The Buckthorns
are a cut above
STAFF WRITER
With his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, Sandy Turner, founding member of amateur singing group The Buckthorns, said the group has strong roots in the local community.
Now, they're branching out.
The group of 13 local residents recently recorded an album, whose profits will benefit local charities.
"We sing songs that make people say, 'I love that song' or 'I remember that' or 'I have good feelings about that,'" said Louise Ries, a founding member and former director of The Buckthorns. "We've always gotten a great response. It's like we're the hometown group, and people are very protective of us in that way. We're the band.
"The Buckthorns will release their first compact disc, entitled "Branching Out," at a cocktail reception 7 p.m. Friday at Harrison Manor House. The group will perform twice before the party ends at 10 p.m.Admission is $25 per person or $30 per couple. All attendants will receive The Buckthorns' 14-track CD.Ries, Turner and a small group of musically inclined friends established The Buckthorns eight years ago. To raise money for the Lake Forest Open Lands Association, they produced a list of eight singers who performed at parties. Rather than charge a fee to perform, The Buckthorns asked their hosts to donate $100 to the Open Lands Association.
"We had fun doing it," Turner said. "And every place we sang, we'd make up a song for the host.
"Over time, The Buckthorns recruited more members and were invited to perform at new places. They performed all styles of music: rock 'n' roll, oldies, folk, country, gospel, doo-wop, a capella, religious choral and holiday arrangements, with accompaniment from a guitar player, keyboardist and percussionist.
The group's name -- an undesirable weed that crops up in various locations and is difficult to remove -- reflects both its origins with the Open Lands Association and the humor with which members approach their work.
"Since the beginning, we've never really taken ourselves too seriously," Ries said. "But now, there's something to take seriously.
"The Buckthorns have grown to 13 members and put on nearly 20 performances each year. Since the group's conception, it has raised more than $50,000 for charity.
"At first, a lot of the money went to Open Lands because many of our group members were also members of Open Lands or on their Board," Ries said. "Over time, we've just told people that all the money goes to charity, and people who have us perform in their homes choose charities that are close to their hearts.
"Recipients have ranged from the Infant Welfare Society to a local effort to restore family photos after a local house fire.
Profits from the new album will similarly benefit various charities. Turner said the recording process was both exciting and humbling.
"Most of us have never been in the studio before," he said. "To be in there, and have the headphones on, and to sing, and then hear it played right back was a little intimidating.
"Music and performance is exciting, but group members are careful not to take too much time away from their families. One working retreat took The Buckthorns and their families to Michigan, where vacationers hiked during the day and sang at night.
"All the money we raise is really gratifying, and frankly, that's what keeps us together," Turner said. "But we all love to sing, and the camaraderie is great. One member always says that it's cheaper than therapy."
Copyright (C) 2003 Pioneer Press