Four Voices, One Heart

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By Clayton King

From the Playbill

Every once in a while you are fortunate enough to encounter kindred souls in life. You meet, you see each other, and realize how much you have in common, and how much you relate. Such is the case with this production. And when that happens, you find that the love of life and of humanity coalesces into a single idea – Four Voices share One Heart.

Each of these performers walks to their own drumbeat. And each of those beats modulates in different settings. Yet those four separate rhythms fall into harmony with each other and blend into a single masterpiece. The Four Voices, Mary Jo, Vicky, Clayton, and Lanny, share a zest for life and celebrate their fellow man with One Heart. They share a genuine love of music and of each other, and quickly came together to collaborate on the project.

Vicky Saye Van Horne, Lanny Spires, Mary Jo Johnson, and Clayton King - The Four Voices with One Heart

With more than 80 years of combined experience, their collective life experience and talent are brought together to create Four Voices, One Heart. Their hope is that audiences will simply sit back, take a break from life, and simply enjoy some live music.

Thanks to spouses, significant others, and close friends of all performers and musicians – without your patience and commitment, pulling this off would be impossible.

Gilbert Gooligas, the loveable Miniature Schnauzer, was always in the middle of things. For the photoshoot, he had to be in the middle of things and constantly whispered in Mary Jo’s ear!

The Show

Four Voices, One Heart was a collection of music curated around matters of the heart—whether longing for a lost love, celebrating life, lamenting day-to-day struggles, or just the need for a vacation. Comprised of group numbers and solos, these four performers tackled everything from Broadway to Jazz, with some Pop and Country mixed in for good measure.

The Performers

I met Mary Jo Anziano Johnson while working with her as musical director on Chapin Community Theatre’s production of Shrek! The Musical. We’d never met and I was gonna be her big green guy… Her spirit and positive energy are infectious. But more than that, the woman can sing!

While rehearsals are generally a time to work, we also found time to talk. We’d compare notes and ideas. MJ has the uncanny ability to sing certain difficult vowels and difficult notes at the same time. I was astonished. And jealous!

Also, during these conversations, I learned she was on a 20+ year hiatus from performing. With many professional credits to her name, I couldn’t help but think she should be performing. It was at that point in the fall of 2019 I told her that I wanted to perform with her. Here we are two years later and she’ll be taking the stage with Vicky Saye Henderson, Lanny Spires, and me for Four Voices, One Heart. Her strong commitment to this show, her family and her faith are inspiring to me, and I believe audiences will find her energy palpable.

Vicky Saye Henderson has a calling as a muse. She’s certainly mine! It makes such sense that she operates Muse & Means Creative and Wellbeing. As a teaching artist, she has this crazy ability to get to the heart of the matter in a relatable way.

It’s no wonder that Four Voices One Heart required her participation. Vicky and I share a love of what we call “the psychology of the setlist.” You want to take the audience on a ride with you, and the two of us love sitting on the porch working on this vital task – usually with the help of a miniature Schnauzer.

She has been described as a vocal chameleon, a description I find apt. Vicky is equally comfortable singing bluegrass, jazz, or musical theatre. Columbia has seen her on stage in various roles and behind a mic, singing a vast repertoire. (She is also responsible for my addiction to karaoke, but that is another story.)

I’m grateful that God gave me the temerity to ask Vicky to be my friend. But I’m more grateful she accepted. And I can’t wait for audiences to hear her in Four Voices, One Heart with Mary Jo, Lanny, and me!

Lanny Spires is a kindred spirit of mine. We’re both larger-than-life personalities. We both love to laugh. Though, if I’m being honest, I think he has a bigger heart than me. His love of humanity and zest for life is astounding. It makes him a perfect fit for a show called Four Voices, One Heart; Lanny is a big part of that!

As a singer and dancer, he has professional and community theatre credits on his resume. But you’d never know it by just talking to him. He has toured, and he’s sung on cruise lines. But his humility is the thing that captivates you. His voice soars and exudes all the passion he feels for life.

He makes Mary Jo, Vicky, and me laugh constantly. He’s always prepared to try anything and always dedicated. But he’s also playful and a joy. Lanny will be a treat for audiences!

How do you tell people about yourself without sounding like a jerk? Every single performer who’s ever written a bio for a playbill laments the process for this very reason!

Who exactly is Clayton? I’m a guy who likes to perform. I’m kind of a goofball. I’m a guy who often wears his heart on his sleeve. Vicky and I were recently discussing communication. In college, I learned the literal definition of the word in my first speech class. “Communication: A sharing of meaning.” Songs have notes and words. Words have meaning. Notes create emotion. I have long believed this is why music is such a universal language. It reaches us in unique ways.

As Lanny, Mary Jo, Vicky, and I explored the songs for Four Voices One Heart, the notion of communication was directly in my line of vision. And so, I’m grateful for the chance to communicate (and hopefully entertain) audiences with this show. I continue to try to be kind and not be a jerk. And I hope you’ll join us on the journey.

MICHAEL SIMMONS has been the musical director for many shows, concerts, and other events.

After graduating from USC with a Bachelor of Music degree, Michael made a living as an accompanist and pianist, playing throughout the Southeast. While in Nashville, he was musical director for an award-winning production of Damn Yankees at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Other community theater and professional shows in Nashville included Company, A Chorus Line, and Guys and Dolls. After Nashville, Michael moved to Atlanta and worked for the Aurora and Earl Strand Theaters.

Since returning to Columbia, he has been the musical director for many area productions, including Workshop Theatre's production of She Loves Me, Town Theatre’s Always Patsy Cline and Bright Star, as well as numerous productions with the Vista Theater Project.

As a composer, Michael has written for dance companies, SCETV, and musical theater. He is currently on staff as an instructor for the Columbia Music Festival Association and serves as musical director at Asbury Memorial UMC.

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