TravelGal
07-09-09, 12:18 PM
Last week the world lost Harve Presnell. He may not be a household name but he and Marilyn Horne were key figures at the beginning of choral music here in LA. He starred in The Unsinkable Molly Brown and Annie (what a great Daddy Warbucks!). He was one of the brothers in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. On stage he played Johnnie Brown opposite Tammy Grimes' Molly Brown. On screen, he was the domineering father-in-law to William Macy's sheepish kidnapper in Fargo. He sang "They Call the Wind Mariah" in Paint Your Wagon. He did the voice over for the trailer on Saving Private Ryan. On TV he was best known as the indescribable Daddy Parker on the The Pretender for five seasons.
I saw notice of his passing in a snippet on the front page of one of the USA Today sections. I was glad he got that mention. A few years ago I spoke briefly with him and his charming wife after a concert with the LA Master Choral. It was an evening of tribute to him and the founders of the LA music scene. He, Marilyn Horne and several others chose to perform. He still had his pipes. More to the point, he was one of the most charming, polite, self-effacing individuals I have ever met. It was a wonderful evening. I will miss him. I wanted to write this tribute because so many less deserving people have gotten so many more words recently.
I saw notice of his passing in a snippet on the front page of one of the USA Today sections. I was glad he got that mention. A few years ago I spoke briefly with him and his charming wife after a concert with the LA Master Choral. It was an evening of tribute to him and the founders of the LA music scene. He, Marilyn Horne and several others chose to perform. He still had his pipes. More to the point, he was one of the most charming, polite, self-effacing individuals I have ever met. It was a wonderful evening. I will miss him. I wanted to write this tribute because so many less deserving people have gotten so many more words recently.