In 1975 Street Corner Symphony released its first single "Earth Angel" (B-side: I'm Not Ready (To Let You Go)) on Bang Records (B-719). The single was followed by the groups album "Harmony Grits", released also on Ban Records (BLP-406) in 1976. The album was produced by Jerry Love and Michael Zager.
In 1976 Street Corner Symphony released its hit album "Little Funk Machine" on ABC records. The album was produced by none other than Willie Hutch.
Essentially a vocal quintet, three of its members, (Jesse Harris, Milton Hayes and Lawrence Miller) had started out in Los Angeles group The Marvellos (aka The Sons Of Watts) during the sixties. Lead singer Morris Chestnut, formerly of the Attractions, The Sound-Masters and The Vows, recorded solo both under his own name and that of James Washington Lee.
The second, soon to be disbanded, Street Corner Symphony was founded as a birthday present for Mark on May 28, 2010. It began with six talented fellows–Jeremy & Richie Lister, Jon & Mark McLemore, Ben Dixon, and Sean Saunders–who had worked together, but not as a single group. In fact, Ben and Sean met Jeremy and Richie the day before SCS’s first gig.
Three weeks later, the group broke up. Citing reasons of some sort, Ben and Sean left void the high and low ends of Street Corner Symphony’s frequency spectrum. Within days, however, Mark had contacted two friends in his extensive network of talented people and restored balance. Welcome, John Martin and Adam Chance. Street Corner Symphony commenced the dominating.
The members of Street Corner Symphony are from all over the Southeast US and are proud to call Nashville TN their home base. The group was formed in May of 2010 for the sole purpose of winning the Sing Off. SCS brings a unique laid back southern soul to the competition, demonstrating notable influences from artists like Take 6 and Alison Krauss. While SCS offers a diverse repertoire, the group has a rich heritage in gospel music. Two of the members are grandsons of the legendary southern gospel tenor Bill Shaw of “The Blackwood Brothers.” In addition, five of the six members were preacher’s kids and grew up singing and learning music in church. SCS is made up of two sets of brothers and two other unrelated guys, and each brings a unique background and character to the group. One member is a pilot, one is a major label recording artist, one is an operatic baritone, one is a dichromat, one has indeed met Chuck D., and one has a serious phobia of fruit. When not singing together, the group is actually still just trying to get acquainted!
Adam Chance was born on the Florida Panhandle and grew up in southern Alabama just north of the beautiful, once oil-free, Gulf Coast beaches. His childhood home was two miles down a dirt road and he spent many summer days fishing in the Gulf. He is the only member of Street Corner Symphony that is not a minister’s son. He learned to sing in the shower, learned music theory in marching band and plays a number of instruments. He once met Chuck D. Adam studied journalism and music at the University of Alabama and is also a songwriter. He enjoys watching american and association football, wearing vests and ties, and would prefer not to die by sword or gunshot. Although he sings bass in the group, he is afraid of spiders.
John Martin is the high tenor for SCS, a native of Marianna FL and is probably shorter than you. His dad was a chaplain in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degrees in Religion and Music in 2009 from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL. John is honored to have been selected as a winner of the state National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and Music Teachers’ National Association (MTNA) auditions for Alabama, as well as to have been chosen as a two-time finalist in auditions for the world renowned Chanticleer. John is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in voice performance at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He enjoys cooking beef and once made a cheese soufflé just to prove he could. His favorite movies are the original Star Wars trilology, and his favorite actor is William H. Macy. He is red-green color blind and has a fear of upside down traffic lights.
Mark McLemore (The Plethora) was born in Alabama to a banjo pickin’ preacher and is Jon’s younger brother. He recently earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in piano performance from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL. He received two Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARA) in 2008 for his work on the McLemore Brothers record ‘Sunday Drive.’ He is the group’s resident operatic baritone and he can read music faster than he can read text. His wife, Meredith, is an archivist for the state of Alabama, and taught Mark the importance of making the bed. He also helps out with the vocal percussion duties from time to time. Mark enjoys baking bread and making puns. He once rode a motorcycle from Alabama to California and back in 8 days, danced in the Nutcracker, and engineered his own ping-pong paddle. His favorite actors are Sean Connery and Christopher Walken. He still plays with his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from time to time; his favorite is Raphael. He is afraid of poor intonation.
Richie Lister grew up the son of a minister in Mississippi. Although he primarily sings baritone, Richie has a tremendous range and can sometimes be heard singing the highest part. He moved to Nashville 7 years ago and is Jeremy’s older brother. He learned to sing from his parents and from church music and could match pitch with his dad at age 2. He is the grandson of renowned southern gospel tenor Bill Shaw of “The Blackwood Brothers”. Richie is a keyboardist and songwriter and has spent the last 15 years playing in various rock bands, most notably for Jeremy’s solo career. He majored in Music Composition at Mississippi College and has a dream of one day composing music for film. Richie is often told that he has an uncanny resemblance to John Lennon. He is afraid of fruit.
