By Frank DeLoache
fdeloache@salisburypost.com
When the Chapeleers Gospel Quartet organized 10 years ago, Dottie Puckett was the indispensable fifth member of the group providing music on the piano.
Her husband, Guy, and son, Marty, and friends Marvin Misenheimer and Bob Peeler provided the harmonies.
Three of the original four men ó Larry Poteat has replaced Peeler ó are still singing gospel as the Chapeleers today, and they’ve added five musicians ó Darrell Connor, Tracy Day, Jimmie Morgan, Jerry Sides and Joe Williams.
But Dottie Puckett had to stop playing, and in October 2002, doctors diagnosed her with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
On June 16, 2003, the disease claimed Dottie’s life, six days after she and Guy celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary. She was 66.
On Oct. 12, the Chapeleers will perform their first benefit concert ó to raise money for MDA/ALS, the organization seeking a cure to the disease and providing services to people living with the disease.
And, really, they’re doing the benefit for Dottie, her husband says.
They will do more if they get a good response to their concert, which takes place at 2 p.m. Oct. 12 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 2570 St. Peter’s Church Road.
The group also is asking people to donate directly to ALS, in honor of the Chapeleers and Dottie Puckett, if they can’t attend the concert, Guy Puckett said.
The 90-minute concert is free, but the group will take up a love offering, and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has pledged matching funds.
Several members of the Chapeleers, including the Pucketts, are members of St. Peter’s, and the others attend other local churches.The group performs 15 to 20 times a year at local churches or events. You can hear them this Sunday morning at 10:30 at Dan Nicholas Park, as part of the annual Autumn Jubilee festival.
St. Peter’s Lutheran had invited the group to perform Oct. 12, and Guy Puckett said the group members were looking for a special cause they could support.
Naturally, they thought of their fifth original member.
If you can’t attend the concert and want to contribute to ALS in the name of the Chapeleers, call Ruthie Mihal, distruct director for MDA/ALS, at 704-663-1181.
Or you can call Guy Puckett directly at 704-636-6343.