From Larry King’s amusing story of his role in an adolescent prank at his Brooklyn, N.Y., junior high school to heartfelt remarks from Tippi Hedren and S. Epatha Merkerson, the 400-plus guests heard well-traveled celebrities express appreciation for the UMES tribute in recognition of their contributions to American culture.
But there was a moment singer Marilyn McCoo graciously described as being “serenaded” that especially touched her and her husband, Billy Davis Jr. Only a handful of people in the audience knew what she meant.
After a low-key ceremony to award honorary degrees before Saturday’s banquet, the quintet slipped backstage to change out of their academic robes in preparation for a night of fine dining and dancing. In an adjoining hallway, wearing fluorescent-colored attire and headbands, students from UMES’ Gospel Choir began singing “Stoned Soul Picnic” a capella.
“And from the sky, come the Lord and lightning.
Stoned soul, stoned soul
Surry on soul”
McCoo and Davis helped make that song a pop music hit in 1968 as members of the 5th Dimension. The couple came to the changing room’s door to investigate the commotion.
They immediately stepped into the hallway, looked at one another and smiled as the students put their generational stamp on the song. The other celebrities quickly joined McCoo and Davis, and they clapped gently in rhythm, swaying back and forth.
The students circled back to the song’s first verse for an encore. McCoo and Davis walked over to the students, joining them shoulder-to-shoulder.
It was difficult to determine who was having more fun, the students or McCoo or Davis — or the dozen or so folks jammed into that hallway witnessing the performance.
“We were definitely surprised,” Davis said. “We loved it.”
“It was so sweet,” McCoo added. “We were honored and it made us want to get in there and pitch in.”
It was an indelible snapshot from a special evening that will live on for the lucky choir members who sang alongside two legendary performers.
Perhaps the happiest person in that cramped hallway was Della Dameron-Johnson, the choir’s long-time adviser.
“It was special, wasn’t it?” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
