DISQUS

Hey Grady! I somehow ran across your writing and was intrigued. I, too, was at ORU during this time (graduate, 1974). In fact, I sang on many of the TV shows and specials in the 70's. I was very close to Richard and Patti and spent a lot of time at their home. We were a very close knit group and I remember going on vacation with them to Palm Springs one summer. We rented a home on a golf course for two weeks.

I especially loved being with Patti. She was real. She knew what her job was and she enjoyed it. She also realized at some point that it was not going to last. Unfortunately she had a better voice than Richard and Oral hated the idea that someone else might steal the spotlight from his son. I also hate the fact that so much negative stuff was created about her. She had a halarious sense of humor and I'll never forget the years I spent singing with her.

Richard changed sometime after I graduated. I'm not sure if he "found the light" or just realized that he could end up taking the reins of the whole organization and it changed him. I only saw Richard once after I left the organization and moved away. He was stand offish and arrogant. We've never spoken since. I did get a chance to email back and forth with Patti a few years ago. She's still funny and GREAT!