~ The Advocate Asks ~

Howie Conley recalls how what began “as a joke” evolved into the popular local singing group the Memorylaners

 

  Editor’s Note: For this week’s column, we sat down with Howie Conley, the Saugus resident behind the popular local musical group the Memorylaners, which performs oldies from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Howie is an 82-year-old Winthrop native who graduated in 1960 from Winthrop High School. He met his future wife, the former Helen E. Dineen, a 1962 Saugus High School graduate, at the old Sears, Roebuck & Co. store at the mall in Saugus when it first opened in September of 1960. They got married in April of 1964 and will celebrate their 61st wedding anniversary this year. Howie worked for 37 years at American Airlines at Boston Logan International Airport as a crew chief on the ramp. Helen, who goes by the nickname of “Cookie,” was a teacher for 34 years at the Saugus YMCA. The Conleys have two daughters – both Saugus High graduates who went into the teaching profession. Candace Conley, from the Saugus High Class of 1983, teaches for Revere Public Schools. Her sister, Kelli Martin, who graduated from Saugus High in 1989, teaches in Houston, Tex., and has two children. The Conleys recently became great-grandparents.

  Howie was a standout athlete at Winthrop High, starring in basketball and baseball – sports that got him inducted into the school’s sports Hall of Fame. He considers hockey his best sport. But there was no hockey team when he attended Winthrop High. He continues to serve as a member of the school’s Hall of Fame Committee. Howie considers himself “a Saugus guy,” but said he plans to be buried in a Winthrop High hockey jersey. He played for years in hockey senior leagues at Hockeytown USA and Kasabuski Rink in Saugus. A small group of hockey buddies he hung out with decided to dabble in oldies music when they were in their 60s, and the rest is local entertainment history. The group was originally called the Seniortones. His hockey buddies lasted several years and were replaced by others over the years. About eight years ago, the group changed its name to the Memorylaners. Highlights of this week’s interview follow.

 

Q: How did the Memorylaners originate?

A: It all started with a small group of guys in their 60s who loved to play hockey in Saugus. Singing in the shower – that’s how it started – it was a total joke. We were singing in the shower, and I said, “Let’s start a group.” And they all laughed at me and one of them said to me, “You serious?”

And I said, “Why not? Let’s go to some nursing homes. We’ll wear black shirts and old fedora hats and put on any tie you want.”

We did it. It worked! We started singing in the nursing homes. After a few years, the hockey guys gave it up. But I didn’t want to drop out and I got serious about it. As guys dropped out, I decided to upgrade the whole thing. I decided to get some real good singers. We originally called ourselves the Seniortones.

Q: What were the songs you sang in the shower with your senior hockey buddies?

A: “In the Still of the Night,” “Earth Angel,” “Come Go With Me,” Silhouettes” … all of the oldies. I love those old songs.

Q: What’s the deal with the way you and the members of your group dress up – with the hats and sunglasses?

A: That all came about from the middle 90s, when I was watching the oldies on PBS. I saw the Planotones. They were singing a song called “Looking for an Echo.” And they all had fedora hats and sunglasses. That’s what got to me. Today, I have red, white and black fedora hats.

Q: Howie, what is the most interesting thing you can tell me about the Memorylaners?

A: The most interesting thing is they all love to sing the oldies. It’s not about money. Whatever they’re doing, if I call them up and say, “I got a quick show tonight,” they stop what they’re doing because they want to come and sing. We get together and we do it.

As far as money, everything is split equally. I don’t take anything off the top and I’ve never had any problem for 25 years with all of the groups that I’ve had. We’ve always stayed together. Nobody’s heard of a group like ours staying together as long as we have.

Q: Please tell me about the group’s routine?

A: I run the whole group. We practice once a year, maybe for about an hour. Last year we had 36 events – three a month. We do all of the senior centers on the North Shore – twice a year at the Saugus Senior Center. We do two shows a year at Prince Restaurant – one in August and one in December. We do the Iron Works in Saugus. We’ve never done a wedding yet. I can understand why. We only do oldies from the 50s, 60s and 70s. That’s what we specialize in. And we don’t do Irish music. We’ve played at the Topsfield Fair three times and we played at the Fryeburg Fair in Maine twice. When we had our hockey guys, we performed down at World Series Park for the Special Olympics.

Q: How long have you been doing it?

A: About 25 years with the groups I’ve had. The Memorylaners has been around for about eight years. This group I’m with now is the best and we do very well.

Q: Please give me a rundown on these people.

A: In 2005, we had John Clement, Frank Hederson… he passed away a few years ago … and Trish McLaughlin. She moved to Vegas three years ago. Our current group consists of Ann Lamphere, John Clement, Mike Kastelnelis and myself. Our fill-ins are Debbie Callighan and Robin Healey.

