RE-CREATION ALUMNI EVENTS
Re-Creation Specials are those events, groups and projects that featured former cast members in new avenues of service. The first standout was Katie Brooks and Freedom, followed by the Katie Brooks Show, branching out after Re-Creation’s 5th edition to travel and serve in the Veterans Homes and Hospitals. There was a grand Re-Union planned in Re-Creation 19, in 1993, that ultimately served as part reunion, part launching pad for the new directorship! Re-Creation has mounted over 16 “Patriotic Tours”…tours to Veterans Homes and Hospitals featuring alumni and special guests. (Fun Fact: Lee Wineholt, RC 17, 18 and GM for 3 years, went on more Patriotic Tours than any other alumnus…14 tours in total! Wow!) These unique summertime tours allowed the new, evolving editions of Re-Creation valuable rehearsal time.
We produced a “Traditions” Projects, 2 “Collectors Series” audio projects, 3 Mary Muller feature CD’s, 2 Tradition Quartet CD’s (and tour!), Re-Creation SIngs America, The Silver Anniversary Tour, 2 Hugh Brooks Tribute Collections, 2 published books; one of Dr. Brooks’s music and the other of his devotional on Lent), A Muller Family Christmas CD, In God We Trust; Songs of Faith and Freedom CD, An Evening of Christmas Live on Stage Reunion CD and DVD… and the list goes on!
“I began my journey with Re-Creation over twenty years ago touring for three years in the 24th, 25th, and 26th editions. I have taken part in almost every alumni event sine my original tours! I will always have a great respect, admiration, and a deep loyalty to the mission and work of Re-Creation, again both personally and professionally. Hopping back in those Re-Creation vans or jumping into the studio or appearing back on the RC stage didn’t require much of a sales pitch! I was honored to join other alumni to help carry the torch in the short term for Re-Creation.
I believe the beauty of the ministry is the care taken and commitment to investing in people, specifically those men and women who gave great sacrifice to serve our country. Compassion, kindness, respect, gratitude, care, and love are all worn on the sleeves of the young people of Re-Creation when they visit the veterans hospitals. Other goodies might include grateful hugs, handshakes, warm smiles, genuine fellowship, joyous tears, or forgotten sounds of laughter as time is spent sharing with one another the joy of music…with maybe a little sequin…( ok more than a little sequin). The hope is that the veterans know Re-Creation values you, the person, the man, the woman, the soldier, the veteran.
I am so humbled to be a part of something so special. 1 Peter 4:10 tells us “ Each one of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in various forms.” All of us have a gift from God to share, so go share!…Let us serve one another!”
and count me in!
JOE ANTHONY | RC 24, 25, 26
Enjoy a brief look at some of these wonderful extensions of the Re-Creation service!
- The Re-Union 1993, the first gathering of former members and marking the transition in leadership
- “Traditions” CD – 1996
- “Re-Creation Sings America” CD – 1997
- “Lyric: A Tribute to the Music of Hugh Brooks” – CD – 1998
- “Re-Creation ‘The Collectors Series: The Openers'” CD – 1999
- “The Silver Anniversary Tour” Live Tour – 2000
- “The Traditions Quartet” CD – 2001
- “Re-Creation Sings America” DVD – 2002
- “Re-Creation An Evening of Christmas” Double CD and DVD – 2004
- “The Traditions Quartet II” CD – 2007
- “Re-Creation Gospel Re-Union” Double CD and DVD – 2009
- “A Muller Family Christmas” CD – 2014
- “Legacy – The Lyrics of Hugh Brooks” 3 CD’s and Book – 2016
- “In God We Trust” CD – 2015
RE-UNION 1993
The planned Re-Union for Christmas of 1993 was a wonderful two-night event held in Harrisburg, PA. So many alumni returned for this special celebration and everyone had a wonderful time of reminiscing. The Re-Union also served as the transition from the Brooks Team to the Muller Team as Jay and Mary took the reigns of Re-Creation just after the Christmas Season, at the beginning of 1994. Mr. Brooks, Carolyn, Katie, Joani and the Board of Directors planned the show for everyone to have spotlight solo. Everyone was showcased and everyone shared. The evening was a magical one full of love. Fun Fact: Kathy Pioli dressed up as Mr. Brooks, compete with khaki’s and blue blazer! Their banter onstage was priceless! Fun Fact #2: RC 19 featured only 3 young ladies instead of the usual 4…however one of the ladies was recovering from being sick and the plan was for Mary to take her place in the show full-time beginning in 1994. This Re-Union though featured the only time all four girls were onstage at the same time!