Jeremy Lister began singing and learning harmonies in church at the age of two. When his dad wasn’t looking, Jeremy would sneak into his guitar case and start picking out chords. He grew up collaborating and writing songs with his older brother Richie. At ages twelve and thirteen, he traveled through Europe with his parents. The trip changed his perspective on life and music, and upon returning to the States, he began exploring different musical outlets, ranging from an a cappella quartet to a progressive rock band. Setting out on his own in 2003, Jeremy moved to Nashville bringing his first EP “Shooting Star” with him. Here he began playing writer’s nights and passing his CD along to anyone who would listen. In 2005, he released his second EP, “So Far,” and quickly gained the attention of Warner Bros. Records. The label put him in the studio, where he wrote and recorded songs during ’06. In the spring of ’07, Lister signed a record deal with WBR. His debut release, the “Just One Day” EP, was released digitally on November 20, 2007. More recently, Jeremy has toured with Brett Dennen and Colbie Caillat as well as selling out his own headlining shows in and around the Nashville area. He is currently working on songs for his full-length album to be released later this year. Jeremy sings tenor and lead for SCS, and has a fear of flying with Jon.
Jon McLemore (A Cappella Morpheus) was born in North Alabama and is Mark’s older brother. He began his lucrative career in a cappella at age 19 and over the following four years, performed in all 48 of the contiguous U.S. At age 23, while on tour in Montana with Four Shadow, he met and married Mandy after she was brought on stage to help the group sing ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight.’ Following marriage, Jon came off the road, got a real job and had five kids. He recently earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Ministry from Amridge University in Montgomery, AL. Jon has received numerous Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards (CARA) and nominations as a solo artist, as a member of Four Shadow, No Joe, and the McLemore Brothers. He sings tenor and lead for SCS and does vocal percussion for the group when needed. Jon is an instrument rated pilot and enjoys motorcycles, fishing, and family time. He is afraid of driving over a bridge, having it collapse under him, plummeting to the depths of a mighty river and being trapped in his vehicle until he drowns.
Auld Lang Syne
Street Corner Symphony Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear
We′ll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne
And surely you'll buy your pint cup
And surely I′ll buy mine
And we'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne
Auld lang syne, ooh
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We′ll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We′ll take a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne
The song "Auld Lang Syne" by Street Corner Symphony is a powerful ode to the remembrance of old times and old friendships. The lyrics explore the question of whether we should forget our old friends and acquaintances, and whether these old memories should stay in the past. The beginning of the song poses the question, "Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?" This line sets the tone for the rest of the song, asking the listener to consider the importance of remembering those who we have known in the past.
The chorus serves as a celebration of old times and the memories that have remained between friends. "For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne" is a call to remember the significance of past friendships and to embrace the kindness and love that exists between people who have shared a history. The lyrics remind us that while time and distance may create separation between us and those we used to know, the memories and emotions that we have shared with them are still very much alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Auld lang syne, ooh
Old long since, oh
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
If we forget old friendships
And never brought to mind?
And never remember them?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
If we forget old friendships
And auld lang syne?
And the memories of old times?
For auld lang syne, my dear
For the memories of old times, my dear
For auld lang syne
For the memories of old times
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
We will still share goodwill
For auld lang syne
For the memories of old times
And surely you'll buy your pint cup
And surely you will buy your own drink
And surely I'll buy mine
And surely I will buy mine
And we'll take a cup of kindness yet
And we will still share goodwill
For auld lang syne, my dear
For the memories of old times, my dear
For auld lang syne
For the memories of old times
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
We will still share goodwill
For auld lang syne, my dear
For the memories of old times, my dear
For auld lang syne
For the memories of old times
Writer(s): Traditional
Contributed by Zachary L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Simple Gunner
aw man i would have loved to see these guys do this on stage
Prayukta Pakhunthod
Very Cool Version of Auld Lang Syne....i hope they win this season of the sing off
Rinry
You guys make the most beautiful music..
OSUfirebird18
Simply amazing Street Corner Symphony! I have to admit you all weren't my intial favorites but your later performances made me love you guys!! =) Oh and BOO to the 2 people who disliked this!!!
Ilze Zasa
the sound is amazing!!!
KrustyBunny
I love the techno spin on this song. add in its all vocals (no instruments or help) from only 6 guys...... whether they win or not I'm looking for an album or something soon.
Prayukta Pakhunthod
well........all the finalists are very talented this year.they are already winners in my opinions ^-^
darkroselight
these guys will go far, even without having won.
viewtifulday
I think this sounds amazing
Pete Overton
This blew my mind!