Love

I Fell In Love With An Alto

A tribute to a classic woman, a classic voice

The author’s wife, Shyla Kali Fields. Photo credit Derrick Curry.

I grew up singing in the choir. Two choirs to be exact.

My home church choir was Tabernacle Community Baptist Church where my little sister, Yvette, and I were a part of the youth choir.

Yvette and I were also members of a city-wide, traveling youth choir, Unity in the Community, that performed at church programs around the city.

Yvette was a soprano. I was a tenor.

But, I had a thing for altos.

At church, our high-spirited choir director, Ms. Bass, stood about 4'11 in height with a 7' foot high-pitched voice. I remember her voice — tinged with a rasp — and her loving smile, and her enthusiastic clap.

Choir directors will clap on you.

Our flamboyant community choir director, Rev. Saffold, was ambitious and passionate. He was well-known for his high-energy piano play and his juicy Jheri curl.

Juicy is the only way to describe his curl.

Screenshot of Eric LaSalle from the hit movie Coming To America

I loved sitting in choir practice and watching those choir directors dissect the sections…