Don Janse

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Don and Helen Janse at the Griswold Inn, April 17, 1998
Don and Helen Janse at the Griswold Inn, April 17, 1998

Don Janse (??-1999) was a famous vocal director and arranger from Old Lyme, Connecticut. He was best known for his work at the United States Coast Guard Academy, where he directed The Idlers from 1957 until his retirement in 1987. Over the years he entertained Presidents and Kings [1].

In later years he directed the Don Janse Chorale and wrote many original pieces for choir. His groups were recorded on the Pickwick [2] and Design [3] labels. The Don Janse Chorale also performed numerous tracks on the Singer (Sewing Machine) Company's first consumer record albumn - "Favorite Christmas Songs from Singer" (September 21, 1964).

I have a Christmas Album from The Singer Sewing Machine Company titled "A SINGER Christmas for the family" I received this album as a gift when it was released. The album is done by The Mastertone Orchestra (featuring The Don Janse Chorale) On the back of the album jacket is written that the album was Custom Produced for the Consumer Products Division of The SINGER Company and a Copyright year of 1963 (no month or day is mentioned) The Singer Company, New York, NY.

There are etchings on this album at the end of the tracks. on Side A: SINGER XMAS-A MONO # 3 9-63. On Side B the etchings are: SINGER XMAS - B MONO # 3 9-63

Don Janse died August 8, 1999. His wife Helen (Haskins) Janse (1921-2004), a long-time contributor and regular accompanist to Don's work, died April 28, 2004[4].

[edit] References

  1. ^ Robert Finan (April 2005). Don Janse and the Original Idlers - Fall 1957 (HTML). Retrieved on 2006-09-08.
  2. ^ Pickwick Discography See Listing: KX-2, KX-3, KX-5, KX-6, retrieved 2006-09-08
  3. ^ Design Discography See Listing: DLPX-13, retrieved 2006-8-28
  4. ^ Day Staff Writer (2004-04-30). Janse, Helen (HTML). Retrieved on 2006-09-09.