Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • 89

ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL Friday, May 9, 1980 H-3 Local Singer Returns Home i it ,1 4' mi iiiiP Alia ByJACKJANOWSKI Although the publicity releases say he hails from Nashville, Ed Rathbun of the New Christy Minstrels still considers Albuquerque his hometown. The ever-changing but perennially popular group of eight talented singers and musicians will present a concert Wednesday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 4th and Lead SW. Tickets for the New Christy Minstrels' show, the last concert in the church's 1979-80 Music Vesper Series, are priced at S3 and can be obtained at First United Methodist Church or any TicketMaster outlet. "I've been working with the New Christy Minstrels for the past three-and-a-half years," Rathbun said in a recent phone interview from St.

Paul, where the group was slated for a series of concerts in the Twin Cities area. In addition to singing, Rathbun plays the banjo and guitar, and is currently musical director for the group. "I help pick out new numbers and I do the arrangements to fit the Minstrels. I try to spread the solos around, so as to spotlight all the singers and musicians in various numbers," he said. While living in Albuquerque for 11 years beginning in 1960, Rathbun attended the University of New Mexico.

He graduated from UNM with a degree in psychology, but also has a minor in music. i $PyyX kin wo i "I didn't take part in any UNM musical productions," he recalled, "but I did several shows with Robin Hubert and the Albuquerque Civic Light Opera, such as 'Guys and 'The Unsinkable Molly 'Destry Rides Again' and 'Annie Get Your This exposure to the musical world sent me to Nashville and Opryland for two years, after which I joined the New Christy Minstrels." Rathbun pointed out that the New Christy Minstrels first appeared on the American musical scene as headliners in 1961 and have been flourishing as folk-singing favorites ever since. New Christy Minstrels With Albuquerque's Ed Rathbun (Lower Right Corner) Group To Perform in Concert Wednesday, May 14, at First United Methodist Church He noted "a partial list of our famous alumni includes Kenny Rogers, Karen Black, John Denver and Terry Ann Meusam (Miss America of 1972), and there are many more individuals who have gone on from working with the Minstrels to gain noteriety on their own in show business. The New Christy Minstrels is an excellent training ground." Rathbun said that his performances with the group will cease until September, once they finish their current six-week concert tour for Columbia Artists. Albuquerque Channels KOB-TV, NBC Network KNME-TV, PBS Network KOAT-TV, ABC Network KGGM-TV, CBS Network ffiKMXN, Independent "I'll continue to be musical director, but I won't perform on stage until we take off for a month-long tour of France, beginning at Cannes and ending up with several performances in England," he added.

He also pointed out that the Minstrels have kept their popularity at high levels, despite continuous personnel changes, because they present a varied program of folk songs, old favorites and new successes. "In addition to familiar New Christy tunes from the '60s," he explained, "we do things like a Stephen Foster melody in our concert, recalling that Foster's works were first introduced to the American public in the 1850s by Edwin 'Pops' Christy and his group of traveling musicians." Rathbun, who is now 28, says he has a lot of plans for the future in the entertainment world and his eventual departure from the Christy organization. "Nothing's definite now, but the possibilities are numerous," he said. "Right now, I'm sorting out the options." Rathbun's father, Aaron, lives in Albuquerque and works for the Bureau of Indian Affairs as an architect. His brother, John, is employed here at Sandia Laboratories.

"I try to get back to Albuquerque a couple of times each he said, "but I haven't performed there since 1977, when Patti Cohcnour and I played together at The Monesvary. Incidentally, Patti is currently in a Gershwin revue playing in Los Angeles and doing very well in her singing career in Southern California. I keep in touch, since the Minstrels are headquartered in LA and I live there when we're not on tour." Harry Hook, director of the Music Vesper Series, announced that there will not be a reception following the Wednesday night concert, because of the late hour. "We hope that this concert's change of time from our usual Sunday afternoon scheduling is not a problem for our patrons," he said. "In order to get the Minstrels to Albuquerque, we had to do some juggling.

It should be worth it." Independent Station Cable Chjuuaels KTLA-TV, Los Angeles (DWGN-TV, Chicago WTCG-TV, Atlanta (E) Religion Network CB) Home Box Office (H) Madison Square Garden Nickelodeon Network On cable Channel 53) (KTTV) replaces local Channel Owhen that station signs off. Channel CD (WGN) replaces local Channel 3 when that station signs off. Albuquerque Home theater In the daily movie listings as QD Continued From Page 2 wants to tune it in from the regular VHF dial, he simply turns it to the UHF position. Channel 23 expects its transmitting antenna signal to reach the same area the other regular channels reach, a 65-80 miles radius, by June 1. Some viewers may need to add an inexpensive UHF antenna to their existing VHF Like most of its over-the-air competitors, Channel 23 will be on the air from 7 a.m.

to midnight weekdays and later on -weekends. 'in Janowski an i4J6uqtferqM W.rt&..