Choir tunes up at Madison Heights KFC

By Taylor Trammell

Madison Heights— Customers at the KFC on 12 Mile got a serenade
along with their chicken Sunday to promote the company’s “10 Buck
Sunday Buckets.”

Members of the Duke Ellington Conservatory of Music & Art
Choir were selected for the performance after receiving a $1,000
KFC grant to aid financially struggling choirs.

The chain earlier this year issued an open letter to choral
organizations across the country, asking them to describe how they
could make beautiful music in a KFC near them.

More than 140 choirs submitted nominations, and Duke Ellington
was one of 11 selected.

“We told them we needed (the grant) for uniforms, purchasing
music, and supplies to take the children on the road to sing,” said
the choir’s music teacher, Iris Hankins.

“We told them about our accomplishments and we sent them a sound
bite.”

Steve Brown, 51, of Madison Heights was eating lunch Sunday with
his 14-year-old son, Tyler.

Brown said he didn’t expect the choir but enjoyed the
performance.

“They sound good,” said Brown, who told his wife “we are at a
concert,” when she called him on his cellphone.

“I like this type of live music.”

Detroiters Jeffrey Golden, 43, his wife, Lisa, 40, and their
godson, Dillion Steele, sat in the audience and watched their son,
Jeffrey Golden II, perform a solo of the song “Hush, Someone’s
Calling My Name.”