Choir exploded with popularity

Twenty-five years ago this week, a local musical group was catching fire.

The May 22, 1998, edition of The Commercial Review featured a story about the Jay-Randolph Developmental Services Signing Choir.

The group had become a hit, performing in area churches and schools, and at community events. It was scheduled to perform that evening as part of the Jay County High School swing choir’s spring concert.

“We had four performances last week,” said director Jean Hunley. “That’s too much. We gotta slow down.”

Hunley, a Winchester resident, had worked with deaf students at Deerfield Elementary School for 15 years before being sought out to lead the JRDS group. It started with teaching how to sign music, and the signing choir followed. Soon it had grown to 16 members.

“We sign to the music of Ray Boltz,” said Hunley, noting that some of the choir’s members were deaf while others had mild or moderate mental handicaps. “They can enjoy music and feel they can give something back (to the community) through their participation.”

During that evening’s performance, the JRDS and JCHS choirs were set to perform the song “Because You Love Us” together.

“This is the first time we’ve ever performed with another group,” Hunley said.