- published: 18 Aug 2014
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The Virginians (also known as the Richmond Virginians) is a barbershop chorus located in Richmond, Virginia. Mike Wallen is currently its musical director, and has been serving in this capacity since 1998. It recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and is one of the oldest continuous singing groups in the Greater Richmond Area. Originally chartered in 1952 as the Tobaccoland Chorus, the chapter was renamed to the Virginians, in 1990.
The Virginians competed at the 2000 Barbershop Harmony Society International Competition, held at Kansas City, Missouri, numbering 100 on stage. That same year, it sponsored a major benefit performance (featuring the Richmond Symphony Orchestra) for the WRVA "Alden Aaroe Shoe Fund" at the Landmark Theater. The Virginians chorus was recently selected to participate at the seventh annual Russian Barbershop Music Festival with Greg Lyne, held in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The active members of the chorus draw primarily from the city of Richmond, Henrico, Hanover, Chesterfield and eastern Goochland counties. Some members come from as far away as Charlottesville and the Northern Neck, with a strong contingent from the Williamsburg area.
Robin McLaurin Williams (born July 21, 1951) is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork & Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 1997 film Good Will Hunting. He has also won two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globes, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and five Grammy Awards.
Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois. His mother, Laura McLaurin (née Smith, 1922–2001), was a former model from New Orleans, Louisiana. His father, Robert Fitzgerald Williams (September 10, 1906 – October 18, 1987), was a senior executive at Ford Motor Company in charge of the Midwest region. His maternal great-great-grandfather was senator and Mississippi governor Anselm J. McLaurin. Williams is of English, Welsh, Irish, and French ancestry. He was raised in the Episcopal Church (his mother practiced Christian Science). He grew up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where he was a student at the Detroit Country Day School, and later moved to Woodacre, Marin County, California, where he attended the public Redwood High School. Williams studied at Claremont McKenna College (then called Claremont Men's College) for four years. He has two half-brothers: Todd (who died August 14, 2007) and McLaurin.
Turning molehills into mountains
Making big deals out of small ones
Bearing gifts as if they're burdens
This is how it's been
Fear of coming out of my shell
Too many things I can't do too well
Afraid I'll try real hard and I'll fail
This is how it's been
'Til the day you pounded on my heart's door
And you shouted joyfully, "you're not a slave anymore"
You're free to dance (free to dance)
Forget about your two left feet
And you're free to sing (free to sing)
Even joyful noise is music to me
And free to love (free to love)
'Cause I've given you my love and it's made you free (free)
Free
My mind finds hard to believe
That you'd become humanity
And change the course of history
Because you loved me so
And my heart cannot understand
Why you'd accept me as I am
But you say you've always had a plan
And that's all I need to know
So, when I am consumed by what the world will say
It's then you're singing to me as you remove my chains
You're free to dance (free to dance)
Forget about your two left feet
And you're free to sing (free to sing)
Even joyful noise is music to me
And free to love (free to love)
'Cause I've given you my love and it's made you free
Oh, free from worry, free from envy and denial
Free to live, free to give, free to smile
And you're free to dance
Forget about your two left feet
And you're free to sing
Even joyful noise is music to me
And you're free to love
'Cause I've given you my love and it's made you free
I've given you my love and it's made you free