Page 142 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland

Reason To Sing

The summer I was 16, the band set out for our first and
only big tour in the US. Our itinerary took us down the west
coast into Washington, Portland, California, Nevada, New
Mexico back up through Wyoming and home to Calgary. We
were chaperoned by our youth leaders (a husband-and-wife
team). The churches we sang in welcomed us warmly as we
hawked our “hot off the press” album. We were billeted with
different families every night and stayed in some hotels too. So
many unbelievable experiences including my first time visiting
an all-black church. I loved it! So many God-loving people and
boy did they know how to worship!
Las Vegas was another highlight. Although I had been
there as a kid (with my parents for a Charolais cattle sale), this
was much different. I was far more aware of the dazzling sights
and sounds.
While there I was lucky enough to meet both other
McGuire Sisters and ride in a stretch limo owned by Phyllis,
the youngest of the group. Although I didn’t get to visit her
mansion, her nephew, Rex (part of our group), did. He came
back brimming with exciting tales of the moat with black
swans, bullet-proof windows and electric shutters that closed
instantly with just one touch of a button. It was well known
that Phyllis was in a long-time relationship with Mafia leader
Sam Giancana and had one of the most expensive jewellery
collections in the world. I guess she had good reason to live
with top notch security.
The Williamsons were huge supporters of my talents, but
I had other musical mentors as well. My high school teachers
awarded me leading roles in two musicals and serious dramatic
parts too. But with school winding down, I had to seriously
think about my next steps. For all my singing and clowning
around, how was I going to become a professional entertainer?

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