1977 Madrigals and Choir

As we have reported from year to year since 1974: In 1969, George Murphy took over a very successful LOHS Music Department from Dick Throgmorton. Besides continuing the success, Mr Murphy expanded the program with specialty groups. One of those specialty group were called the Madrigals. Madrigals are defined as "a secular vocal music composition of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras, traditionally unaccompanied." George Murphy's Madrigals were about twice the size of classic Madrigal groups, but Lone Oak was a big school-with a lot of talent.

In addition to various concerts, trips and events in which the Madrigals performed, in 1974 a Christmas Dinner was held in truly in a Renaissance manner. That event became an annual affair for which we have photos for the 1976-77 edition. The Paducah Sun article on this page present one of the best explanations we found, another is the November 22, 1974 Oak-K on Page 3.

During our research for the alumni archival project one of the LOHS janitors gave us a scrap book photo album... or more specifically what was left of a scrap book initially "done by Tammy Stonecipher ('81), Aug 13, 1979." The book was reportedly found in the music department when the school was renovated in 1996, the same year Mr Murphy retired. It was placed in storage along with other records to be found over a decade and a half later.

The Madrigals were apparently discontinued in 1986 and replaced by a new speciality musical group; The Swing Choir. This page, and pages for previous and subsequent years, presents the photos and other items found in that Madrigals scrap book. We hope you find them enjoyable.