Jim Nabors to miss Indy

[Big Oz]

I think Anton started playing the song right after WWII in 1946.

Not sure how it was done all those years in between

Yup, I guess I was way wrong. You learn something new everyday. I always thought Jim was the only one to sing it.

-This from the IMS website-

"Although there are reports that "Indiana," as the song was originally titled when published in 1917, was played by a trackside brass band as Hoosier driver Howdy Wilcox ran out his final laps on the way to winning the 1919 "500," it was not until 1946 that it was sung on race morning. James Melton, of the New York Metropolitan Opera Company, was a collector of classic cars, and was at one time president of the Antique Automobile Club of America. He supplied several of the vehicles which participated in a race-morning lap of classic automobiles around the track in 1946, and approximately 45 minutes before the start of the race, he sang "Indiana" with the Purdue University band over the public address system. It was so well received that he was invited back the following year, and in 1948, it was decided to "move it up" to its current slot in the order of the day, just prior to the firing of the engines. Among Melton's better-known successors have been Mel Tormé, Vic Damone, Dinah Shore, Ed Ames, Peter Marshall, Dennis Morgan and Johnny Desmond, with popular Jim Nabors having missed only a handful of years since 1972."

[pb]

I'd like to join the chorus of those who feel that the sing along is not an acceptable option. I'm glad I don't have to try to figure out who to line up, though.

[Fro]

They need to get Straight No Chaser to do it (and they should take over the tradition once Mr. Nabors is no longer able to perform).

[jp]

They need to get Straight No Chaser to do it (and they should take over the tradition once Mr. Nabors is no longer able to perform).

That's different...but not Steven Tyler different. I could live with it.

[AFColt]

I....would actually be fine with Straight No Chaser doing it. Is this a realistic option?

[Fro]

That's different...but not Steven Tyler different. I could live with it.

Yep, they all went to IU (and several members are from Indiana originally) so they know what the song means. I believe the IU Straight No Chaser group still sings that arrangement for the Little 500.

They'll treat the song with respect and they also have as much of a fanbase as any other "celebrity" they bring in.

[beej]

In the caverns of my mind, I think Robert Merrill of NY Opera fame sang Back Home Again one year at the 500....a

I still say a wonderful solo artisst or Straight no Chaser singing it acapella would be sensational

[Scuff]

Couldn't Here come The Mummies step up? They're gonna be in the neighborhod anyway. They could make it their own with" Back Home Again In Bandages".

[goldie19]

Well they won't get rid of the Purdue Band playing it, so I doubt "Chase" is an option.....maybe, great suggestion, but they'd have to drop the "music" they sing to open it

[cheeseczar]

Is Florence good for 2 songs?

[goldie19]

http://www.wthr.com/story/18032786/j...-after-surgery

Slow speeds, potentially no 33 car field, owners/drivers getting turned away, no Bump Day, no Jim Nabors

...what next, Bernard fired and replaced by TG?

Interesting tie down at the end....none of this stuff you seem to dislike happened under Tony George....seems that you would want him back!

[mdkiel]

First off, get well Jim. What a great friend to the 500.

Second off, I vote for someone with similar style to sing it or I could live with a recording on the video boards. Please no sing along. I'm taking my little girl for her first 500, I bummed she won't be able to hear

Third off, the is a tradtion that is tough as nails. None of the sky is falling stuff is going to make a dent in it! I can't wait to get there.

[Indy-hp]

First off, get well Jim. What a great friend to the 500.

Second off, I vote for someone with similar style to sing it . . . .

^This

[mdkiel]

They need to get Straight No Chaser to do it (and they should take over the tradition once Mr. Nabors is no longer able to perform).

Well that passed the "made me tear up" test so they would be a good choice.

[in_the_grey]

Wow, I know this may sound stupid, but this is one of the things I was looking forward to most for my first time to the Indy 500. This and the whole car count drama has really taken the wind out of my sails for this trip.

Well, the most important thing is that Jim makes a complete recovery and returns to sing at Indy next year. i am sure i will be back.

[fleshwound_NPG]

They need to get Straight No Chaser to do it (and they should take over the tradition once Mr. Nabors is no longer able to perform).

THIS.

Somebody contact IMS or the

[mdkiel]

Wow, I know this may sound stupid, but this is one of the things I was looking forward to most for my first time to the Indy 500. This and the whole car count drama has really taken the wind out of my sails for this trip.

Well, the most important thing is that Jim makes a complete recovery and returns to sing at Indy next year. i am sure i will be back.

Press on with your trip and don't worry about a thing. The 500 has survived worse than this. It doesn't beat seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time, but it's pretty doggone close. If you've never been to the track before I have no doubt you won't forget the experience.

[Tara]

Slow speeds, potentially no 33 car field, owners/drivers getting turned away, no Bump Day, no Jim Nabors
...what next, Bernard fired and replaced by TG?

Uhhh would it not be Randy who is resposible for the new car choice (i.e. slow speeds, potentially no 33, no bump day....not trying to blame anybody, but if someone is to be assigned blame, I certainly don't see how RB could be left out.

