1977

Our class seems blessed with talented musicians. I recently received an enthusiastic review of Carol Akerson's first recording, The Piano Love Song. The CD features Carol's vocals accompanied by Bob Winter, pianist for the Boston Pops Orchestra. Selections include works by Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Charles Aznavour, Rogers and Hammerstein, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and one original tune that Carol wrote. Carol has been singing professionally for more than ten years, performing with a variety of accompanists, ensembles, and big bands throughout New England. She taught vocal music at Wheelock College for eight years and earned a master's degree in management with special studies in arts administration from Lesley College. Carol's CD was produced by Seaside Cabaret and promoted by Seaside Recordings. Earlier this year Brad Brinegar was named as chief executive officer of the new Chicago office of Ammirati Puns Lintas, an international marketing network. After 18 years at Leo Burnett Co. working with blue chip clients such as Kraft General Foods, Glad Household Plastics, and Kellogg, Brad was selected in a national search to establish APL's first U.S. office outside of New York. "I look at it as a dream opportunity," says Brad. "It's not often you get a chance to build an agency from the ground floor up." Brad, his wife, Michelle, and their two sons live in Lake Forest, Ill.

Mike Mosher completed his digital cartoon murals for the Grant Building on Market Street in San Francisco and is now in Memphis, taking on another challenge in visual iconography evaluating Elvis Presley in the broader spectrum of American popular culture. Mike was one of many artists and popular culture scholars participating in the Fourth Annual Elvis Conference in August. The conference is sponsored by the Institute for the Living South, founded by Vernon Chadwick '75. Mike says, "I'm quite interested in how Vernon manages to gather academics from around the country and world—to discuss serious cultural issues germane to the South and the nation by beginning with Presley." He sent along this description of his presentation: "Guitar Army Brat & Three-Chord Murals. Artist Mike Mosher explores garage band metaphors and community art processes in collaborative history projects with meaningful rock 'n' roll motifs for walls, performance, and cyberspace. Includes the developement of Transistor Elvis,' a new artwork at/for the conference."

Mike also teaches in the University of San Francisco's Professional Studies Program.

The column is a little lean this month, since after a three-month hiatus, a large percentage of your e-mail addresses have gone stale. Cybercommunication has its amusing moments, such as when my most recent class solicitation escaped and found its way to the members of a committee drafting securities legislation in Kentucky. Apart from several claims for honorary degrees, one response was in the appropriate spirit:

"Thanks for your message, but I don't think your classmates would be interested in my latest news, given that I'm a William & Mary '82 grad. Though we did play Dartmouth in football, William & Mary's tribe was noted for its perfect season my senior year (0-13). While this observation may evoke a few pleasant memories at Dartmouth, the institutional comparison probably dies there. (W&M was, however, nationally ranked in lacrosse which I didn't play and never watched.) I've closed up my private law practice and am serving as interim general counsel for a long-time client. So far it feels like a vacation compared with private practice, but I'm contemplating my next move. Personal challenge, balanced lifestyle...blah, blah, blah. The total nineties thing. Maybe I should write a book, huh?"

14102 Beckley Trace, Louisville, KY 40245;

Mike Mosher completed his digital cartoon murals for the Grant Building in San Francisco and is now in Memphis working on a piece about Elvis. Alan MacDonald '77