By Megan Joyce

The 2008 title-holder of PA State Senior Idol is … Barry Surran of Blandon!

  If the sold-out crowd wasn’t proof enough, then the audience’s continuous enthusiasm
showed that Central Pennsylvanians love their music—and their talented friends, family,
and neighbors. The recent finals competition of the 2008 PA State Senior Idol competition included a packed house at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster.
  Local celebrity judges Janelle Stelson of WGAL-8, Adrian “Buddy” King of the former Magnificent Men, and R.J. Harris of WHP-AM 580 would have the tough job of narrowing the field of 15 down to the evening’s top three finalists. Then the audience would weigh in with their ballot votes to determine who should be crowned the 2008 PA State Senior Idol.  For the 15 semi-finalists, who had earned a spot at the finals by auditioning in April at one of five regional locations, the finale of the 2008 PA State Senior Idol competition marked the culmination of weeks of practice and nervous anticipation.

  (Click on each finalists picture for a glimpse of their performace)

Duane Good of Harrisburg was the first to go on. He sang “King of the Road” by Frank Sinatra and embodied the spirit of the song with his brimmed hat and purposefully tattered sport coat.

Next up was Janet Musser of Carlisle, who sang “Pour on the Power” by Sandi Patti, anappropriate selection for someone with a truly powerful voice.

Virjette LaCour took the stage third and was accompanied by her husband on guitar as she used her soothing vocals on “Wave” by Sergio Mendez. LaCour of East Fallowfield is no stranger to the stage, either, but she said there’s always that nervous rush before she goes on—but for her, it’s useful. “I use that energy to push me out there. If I don’t have it, the performance is very flat,” she said. “I need that fighting edge, and instead of letting it freeze me, I’ve learned how to channel it, because it’s tremendous.”

The fourth semi-finalist was Juan Palacios of Reading, who sang “Time to Say Goodbye” by Andrea Bocelli in Spanish and Italian. Judge R.J. Harris was impressed by Palacios’ linguistic versatility. “I have a tough enough time speaking in one language, and here you are singing in 2 ½!” Harris quipped.

Palacios was followed by rocker Larry DiBiase with “Fever” by Peggy Lee. “What a breath of fresh air!” said Janelle Stelson after DiBiase’s vocal-and-guitar performance.

Jeanne Todd of Jeffersonville did her best Dorothy Gale impression as she sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz.

Barry Surran of Blandon sang “Innamorata” by Dean Martin, which judge Adrian “Buddy” King enjoyed. “I like your open notes; you have a very nice quality there,” said King. “I really enjoyed your performance and I hope to see you back.” .

Next, Sean O’Loughlin from Somerset belted out Paul McCartney’s “Yesterday” with operatic force.

Then, George Pellegrino of West Chester danced up a storm and nailed the falsetto notes during “Higher and Higher” by Otis Reading. “It’s very hard to believe you have an AARP card,” Stelson joked after Pellegrino’s high-energy performance. “I love those high notes. They’re definitely your trump card; pull them out as often as you want.”

Carol Keffer of Reading sang “The Way We Were” by Barbra Streisand, and told the judges and the audience that “it’s an honor and a pleasure to share music with people, because I firmly believe that music is one of the most important ways to uplift our spirits.”

She was followed by Elizabeth Jefferies of Steelton singing “It’s Almost Like Being in Love” from the musical Brigadoon, and the judges appreciated her classy rendition.

For his first time on stage, Wilson “Billy” Marzean of Willow Street had no trouble telling the familiar story of “Mack the Knife” by Bobby Darrin.

Joey Welz then wowed the audience with his keyboard skills during his “Rock N’ Roll Medley,” a tribute to ’50s rockers like Bill Haley and the Comets.

Paula Murphy of Lititz had the male members of the audience ready to dial their cell phones after her sultry version of “Why Haven’t I Heard from You” by Reba McEntire.

And, last up, Peggy Keller of Ephrata ended the evening’s semi-finalist performances on an excellent note with “Skylark,” a 1942 jazz standard written by Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael. “I particularly like your upper register,” complimented King. “You get up there and really, it’s bell-like.”

-- THE 3 FINALISTS --

  King, who had said he hoped he would see Barry Surran back, got his wish. Surran, Pellegrino, and Murphy received the highest score totals from the judges to become the 2008 PA State Senior Idol finalists. It would now be their second song choices that would determine who were the runners-up and who would be crowned the Senior Idol.
  Murphy returned to the stage first, giving an enthusiastic interpretation of Martina McBride’s “Independence Day,” her fist shooting into the air during the climax of the song’s emotional chorus.
  Pellegrino, who had delivered a lively first performance, chose the Righteous Brothers’ infamous “Unchained Melody” as his more subdued, thoughtful second song. He again employed his “trump card”—that crystal-clear falsetto—on the song’s trademark high notes.
  Last up was Surran, who charmed his listeners with “I Believe,” a 1953 hit recorded by Frankie Laine. The song is now popular as both a secular and a religious anthem, and Surran turned in a reflective performance while again showcasing his strong, clean vocals.

  During the intermission that followed, the audience members turned in their ballots with their selections for this year’s Senior Idol winner. After the votes were totaled, Pellegrino, Surran, and Murphy, along with the other 12 contestants, returned to the stage to await the announcement. After a few tense moments, Diane Dayton announced that Barry Surran had been named the 2008 PA State Senior Idol.

   PA State Senior Idol is one more way On-Line Publishers, Inc/50plus Senior News is Redefining Age!