Marci Bernard arrives...

The Whitsuntide Singers truly arrived as professionals with the addition of Marci. She had already had a great deal of success as the centerpiece of The Lowland Three, a group that had appeared on the Danny Thomas Show.

Years before I had seen her perform at a coffee house in Des Plaines, Il. called The Loft. At that time I had never picked up a guitar and had only sung in the shower. As I sat in that darkened theatre and listened, I thought to myself how great it would be to do what they were doing and share a stage with a talent like her. Little did I know.

Marci was the real deal. She had a beautiful breathy voice, fantastic sense of humor, and a really engaging stage presense. The Whitsuntide Singers were now running on all four cylinders. Bookings now included the college circuit. The group actually traveled on commercial airlines to some campus shows!

The music began to expand. While still basically a cover band, they selected more obscure folk songs, and delivered them with a unique style. Sometimes they dabbled in pop and their treatment of The Troggs' Love is All Around Me became a popular staple in their repertoire.

The Whitsuntide Singers featured Marci solo on standards like Summertime. She was a pleasure to work with as well. For the first time in the group's history, rehersals moved to Chicago (and Marci's basement). She was a huge talent and the group was making a modest name for itself.

The Whitsuntide Singers gigs included nationally known venues like The Raven Gallery in Detroit. A club that my idol (to this day) John Stewart has played. Meanwhile Chicago folk luminaries like Ed & Fred Holstein, and Joel Cory were taking notice. Joel and his partner Dick Toops decided to take the band into the studio.