“The Re-Creation Re-Union events are invaluable in strengthening the already existing connections between members, present and former. Re-Creation is one big family…even those that didn’t tour together have a camaraderie that many others don’t understand. All it takes sometimes is a knowing glance between “oldies” to communicate a year or more worth of memories!”
KATHY PIOLI LUBBERS | RC 18, 19 | RC General Manager 3 years
HUGH BROOKS “LYRIC” and “LEGACY” TRIBUTES
Twice we have paid abject honor to the music of Hugh Brooks. The first collection was recorded in 1998 with two choirs assembling in our studios in Port Trevorton to record. This collection was a surprise and Mary and I, along with Sam and Joani, Katie, David Kazee et al., gathered in Nashville to present the completed project to Hugh. To say he was flabbergasted is an understatement. We were all so pleased he was surprised. Later in 2016, we produced a complete collection of every single song Mr. Brooks had written! This extensive collection featured some original recordings and some re-created editions of his most famous and treasured classics. This time, the project was not a surprise and Hugh got to select the versions, or rew-recorded versions of his songs he enjoyed best! This audio collection also came with a book, written by Mr. Brooks himself and boasting some wonderful stories and inspirations behind the songs! The book is sadly, out of print, but the PDF appears here for your enjoyment! Fun Fact: The hand on the cover of “Lyric” actually belongs to Dr. Brooks. A few times in RC 11 and 12, he donned the costume for “Lazarus” and sang the song himself. Mr. Muller took used one of those photographs to create the cover for “Lyric”.
THE SILVER ANNIVERSARY TOUR
In the 25th Edition, Amanda Daggett, Linda SMith, Judy Fitch, Brenda Neiman, Jim Worthing, Todd Murray, George Moore, John GOdissart, Dustin Wheeler and Nathan Olweiler all gave their time to travel as “The Silver Anniversary Tour”. The group served in many Veterans Homes and Hospitals and a handful of public Gospel and Variety programs as well. Mr. Brooks and his team even showed up at one of the Veterans Facility Shows to enjoy his protegees (all but Dustin) in a fantastic extension of service. Jay Muller directed the show and was to travel with the group, BUT the arrival of his son, Ethan, born that season, kept him from traveling with his friends. The seasoned professionals did a great job on their own, of course, and the public and the Veterans in our area VAMC’s all benefitted from this special gathering of remarkable servants. Fun Fact: The group was performing at Hegins COmmunity park to a capacity crowd when a huge thunderclap indicated the show would have to end. The Silver Anniversary tour got to perform that night, but Re-Creation 25 did not!
RE-CREATION PATRIOTIC ALUMNI PROJECTS
Alumni gave of their time to create:
“Re-Creation Sings America” first teh CD in 1997, followed by the DVD during the 28th Edition. The cover for this project was designed by Jay’s uncle, John D. Muller, an eminent artist. (John also designed the CD cover for RC 22 and their “Joy to the World” project.). The video was filmed at Tri-Valley High School.
“Re-Creation America” was produced during the 30th edition to celebrate 30 years of Re-Creation service. This collection boasts the Nashville Strings and on the new recording of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “The Star Spangled Banner”. This collection features alumni and personal friends to capture the vibrant choral sound for Mr. Brooks’s “They Shall Be Free!”
“In God We Trust” was a personal-invite project of the Muller’s to record for posterity some major Patriotic works from some of Re-Creation’s best singers. Highlights include “Go Rest High” and “In God We Trust”
Special thanks to all the alumni who gave of their time to create these audio and video treasures.
THE TRADITIONS QUARTET
Jay Muller, Jim Worthing, Dave Kazee and Todd Murray joined forces to present two full-length audio projects showcasing treasured hymns, new songs and classics all in a grand quartet style! The Traditions Quartet’s first album was recorded in Kentucky, at Dave Kazee’s studio, with Nathan Olweiler serving as engineer. The second collection was recorded in the Re-Creation studio in Port Trevorton with Xavier Francis and Kathy Lubbers assisting at the board. The group also toured with successful, well-received presentations in Montandon, Selinsgrove, and Hegins Community Park. Getting together from all over the country was a bit tricky, but the result was well worth the effort. All the men remember those recording sessions as some of the happiest, most creative moments in their journey.
