community members to engage deeply with the arts. According to Martin, "It is the community approach to performance that makes these people special. Most members are not driven by anything but the success of the group. We come from all over the community: doctors, lawyers, from different churches, teachers, custodians, etc., all for the purpose to make music!" Martin acknowledges building a community in Fayetteville has some particular challenges. "People come and go, and in Fayetteville this challenge is even harder given the nature of our military community with frequent moving," he said. "The one thing we can never forget is why people should do this to begin with: to come together as a community to sing!" Inarguably, Martin has made a huge impact not only on the Cumberland Oratorio Singers, but also on the local community as whole. Luckily his new focus won't take him too far away. "While COS is very respectful of my space with my family, it has become too much to balance with my growing responsibilities at Methodist University. For now, I am focused on being there for my job and family, as well as expanding my role in choral music in North Carolina," he explained. "I intend to be involved with the COS in the future, hopefully as a member of the board. After a year away, I would like to be involved with them and offer my support to the new director in whatever way he or she would like. I believe in this group and will advocate and support them in any way possible!" His years of experience have also inspired him to leave a little friendly advice for the incoming director. "If there is one thing that I have learned from my years of conducting community choirs it's that most people sing simply because they want to do it. It is not a requirement for them, and that needs to be respected and supported. They are not paid, but we tend to expect them to be professional in every way. I have always considered our membership as 'volunteer professionals' with families and jobs. Therefore, people will learn and perform with what little time is available." he said. There is still time to catch a performance of the Cumberland Oratorio Singers this season. The next concert is May 19. Find out more about it at www.singwithcos.org. DR. MICHAEL MARTIN, Director of COS. COMMENTS? EdItor@upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. Martin said, "It is the community approach to performance that makes these people special."