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Area Men Invited to Participate in 43rd Annual Caroling Tour of Local Retirement Homes on Thursday, Dec. 20

By Paul T. Choate 

Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living is among the stops carolers will make during the 43rd annual caroling tour.
Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living is among the stops carolers will make during the 43rd annual caroling tour.

Dec. 19, 2012. Men in the Boone area who can carry a tune are invited to participate in the 43rd annual tour of local retirement homes to sing four-part harmony Christmas carols on Thursday, Dec. 20. 

“We’ve always thought the people that get involved have a little bit of musical skill and this is a way they can use it in a good way,” said Roland Moy, tour organizer. “It’s a chance for them to exercise their chops a little bit.”

The caroling tour was started during the holiday season of 1970 by Bill Mears and Moy was one of the original members of the group. When Mears passed away in 1983, Moy took over as the organizer of the tour. 

A retired political science professor at ASU, Moy said there were a few men in addition to himself who had gone on all or most of the tours since 1970 and said most of them were retired from ASU as he is. He mentioned Charles Isley, Dick Rupp, Mike Perry and former ASU provost Harvey Durham as regulars who go on the caroling tour. 

For those interested in participating, the group will meet at 5 p.m. on Thursday in the lobby of the Broyhill Music Center at Appalachian State University. There about a 30 minute practice session will be held, after which the group will begin the tour of local area retirement homes.

The group will visit places such as Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living, Appalachian/Brian Estates and possibly Glenbridge Health and Rehabilitation and Watauga Medical Center. Moy said the group will also sometimes go to individuals’ homes that have lost their mobility.

Moy said he anticipates anywhere from six to 15 people to turn out for the event, adding that the tour usually averages about 10 to 12 carolers. 

The tour is expected to conclude around 7 p.m. At the end of the tour, the group plans to go to the Ruby Tuesday on Blowing Rock Road for refreshments.

Anyone interested in more information about the tour should contact Moy at 828-264-8811.