Recollection Lowell Ayars at the "Wanamaker" Wurlitzer Available on CD CD $17 Quantity:   UK Customers Only (PPD): CD 12 GBP Quantity:

 

 

1 Signature Tune - An original composition by the artist, at his own organ
2 Student Prince Selection - 3/17 WurliTzer, Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA
3 Cuban Love Song - Moller 3/19, Sedgwick Theater, Philadelphia, PA
4 Baby’s Birthday Party - Moller, Sedgwick Theater
5 Liebesfreud - Moller 3/31, First Presbyterian Church, Bridgetown, NJ
6 Jealousy - Kimball 3/8, Broadway Theater, Pitman, NJ
7 Angela Mia - Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA
8 All I Do Is Dream of You - Tower Theater, Upper Darby, PA

At Lowell’s own organ in his residence:
9 Signature Tune
10 Elizabeth of England
11 Why Can’t You?
12 They Didn’t Believe Me (with vocal refrain)
13 Birth of the Blues
14 The Boy Next Door
15 Always, as I Close My Eyes (with vocal refrain)
16 Butterflies in the Rain
17 Medly from Showboat
18 Tunes of Yesteryear
 

LOWELL AYARS had a warm and genial personality and was well-loved in theatre organ circles.  He was named “Organist of the Year” by ATOS in 1980 and “Honorary Member of the Year” in 1987. He was well known not only for his organ playing but also for his fine rich baritone voice which he used often in concerts and club engagements. No recordings of his singing in early years have come to our attention and unfortunately by the time this particular recording was made Lowell was much older and the voice was not quite what it had been, as he subtly admits in his announcement. Nevertheless it was felt appropriate to include a couple of pieces in which he sings as a souvenir for those who remember him well.
Lowell’s early years were spent accompanying silent films, and playing for vaudeville shows, and in later years he went on to do many radio broadcasts, eventually turning to the teaching profession. He held many church organist positions, and in 1960 purchased a small 2 manual 8 rank WurliTzer from the Fox Theater, Appleton, Wisconsin, and installed it in his Bridgeton, New Jersey home. Lowell died at the age of 76 in February 1992. His WurliTzer was donated to the Smithsonian Institution where it was intended to form part of a special exhibition devoted to the Arts

THE ORGAN
Over the past year, there was significant discussion on the ATOS Board of Directors regarding the disposition of funds earmarked for the installation of the 2/8 WurliTzer Style 190 in the Smithsonian museum. Unfortunately, due to personnel changes at the Smithsonian, there turned out to be no longer any interest in installing the Ayars organ at the museum. While this is indeed unfortunate, there is nonetheless a very exciting opportunity that has arisen to install this organ in the Greek Room of Macy's (formerly Wanamaker's) Department Store in Philadelphia. The Friends of the Wanamaker Organ, a 501(c)(3) organization, under the direction of noted organ technician Curt Mangel, have acquired the instrument from its owner and they are very excited about installing the instrument and using it for theatre organ teaching, concerts, and silent films.The organization has also contracted with Lyn Larsen to be a permanent instructor on this instrument.

Thus, while the ATOS board was disappointed not to see the installation at the Smithsonian proceed, it nonetheless felt that this was a very unique and exciting opportunity, and therefore committed $100,000 of funds previously earmarked for the Smithsonian project to support the installation at the Greek Room. Because roughly half of that sum represents private donations from ATOS members, the board will be contacting each of the donors that can be identified in order to seek their support of this new project. While ATOS will honor the request to return money from donors who can establish they gave funds and who would prefer not to support this new endeavor, they are optimistic that most will share their enthusiasm about this new venture.

THE RECORDING
Lowell made these recordings for Alan Ashton, the noted British broadcaster, for use on his program PEDAL, PERCUSSION & PIPES which formed part of the broadcast schedules for BBC Radio Manchester during the 70s & 80s, and in which long running series they were subsequently transmitted.  Lowell went to the UK in 1976 as one of the ATOS American Safari Conventioneers, and together with his wife Reba, was assigned to the coach on which Alan was Bus Captain.  The tapes remained in Alan's possession, but realizing that their content would be of interest to American audiences, especially given the imminent installation of the instrument in Philadelphia, he kindly supplied them to Pipe Organ Presentations and we are pleased to be able to release them.  The other organs on the recording are also of historic interest and are included on the CD for that reason.

Alan Ashton’s current program is streamed as ORGAN1ST RADIO at www.organ.co.uk