Express Times Newspaper
09/04/2006
by Meghan Smith, Staff Reporter

     Bouquets of roses and special memories adorn the venue where John Bauer is about to perform.  Fifteen minutes before showtime, the seats are nearly full, and the vocalist is talking strategy with his longtime keyboardist.  But this isn't your typical concert.
     For one thing, it's 9:15a.m. on a Thursday.  The crying women in the front row aren't overzealous fans, and the flowers---they aren't even for him.  And though his audience is dressed in rock star black, the 56 yr. old Bauer is no Mick Jagger--he's a professional funeral singer--and he's preparing to sing at East Broad Street's Connell Funeral Home in honor of a fisherman named "Doc."
     For more than eight years the Mack Trucks, Inc. retiree has made a second career for himself offering grieving families a mix of both popular songs and spiritual hymns at funerals.  "It's a really unique service we offer," Bauer said of himself and accompanist Evelyn Michaels.
     While it's not customary, the Lower Saucon Township resident believes the trend to include live music at memorial services is gaining momentum.  "Personalization is part of what's going on in the funeral home industry now." he said.  "We get a lot of compliments on what we do."
     Michaels, who lives in Nazareth, said many families don"t realize the service is available.  "People don't know about it," the 52 yr old piano teacher and church music director said.  "They expect to hear music at a church, but we can offer so much more variety."  "It's less restrictive(than a church)," Bauer chimed in.  "If there's a love song that meant something to somebody, we can do that.....it's endless what is available."
     To his listeners, song delivery appears effortless for Bauer, as his gentle, comforting tone wafts through the overhead speakers.  But it's the songs, he said, carefully selected by family members, that make all the difference.  Newer tunes, such as Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton's "When I Get Where I'm Going" and Diamond Rio's "I Believe", he said, are becoming just as popular as the standards "Ave Maria" and "Amazing Grace."
     Families have even requested "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" or "Gone Fish'in" to help conjure memories of a person's life to bring smiles to the faces of bereaved friends and family.  "We can really mirror what the person's life is about with our music," he said.
     Connell Funeral Home Director Owen Connell, where Bauer often performs, said the feedback his business receives about Bauer's music has been nothing but positive.  "The responses have been wonderful," he said.  "The families certainly appreciate what he is doing."  Connell said, on average, Bauer's music is requested at about 5 or 6 services per month.  The funeral home has even installed a new sound system to help enhance the experience.  "We certainly believe in what they're doing." he said of the musical duo.  "They're trying to honor the life of someone in a dignified and personal way.  Music is just one way for us to offer that to families.
     And succeeding in that goal, Bauer said, is what makes the experience so "fulfilling."  Though he and Michaels also perform at weddings, and other events, he said he finds funeral work to be the most uplifting.  "Knowing that it truly makes a difference in someone's grieving process and touches them in different ways, that helps to elevate the spirit," Bauer said.

The Bethlehem Press
09/13/2006
by Curt Riedy, Staff Reporter

     Upon finishing an early morning performance at Connell's Funeral Home (located on Broad St. in Bethlehem), John Bauer and Evelyn MIchaels complete their set and step into the hallway after the morning's service.  As mourners begin to exit the home, a teary-eyed woman approaches the two musicians with a rather unexpected smile.  "I just wanted to let you know....you two made all the difference," the woman says, appreciatively.   
     It's moments like this that every musician lives for, and for John and Evelyn, it's exactly why they provide this type of service.  For over eight years, the duo has been playing music together, with John providing vocals and Evelyn providing accompaniment on piano/keyboard for area funeral services.  The duo met one another, oddly enough, at the service of a mutual friend.
     "Our goal is to hopefully touch the heart of every family member in attendance, using music that mirrors the life of a loved one," John said.
     The musical pair recognizes the importance of music in each and every funeral service, and strives to make each performance one of their very best.  "It's a way of transcending," John proclaimed.  "Our music is intended to elevate everyone to a level of comfort and solace."  A Bethlehem resident all his life, John grew up on Ontario Street on the Southside, and just completed over 30 years of service working with Mack Trucks.  He currently lives with his wife Lori, and has two sons, John Jr., and Stephen.
     "I've been singing for just about as long as I can remember," said John, who began his singing career while stationed with the USAF at the Bitburg Air Base in Germany.  Constantly progressing over the years as a musician, John is very confident in his voice as a means of inspiration, and envisions his particular style as "a voice to help others."