Oh, and best wishes for a speedy recovery to Jim Nabors!

[ElMaestro]

Let's start a campaign to get Mike Rowe (from Dirty Jobs) to sing it this year, and perhaps in the future when Jim Nabors can no longer make the trip from the Big Island to Indy.

[11rowsof3]

It is a huge bummer that Jim won't be here. I hope is recovers nicely and is able to join us again in Indy in 2013. We'll be thinking about Jim all month.

I am for trying out a new guy that can sub for Jim and takeover for him some day hopefully 5-15 years from now. KevMcNJ is correct, Jim was also the "new guy" at one time. God speed Jim!

[Fro]

I....would actually be fine with Straight No Chaser doing it. Is this a realistic option?

I'm pretty sure they'd love to do it. I was an acquaintance of one of the guys who is in the group now when I was back at IU.

Logistically, they have a concert the night before in Toronto and a concert at 5 PM on Sunday in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec (probably a 2 hour flight away), so they'd need to either cancel the Quebec show or charter a flight from Indy to there for right after they sing. Would be some cost there either way but I would think their label would pick up that since singing at the Indy 500 would be big exposure for them.

The other option is the IU version of the group (the group has continued on at IU since the original members graduated) could do it.

Well they won't get rid of the Purdue Band playing it, so I doubt "Chase" is an option.....maybe, great suggestion, but they'd have to drop the "music" they sing to open it

Wouldn't be hard for them to rearrange what they're doing to fit with the Purdue Band arrangement. They are professionals. I'm sure the Purdue Band has a recording somewhere of them playing "Back Home Again" sans vocals that they can provide SNC.

Anyway, I sent a message on twitter to Doug Boles and Bernard suggesting them, so we'll see what happens.

[Antoneli]

And that it won't be someone like Steven Tyler.

Please, gods, no!

And I sincerely hope that Jim is able to make a full and speedy recovery.

[Unzerdog]

Yup, I guess I was way wrong. You learn something new everyday. I always thought Jim was the only one to sing it.

-This from the IMS website-

"Although there are reports that "Indiana," as the song was originally titled when published in 1917, was played by a trackside brass band as Hoosier driver Howdy Wilcox ran out his final laps on the way to winning the 1919 "500," it was not until 1946 that it was sung on race morning. James Melton, of the New York Metropolitan Opera Company, was a collector of classic cars, and was at one time president of the Antique Automobile Club of America. He supplied several of the vehicles which participated in a race-morning lap of classic automobiles around the track in 1946, and approximately 45 minutes before the start of the race, he sang "Indiana" with the Purdue University band over the public address system. It was so well received that he was invited back the following year, and in 1948, it was decided to "move it up" to its current slot in the order of the day, just prior to the firing of the engines. Among Melton's better-known successors have been Mel Tormé, Vic Damone, Dinah Shore, Ed Ames, Peter Marshall, Dennis Morgan and Johnny Desmond, with popular Jim Nabors having missed only a handful of years since 1972."

Now that is cool reading.. Give me a time machine and I am going back to 1917 to hear a brass band play "Indiana" during the closing laps of the 6th running of the Indianapolis 500 mile Sweepstakes.

Get well Jim Nabors. Cherish the man. The highlight of being there in '02. My brother was there with me and didn't know of the tradition. He knows it now. he said he felt like he was in church and didn't know the lords prayer.

[Doctorindy]

It will be sad to not see him there, but I am glad he made it last year (the 100th anniversary). There will come a time when Jim can no longer be with us, and we should enjoy the time while we have it. All hope he will be back with us in 2013.

I kind of got me thinking about the "old guard" and how we better enjoy the time we have with them. We've already lost Tom Carnegie, Jim Phillipe, Duane Sweeney, and many others. Guys like AJ, Bobby and Big Al, Parnelli, Mario, and others are still hanging in strong, but they won't be around forever either.

I suggest either a recording of Jim (like they did in 1997), or a replacement for one year. The sing-a-long was a mess. It might have sounded like a good idea (remember Jim cancelled his trip less than 48 hours before the race in 2007) but it didn't work.

[mitchbr]

Just play a recording of him from previous years. I know in 2011 the audio didn't come in until 3 lines in and he missed a word or two, but 2010 was great IIRC.

[devowood]

@Dave Furst just tweeted...

#IMS to send a video crew to Jim Nabors' Hawaii home to tape "Back Home Again..." for playback before #Indy500. #IndyCar #GetWellJim

[jkeener24]

I'm ok with that.

[jp]

@Dave Furst just tweeted...

#IMS to send a video crew to Jim Nabors' Hawaii home to tape "Back Home Again..." for playback before #Indy500. #IndyCar #GetWellJim

hmm.

[Grover]

In the 80's, Mickey Mouse did it. Seriously.

Letterman blasted that move hilariously for about a week on Late Night. I'm gonna miss Jim being there this year, it really just isn't the same without him...

[Mario4ever]

@Dave Furst just tweeted...

#IMS to send a video crew to Jim Nabors' Hawaii home to tape "Back Home Again..." for playback before #Indy500. #IndyCar #GetWellJim