SINGER MAKES TIME TO HELP CHILDREN.Byline: BETTIE RENCORET Senior columnist PALMDALE - When Edd Freeman isn't touring with Chico Vega's Drifters, he can sometimes be coaxed to sing solo for large or small audiences here in the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley . When he's not singing with The Drifters, whom he fondly refers to as ``the old guys,'' he might be singing with the Bobby O Band, with whom he's performed at Louisiana Hots restaurant in Palmdale for 12 years, or maybe singing karaoke or working with kids. Seniors at October's Seniors Expo 2004 at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds n. pl. 1. same as fairground. were entertained with his renditions of familiar songs. ``It's the first time I've sung at one of the Expos, and I loved doing it,'' Freeman said. ``I find I can learn a lot from older people. They have so much wisdom and so many experiences to pass on that I love to be around them.'' Freeman's been singing most of his life. He was born in Texas but wound up in California when his World War II veteran father brought the family there in 1950. As a boy, he sang with his school glee club and with his church choir, where he performed gospel music. But he got his lifelong appreciation for the blues from his mother, who used to play old 78 rpm records RPM Records was a record label launched in the early fifties. It was a subsidiary of Modern Records. RPM Records (UK) - [1] A record label based in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, mainly a reissue label. Their slogan: "Brought to you by Collectors For Collectors". for hours. He continued his gospel singing and, as an adult, became a part of the L.A. Gospel Four. He had an opportunity then to harmonize with such greats as Mel Carter and Lou Rawls. Most of his repertoire is rhythm and blues rhythm and blues (R&B) Any of several closely related musical styles developed by African American artists. The various styles were based on a mingling of European influences with jazz rhythms and tonal inflections, particularly syncopation and the flatted blues chords. , but he's not afraid of country or any other genre, except rap. ``I have a problem with rap,'' he said. ``At this stage of my life, I don't want to hop up and down on stage and wear funny clothes. It's just not me.'' He's comfortable, though, singing songs made famous by singers like Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Nat ``King'' Cole and Ray Charles. He met Vega and Drifters Bobby Maxwell and Calvin Andruss in the late 1970s. They've toured the United States together singing such trademark songs as ``Up on The Roof'' and ``Under the Boardwalk.'' They've shared their harmonies on stage with stars like the recently deceased Charles, James Brown, the Righteous Brothers and Chubby Checker. He says that he has a secondary love: his dedicated desire to make life experiences better for children. Freeman believes that involvement with youth is vital to the well-being of the community and, ultimately, the nation. He is a regional director with PONY League baseball. ``I have to travel a lot for this job ,too,'' he said. ``It encompasses areas in both the high and low deserts of California, Arizona and Nevada, including the north San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , Bishop and Mono, the Antelope Valley and Mojave. ``I don't mind the travel. We have to give kids incentives and the kind of activities that keep them out of trouble,'' he said. ``If I can help do that, I'm happy.'' Freeman is married to the former Sharon McMahon Dellecese, who's starting to join him on his gigs. Between them, they have five children. In addition to his singing, he spent 25 years as a civil servant. Most of his time was spent in the Los Angeles County Engineer's Office, part in Flood Control, part in the Fire Department and the rest in Building and Safety. He retired in 2002 from his job as senior code enforcement officer in the Building and Safety Office. Freeman belongs to the Rotary Club, American Legion American Legion, national association of male and female war veterans, founded (1919) in Paris. Membership is open to veterans of World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Post 311, Lancaster Elks Lodge 1625 and the Palmdale Moose Lodge, where Drifter Bobby Maxwell tends bar. Since he retired, he's been just as busy as ever. ``I'm trying to enjoy my retirement, but I still want to get some new gigs for my wife and me,'' he said. ``Sooner or later I'll just kick back some, but that's sometime in the future.'' Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster and Palmdale have been announced. All meals include bread and margarine, as well as coffee, tea or milk, for a suggested donation of $2. Monday: Riblet rib·let n. 1. A cut of meat from a rib end of veal or lamb. 2. One of a series of microscopic grooves, each a few thousandths of an inch wide, inscribed on the surface of an adhesive-backed tape and used on airplanes and boat sandwich, rice pilaf, chicken soup chicken soup Chicken broth Folk medicine Jewish penicillin A fowl broth with a long tradition as a home remedy for URIs, which may be a nasal decongestant, inhibit growth of pneumococci in vitro, and stimulate immune responsiveness in WBCs Mainstream medicine A , parsleyed potatoes, creamy coleslaw cole·slaw also cole slaw n. A salad of finely shredded raw cabbage and sometimes shredded carrots, dressed with mayonnaise or a vinaigrette. , applesauce. Tuesday: Garlic ginger chicken and noodles noo·dle 1 n. A narrow, ribbonlike strip of dried dough, usually made of flour, eggs, and water. [German Nudel. , juice, winter squash, three- bean salad, oatmeal cookies. Wednesday: Roast pork, bread dressing, stewed stewed adj. 1. Cooked by stewing: stewed prunes. 2. Informal Intoxicated; drunk. stewed Adjective 1. tomatoes, cottage cheese cottage cheese a soft, uncured cheese made from soured skim milk; most of the lactose is removed with the whey. Used in low-residue diets for dogs and cats. with peaches, orange. Thursday: Roast turkey, mashed potatoes, winter squash, garden salad, tomato rice soup, blueberry blueberry, plant of the large genus Vaccinium, widely distributed shrubs (occasionally small trees) of the family Ericaceae (heath family), usually found on acid soil. They are often confused with the related huckleberry. muffin. Friday: Beef burrito, Spanish rice, pea salad, tossed salad, apple juice, vanilla ice cream. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Singer Edd Freeman enjoys singing with Chico Vega's Drifters, but also dedicates time to helping kids. Bettie Rencoret/Daily News |
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