ANOTHER DIRECTOR OF INFLUENCE

Russell Newport is a friend of mine. I grew up in his choir at First Baptist Church in Springfield, MO. About a year before I joined the choir, he assumed the position of director. The choir at that time was both small and ineffective. Russell accepted the position as choir director temporarily for fourteen years. A basic policy he introduced was if you didn't come to choir practice, you didn't sing. When I missed practice or a Sunday service, I would go a long way out of my way to keep from seeing Russell. Harmon Chapman was a member of the choir and was also an artist for his high school newspaper. Each practice, Harmon would draw a cartoon and circulate it among members of the choir. We were practicing to present a concert of "The Elijah," by Felix Mendleson. One of the cartoons Harmon drew was of a little bearded man standing next to Russell with a caption of Russell speaking to the bearded man. It read: "I don't care if your name is Felix Mendelson, you haven't been to choir practice and you can't sing with us." Another cartoon pictured Russell with a machine gun in his hand saying: "Sing Altos! Sing!" I remember a practice when we were rehearsing an anthem and Russell stopped the choir and said: "It's Naaaked ladies, not Neked."

Russell has a Bachelor's degree from William Jewell and a Master's in business from Harvard. For several years he owned several dime stores in Southwest Missouri. My friend Bob Speake once said that if you wanted a full days work, all you had to do was follow Russell.

Russell was a great positive influence on so many young people at FBC. He gave voice lessons to members of his choir without remuneration. My friend Jerry McMahon became very interested in Christian music and singing because of Russell, a believer who generously gave of his time to so many different people and causes.


What I haven't told you is what a great singer he is. Russell always said that if you sang properly, you could be a good singer all your life. Now in his middle 80's, Russell is still a great tenor. I mean great tenor. He could have been a star with the Metropolitan Opera in New York if had chosen to accept their offer. He studied voice at the New England Conservatory and also in Los Angeles and San Francisco. He has been tenor soloist with symphony orchestras and oratorio societies around the world. He appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and as soloist on ABC and CBS religious presentations.

Most of all, Russell loves the Lord Jesus. Rather than embarking on the singing road in the secular world, he chose to serve Christ with his marvelous vocal instrument. No one, I mean No one can sing "The Holy City" like Russell. I will ever be greatful for his influence on me.