For the music man,
it’s preaching to the Choir

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

The Sound of Philadelphia has always been tops in the music world, garnering the respect of fans and peers alike.
And Monday night was no exception as legendary songstress Patti LaBelle’s Philly choir carried the torch to a whole new level in NBC’s Clash of the Choirs.
Produced by the same group that brings you Dancing With the Stars, the holiday sing-off focuses on competition among hometown choirs cast and directed by LaBelle, Michael Bolton (New Haven, Conn.), former 98 Degrees singer Nick Lachey (Cincinnati, Ohio), founding Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland (Houston, Texas) and country recording artist Blake Shelton (Oklahoma City, Okla.).
The four-night reality show airs live through Thursday from the Steiner Studios in the old Brooklyn Navy Yard, with viewers voting for their favorite choir.
If LaBelle’s team wins, so would the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania and its program With Our Voices. The genetic-counseling program is geared toward African-American women, who experience higher rates of death and complications from breast cancer.
LaBelle’s choir, featuring two vocalists with ties to the Northeast — Tim Bolognone of Juniata and Frankford’s Barbara Kellam — received a standing ovation and huge praise from the opposing celebrity choir directors after an amazing rendition of He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.
"There were notes to hit that were nothing short of amazing," Rowland said.
For his critique, Shelton gave the group an I’m-not-worthy bow.
"I feel all good," LaBelle said after the performance.
For Bolognone, 30, an apprentice cabinetmaker and worship leader for the Grace Bible Church in Academy Gardens, working with LaBelle is a thrill.
"After seeing what she can do, I have a deep respect for her. We were starting rehearsal and she sang this (high) note cold and our jaws just dropped. She’s awesome," Bolognone said.
He was also amazed how the choirmaster could bring out the best in the singers. He recalled how LaBelle put her arm around one of the sopranos, encouraging her to sing a note she didn’t think she could hit.
"Within ten minutes, she was singing higher and better just because Patti LaBelle had her arm around her," Bolognone said.
He’s no slacker himself when it comes to belting out a song.
Bolognone had a minor in music at Bob Jones University, a Christian college in Greenville, S.C., where he got to sing Verdi’s Opera, among other productions, was lead tenor in a barbershop quartet there, and sang with the chorale ensemble Singing City and the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Kimmel Center in 2005.
Bolognone also auditioned for American Idol two years ago in Washington, D.C., and sang Josh Groban’s hit, When You Say You Love Me. He was told by the first-round producers that they liked his voice but were looking for more of a pop style.
Pop? Forget about it.
The afternoon before he left for New York, the tenor sang the Groban song a cappella in the church where he leads worship each week, giving a goose-bump performance of the ballad. He filled the entire church with his incredible voice.
"I want to call my wife," he said after finishing the moving love song.
Allison Bolognone isn’t in New York this week to see her husband perform. She’s down in Georgia with her parents, their 1-year-old son Sebastian and new baby girl Gabriela.
She’s definitely with him in spirit, however. After all, if not for his wife, he wouldn’t be part of the choir.
He had forgotten about the audition until 10 minutes before his time slot. Bolognone was going to skip the November audition, but Allison, who was nine months’ pregnant at the time, encouraged him to go anyway.
Better late than never.
LaBelle chose Bolognone as one of six tenors in her choir, which also features seven sopranos and seven altos. The lack of any bass voices in the choir gives the Philly group a unique sound, according to Bolognone.
"It’s a different sound — higher, brighter," Bolognone said.
The group rehearsed for more than 40 hours in Philly before heading to New York on Dec. 13.
"The friendships have been outstanding," he said.
That goes not just for his fellow choir members but for his employer and his church family. Between a full-time job and evening rehearsals, it has been a hectic time for Bolognone and his family.
"My employer has been awesome, giving me time off because of the show," Bolognone said.
His church family also pitched in and put meals on the table when he wasn’t there to give his wife a hand.
Bolognone is excited to see where the show takes him, not so much in terms of a career but rather a side job, where he can continue in a music ministry.
He wears a bracelet with Mark 12:30 (And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul . . .) inscribed on it to remind him that "Lord this is all fun, but you are going to be the most satisfying part of it all," Bolognone said.
If LaBelle’s choir doesn’t make it to the show’s finals, you can still catch Bolognone, Kellam and LaBelle’s choir in the Clash of the Choirs music finale at 8 p.m. Thursday on NBC10. ••
For video clips and more information about the show, check out www.nbc.com/clashofthechoirs
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com