MY DAY: Maurine F. Bailey Living Legacy

Months after I began music director for the Cherup Choir at Greater New Zion Baptist Church, Mable Chandler introduced me to Mrs. Maurine F. Bailey (1901 – 2000), who was then the renown music teacher at Lincoln High School. Years later as Youth Director at the same church, after a Youth Revival with a very young Rev. Michael Walker, the kids wanted to stay together and thus was formed the “famous” South Dallas Community Youth Choir (SDCYC). Gwen Foster, the near oldest of ten children and a student at Lincoln, came to the next rehearsal with many, many members of the Maurine F. Bailey Choir. The SDCYC rose from a role of 66 to 180 members in its ten year historic run, representing more than 15 churches.

During this time, we encounter numerous former members of the “Mrs. Bailey Touch” in the form of business owners, clergy, corporate executives, educators testifying that they were once in the choir at Lincoln. Mrs. Bailey’s legacy is still cited as her ability to take a student without a trained voice or love for music, turning them into well-developed professionals. The ‘Mrs. Bailey Touch’ had added value. She was notorious for nourishing severe discipline problems. She has to her credit orators, actors in major broadway shows, the baton of African
American conductors across the oceans, leading citizens, pastors, journalists that sing cantatas, anthems and opera.

The Maurine F. Bailey Cultural Foundation Scholarship Awards luncheon will be held Saturday, August 9, 2014, 11:30 AM, Renaissance Dallas Hotel. Tickets are $60.00 each. A personal invitation. Would like to see you in attendance because this year I am one of the honorees.

The ‘Ester Davis Show’ is on Thursdays from 5AM to 6AM, ION Media Networks.

UP NEXT: African American Conductors on Broadway, A Major Milestone

Ester Davis can be reached at www.esterday.com