Here with Melody Jacobson Krever, my first and I guess the only girlfriend. We were so young then!
Song: You’ll Never Walk Alone
Composed By: Rodgers & Hammerstein
Sung By: Melody Krever & Mark Winkler
Accompanied By: Ruth Girard
Date Recorded: 1980
You’ll Never Walk Alone
Those words take on new meaning when I think back to this unforgettable musical moment. Over 40 years ago, I recorded a duet with Melody Jacobson Krever — my first and last girlfriend.
At the time, I was already leaning toward a future as a professional singer, and Melody, with her generous spirit, stepped back and let me take the spotlight. You’ll Never Walk Alone when someone like Melody is by your side — gracious, supportive, and unselfish.
As you can see in the photo above, I was clearly in full “wail mode,” pouring everything I had into that performance. The recording itself is far from perfect — time has not been kind to the cassette’s fidelity — but there’s something in the raw, unfiltered energy of our youth that still moves me deeply.
You’ll Never Walk Alone through moments like these. They stay with you — the music, the friendship, the shared dream — imperfect, yes, but alive with feeling. This duet may have been recorded decades ago, but its spirit still sings.
On a Side Note
Ironically, my voice teacher at the University of Michigan, Katherine Hilgenberg, originated the role of Nettie Fowler in the Lincoln Center version of Carousel. And Nettie was the character who sang You’ll Never Walk Alone. That’s why, a scant 35 years later, I would like to dedicate Melody’s and my performance to the memory of Katherine Hilgenberg.