AN EVENING of CHRISTMAS 2005
The second larghe0-scale reunion project took place in 2005 as Re-Creation 30 was just getting underway. “An Evening of Christmas” Live Onstage featured a host of RC alumni from decades of service. The show was filmed at Milton Area Jr./Sr. High School. The weekend was full of fun and fellowship…and the resulting show was a smash! Fun Facts: We were blessed to have a great number of trained dancers, so be sure to check out the finale. Speaking of the finale, Mr. Muller wasn’t originally slated to sing “Amen” but rather another young man, who, at the last minute, decided against tackling such a big song at the end of the show. Emma (8 years old) and Ethan (6 years old) we’re also featured in specific sections of the program. As a matter of fact, the entire show started with the Muller Family in front of the curtain. After their brief song, the curtain parts to reveal a huge cast of RC alumni in a veritable feast of all your favorite holiday classics!
“Being able to participate in several Re-Creation Re-Unions over the years has been good for my soul. Each time, so many different emotions, and facets of my life, come bubbling to the surface. Service, friendship, outreach, the joy of performing and simply catching up with old friends. Re-Creation is one of those events in my life that never felt like a “job.” I still feel like I got so much more out of it than I ever put in. An experience I will always treasure.”
JOHN WILSON | RC 13, 14 | Road Manager RC 17
RE-UNION 2010
The onset of RC 35 brought together a host of RC Alumni in a grand Re-Union of Gospel Classics! This amazing show was presented at Otterbein U.M.C. Church in Boiling Springs, PA…home church of longtime Re-Creation friends Lee and Connie Calaman. The event was attended full-capacity for both the matinee and evening presentations. Dave Kazee executively produced the music while Jay Muller directed the show. Everyone had a grand time visiting, singing and serving. This was the first large-scale reunion in the Muller era and the gathering boasted alumni from every single group 1 – 35! Fun Fact: During final dress rehearsal, with a crowd waiting outside to take seats, the fire alarm went off! All was fine, however, as we discovered a well-meaning, but tired patron, had leaned against the alarm! Haha!
ALUMNI TOURS
For many years, Jay sent out alumni groups during the summer. These special groups allowed Re-Creation to continue, without interruption, the service to America’s Veterans, while back at Port, the new group would be able to practice without being overwhelmed with daily performances. The navigation was always a delicate act, but the alumni loved the chance to revisit the touring stage and, of course, get to perform for the veterans once again. Lee Wineholt, former member (RC 17, 18) and General Manager of RC for 3 years toured with more Summer groups than any other alumni…ever! Lee served on 14 tours out of 16! Emma, the Muller’s daughter, also went on tour with specific groups.
“It was a great privilege to travel with other former Re-Creation members with whom I didn’t quite know but I’ve admired and respected! Hearing their stories of the road, their struggles, and their highlights from their time in the group made for some wonderful conversation and helped create a more “family” connection with all us “oldies!” The best, however, was walking back into a Veterans Home, years later, as a married woman, with two little boys at home, and experiencing the true miracle, once again, whenever Re-Creation enters a Veterans facility…the smiles, the hugs, the “Thank You’s,” and yes, even the tears! Loving people for who they are and thanking them for their sacrifice and selflessness! What a gift…what a blessing…what an honor! In those few short hours we’re together in the VAs, ALL of us…we are one people, with a sincere love and respect for each other and our beautiful country!
THE SINGING COLONELS
Mr. Brooks gathered his college quartet to sing on seven, yes, seven tours through Veterans Homes and Hospitals. The quartet was formed at Eastern Kentucky State University in 1951. The Singing Colonels were a smash hit in all the facilities. The Veterans enjoyed the music, comedy and camaraderie. The vintage singers were Bill Vendl (Class of 1953), Hugh Brooks (Class of 1954), Dave Caylor (class of 1955),and Jim Winn (Class of 1955) and Jess Reed (Class of 1954) who provided technical assistance during the college years. Vendl, Caylor, Winn, Chilton, and Reed were veterans with a combined 65 years of military service. Brooks worked with hospitalized veterans for more than 30 years.These four men delighted the veterans with their renditions of great American music-themed “Moments To Remember”-and presented a variety of styles. Moreover,”The Singing Colonels”will honored our veterans and troops with historical presentations highlighting key points from America’s various endeavors.The veterans loved this unique program. The age of the performers, their service to America in almost every branch of service, and their genuine love for America and her heroes encouraged and uplifted the residents, staff and visitors. Mr. Brooks designed the show, Mrs. Brooks helped on sound when RC Alums Billy Habecker and Sarah Daugherty were not able to tour.
Katie Brooks and John Wilson joined the tour as special guests, and eventually full-time performers! What a wonderful family affair as Katie traveled with her mom and dad, and the spouses of the Colonels joined in on tours!
