Johnson C Smith University - Golden Bull Yearbook (Charlotte, NC)

Page 24 text:

.••1 4 ' N The First Johnson C. Smith University Quintet Seated, left to right: Dr. S. Q. Mitchell, Dr. Thomas left to right: John O. Foster, Richard S. Allen, Di-. I Martinez. . Long, Director. Standing, W. Clayborn, Raymond A. At the turn of the century the church related schools began to sing to survive. The schools trained groups of singers to sing to the heart of America — from door steps, back and front ; from platforms of schools, churches, halls, and all along the sidewalks of life they sang to the hearts and consciences of the fortunate — singing to open wide the door to opportunity. During the school year 1907-1908, Riddle attempt- ed to strengthen its life-line through the medium of singing and Ur. Thomas A. Long, 1907-1947, or- ganized the first University Quintet consisting of S. Q. Mitchell, John 0. Foster, Richard S. Allen, D. V. Clayborn, and Raymond A. Montinez. The Quintet made its first significant appearance before the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. in 1909 on Young ' s Pier on the Boardwalk of Atlantic City, New Jersey. For more than thirty consecutive years following this initial appearance the Quintet sang for this august body.

Page 23 text:

On May 20, 1909 William Howard Taft delivered an address to the faculty and students of the Insti- tution. Prior to his arrival the secret service men inspected the platform and other equipment con- nected with his appearance. They found that the Institution did not have a chair large enough to hold the President. So the faculty pooled their money and bought a chair for the occasion. And down through the years it has been known as the President ' s Chair.

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University Quintet of 1911 From left to right, William Astor Morgan, has, since leaving his Alma Mater, become proficient if not famed in the area of music. On Friday evening, July 10, 1942, one of his compositions, Suite for Strings , was played by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of the rising young Negro conductor. Dean Dixon. The Saturday edition of the New York Times for that week observed, Mr. Mor- gan seems to have done a little of everything; play writing, acting, directing, law, playing the organ, leading a choir, singing, teaching. His suite is his Opus 54 and was written in 1941. Mr. T. B. Jones, fourth from the left, has, since leaving his Alma Mater, made distinguished con- tributions in education: Registrar at A. T. College, Greensboro, North Carolina ; President of Mary Al- len Junior College, Crockett, Texas ; President of Harbison College, Irmo, South Carolina ; and cur- rently full-time Professor at Bennedict College, Col- umbia, South Carolina. Each of the other men has made significant con- tributions in specified fields of interest.