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Not many students are around to hear holiday sounds at SIUC, most having left to enjoy a family Christmas for a much needed break from campus life. But thanks to Saluki Walkers Always Triumph, a team with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, students do not need to be on campus to enjoy an SIUC Christmas.
"Sounds of the Holidays at SIUC," a musical compact disc featuring musicians associated with the University as well as readings by Chancellor Walter Wendler and SIU President James Walker, is set to be released at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Old Main Lounge in the Student Center. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.
Ken Carr, one of the creators of the compact disc, said the group has been working on the project since the spring. A group of SIUC students, including Carr's son, Bryan, developed the disc as part of a senior project.
"We were getting ready to have the relay for life," Ken said. "We had raised all the money, and we were trying to come up with a way to raise money for the following year.
"I got to thinking that my family has always been musical. I thought it would be great if we came up with a CD that had people that had been touched by cancer sing songs."
The compact discs, which can be purchased from any SWAT member following the release, sell for $15 a piece. The First Bank and Trust Company in Murphysboro and Apple City of Murphysboro paid for the production costs for the CD, so all sales go completely to the American Cancer Society.
Ken said the group has 500 copies to sell and he would be exceptionally pleased if the group needed to produce another set because of demand.
"At least 100 have been pre-sold," he said. "What would really make us ecstatic is if we have to order more, because all that means is more money for the American Cancer Society."
The CD starts with Walker and Wendler's readings of "The Night Before Christmas," and "The Birth of Christ," respectively. The CD also features the SIU Wind Ensemble, the Marching Salukis, organist Marianne Webb, Paul Simon's family, Spiritual Travelers and many more. The SWAT team closes the collection with "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."
Carr said the CD was originally going to be titled "Songs of the Holidays at SIUC," but it was changed when Wendler and Walker asked to do readings.
"If you ever heard me sing, you'd know why," Wendler said. "Brian Carr produced it, and they just said, 'Would you like to do something?' So I decided the most sensitive thing to do was to read."