John runs an environmental company. Mike is a retired American Airlines pilot. And Ann runs one of the biggest Karaoke companies in the whole state. She’s got about four or five groups out every Friday and Saturday night. John is 75. Ann and Mike are in their early 60s.

Q: What’s the most popular song for the Memorylaners?

A: We close with what should be our National Anthem – “God Bless The USA.” We close every show with that song.

Q: How long have you been doing that (closing)?

A: Oh, 20 years.

Q: And what’s your favorite of all of the songs?

A: My favorite oldie song – my wife and I – is “Over the Mountain” by Johnnie & Joe. “What a Wonderful World” is one of my favorite songs. But my favorite oldie song was back in ’57 by Johnnie & Joe…”Over the Mountain.”

Q: But the song that has gotten you and your group a lot of attention is “What a Wonderful World”?

A: That definitely ignited everything. As a matter of fact, when our senior hockey players played the old-time Bruins in Saugus, after the National Anthem, they had me do “What a Wonderful World” at center ice. And they were shocked. The Bruins were shocked.

Q: How long ago was that?

A: Oh, it was probably 10 to 12 years ago.

Q: What’s the greatest notoriety or compliment you’ve gotten for this group.

A: I’ve never heard one bad remark after a show – always positives.

Q: What about down in New Orleans, when you sang Louie Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World”?

A: In 2000, I was still working for American Airlines. I was sent down by American Airlines and Massport to the Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans. I was on two television stations that night while singing “It’s a Wonderful World” in the foyer of the airport. I met Louie Armstrong’s original bass player, who was 100, on the day I went. He looked at me and said, “That was pretty good, kid.”

He says, “Satchmo did it well, but you’re right behind him.” That was probably the biggest thrill I had.

Q: And recently, you’re trying to get an appearance on what national television program?

A: “America’s Got Talent.” AGT. My daughter sent in a video with me doing “What a Wonderful World,” and they responded back, saying they received it and if they want me to come out, I’ll hear from them.

Q: When did they say you’ll be contacted?

A: Late February. If they contact me, that’s fine. If not, it’s no big deal. But personally, I think there’s a chance. On AGT, they’ve got fantastic singers. But they also have different people who do something unique that they know is not going to win. But they want them on the show for all kinds of reasons. And I think that’s where I might fall in – not as a possible winner, but as a possible gig at the show that would go over at the show.

Q: Do you do Karaoke?

A: No. I did at one time. When my daughter got married 24 years ago, I practiced a song – “Texas Tornado” – and I took all of the lyrics and changed them to her and her husband. And it went over really, really well. And that was my debut. I won a Karaoke contest when I was 50 at a place on Route 99 in Malden.

Q: Whether you are inside at the Senior Center or outside at the Iron Works, do you encourage the folks to sing along?

A: We tell them if they have any requests, let us know and we’ll do them. And if anybody thinks they can come up and do a song with us, I tell them to let me know and come up. They’re not hard songs to do. They are two and a half to three minutes.

Q: The Memorylaners. Tell me the origin of that name.

A: Well, somebody else locally had it. He was giving it up. I didn’t like the “Seniortones.” I went to him and I asked permission. I told him, “If you’re going to give it up, I’d like to take that name, if you don’t mind.”

He says, “No problem.” And I took it and ran with it. It’s a good name.

Q: So, was the name registered? Or was it a matter of “a gentleman’s agreement” to get the name?

A: A gentleman’s agreement. If you go online, you will probably find a few Memorylaners across the country. In fact, I would guarantee you’d find another group with the same name. Maybe in Wisconsin, or Iowa – who knows.

Q: What’s the best thing that’s happened to you because of this experience?

A: It’s kept me busy – real busy. I do it all from my computer here, setting it up. I write up the playlist and put it on paper and take a picture and send it out to everybody. Is everybody in agreement? If not, what are the changes? Then I get on the computer and do the hard copy. And it’s a done deal. It keeps me busy and it’s something that I enjoy. I’m not a lead singer. But there are certain songs that I can do that I don’t have to go too low or too high.

Q: As far as your equipment, what does it entail?

A: Speakers, speaker stands, microphones. We got four really good mikes.

Q: What’s your favorite group or band?

A: My favorite singer is Johnny Mathis and my favorite group is the Bee Gees. They were tremendous. And I just can’t believe that the lead singer (Barry Gibb) doesn’t come back and continue. Because his two brothers died, he refuses to sing anymore. It’s too bad because he would do well.

Q: What was your favorite Bee Gees song?

A: “To Love Somebody.”

Q: How long do you plan to continue performing with the Memorylaners?

A: Until I pass. I gave up hockey two years ago. I play golf and can still shoot in the 70s. I turned 82 on New Year’s Eve and I still feel pretty good.