     Evelyn, who is also a private piano teacher and music director at the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, is equally infatuated with all things music, and has been playing for over 30 years.  "It's really fulfilling to know you're making a difference in people's lives through music", said Evelyn.
     Currently, the duo is expanding their musical palatte to various outlets around the Bethlehem area.  John and Evelyn are quite open to catering their music to whatever befits the service at hand, be it a funeral, wedding, or concert event.
     "Our concept is to have a list of unique music for each and every family", said John.  "In a funeral setting, for instance, it could be the deceased's favorite song, or maybe something the family has chosen to help them get through the mourning process."

     Throughout their musical history together, the duo has had quite an expansive array of numbers, and certainly hasn't been without their share of odd, but largely appreciate, requests.  "We've had everything from "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" to selections from "The Lion King", Evelyn mused.  "One time we even played a number entitled "Gone Fish'in" for the family of an avid fisherman, which brought a smile."

     "When you have someone who can sing as beautiful as John does, it really brings the service to the next level," said Jamie Connell of Connell's Funeral Home.  "His voice has a special quality that brings people closer together, and just adds a lot of value."
     Though John and Evelyn may provide a service that might go largely unnoticed in a setting where the focus is largely set upon the person being celebrated, their unique work is always appreciated, both by their peers and families themselves.  "Families are very appreciative", said Connell, a longtime friend.  "John and Evelyn are always more than happy to sit down with them and discuss all their musical needs."

From the Morning Call
February 19, 2007

Making Music Meaningful
by Spencer Soper, Staff Writer

     When Nancy Mitchell's husband passed away, the music at his funeral ceremony was lacking.  The mortuary played a tape that was barely audible and kept skipping, the Hanover Township resident said.  Mitchell recalled that experience when her mother died in November and she wanted something better.  She requested live music, and got a performance by Bethlehem vocalist John Bauer accompanied by Nazareth keyboardist Evelyn Michaels for her mother's service.
     "With John Bauer singing, it put us at peace," Mitchell said.  "It was beautiful."

     It's not exactly the kind of gig that aspiring "American Idol" contestants dream about.  But Bauer and Michaels have performed about 250 funerals in two years, from small family gatherings to more prominent military services.  The typical service costs about $150 and can include such traditional songs as "Amazing Grace" or even country or Frank Sinatra music on special request.

     "We both agree how beneficial music is," said Michaels, music director at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Bethlehem.  "It can be comforting and healing and a catalyst for emotions at a critical time." 
     The pair are trying to expand their services, and sent a demo to funeral home directors throughout the Lehigh Valley.  One of their challenges is to market services of a sensitive nature, which is why they have focused on funeral homes rather than individual clients.  "I saw that there was a need for good, quality music at funeral services, and what Evelyn and I noticed is that it wasn't being done," said Bauer, a retired Mack Trucks worker.
    
     Bauer began singing as a boy at Bethlehem Catholic High School and continued with the Protestant and Catholic choirs in the Air Force.  Over the years, his appearances have included large audiences at Musikfest and First Night in Bethlehem.  He even sang the National Anthem at a Phillies game.  But he finds equal reward in singing for small audiences of grieving family members at funerals as he did for thousands of boisterous baseball fans.  "I've never thought of any one event as being more important than another," Bauer said.  "I've done a birthday at someone's home and 30,000 people at the ballpark.  I treat every event equally, because they impact peopl's lives."

     Michaels, a New Jersey native, began with piano lessons at age 11 and earned a degree in music.  An accomplished musician, she also has done the familiar circuit of weddings, church ceremonies, and civic events. 
     They first performed together about 10 years ago at a funeral in Nazareth.  The performance went well and Bauer asked Michaels to accompany him in the future.  At funerals, they are out of the spotlight.  Rather than applause, the appreciation comes as a pat on the shoulder and a "thank you" whispered from a misty-eyed family member. 
     "The fulfillment we get is being present at this time and providing something that is meaningful," Michaels said. 

     Mitchell said Bauer was easy to deal with before the ceremony, and he arrived early to work out arrangements with the pastor.  She recalled his soft, tenor voice singing the Lord's Prayer in her mother's honor.  "He met his calling," Mitchell said of Bauer.  "He and his accompanist made the service extraordinary.  He sang the Lord's Prayer at the end, and it lifted our spirits."

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