SNOHOMISH — He’s that debonair gentleman who sings on the sidewalk along First Street.
He croons a rendition of “Return to Sender,” Elvis drone and all, using an amp powered by an orange extension cord snaking into a store. He sits tall on his walker, long legs outstretched, ankles crossed, wife by his side. He wears a dress shirt, tie, vest and suit jacket sporting his Army infantry medals.
A tip jar sits by his polished shoes.
Jerry McClain is not your typical street performer. He’s an 80-year-old man dealing with Alzheimer’s the best he can: by singing.
Townspeople give him the juice, the space and the applause he needs to carry on his passion.
“Nothing is more important to him than singing,” said Elaine, his wife of 41 years.
On Saturday, she is throwing an 81st birthday party for Jerry and inviting the town.
“In lieu of gifts, support local businesses who have been sweet to us,” Elaine said.
The party starts at 9 a.m. Oct. 3 at Proper Joe Coffeehouse, where Jerry will get “Happy Birthday” sung to him. It continues at Grilla Bites from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by Andy’s Fish House from 3 to 5 p.m. All are venues that regularly invite him inside to sing.
“I know over 100 songs, I believe,” said Jerry, a retired chef. Most are of the “Over the Rainbow” and “Danny Boy” variety.
He sings from the moment he wakes up and at times in the middle of the night.
He sings at retirement homes. “He has groupies,” Elaine said.
He has even been known to sing at City Council meetings. It’s in the town’s public minutes: “Jerry McClain sang ‘Unchained Melody’ for the Council and audience.”
Elaine said he gets depressed if he doesn’t go out to sing several hours a day. “Music soothes his soul and activates a part of the brain and that keeps the other parts of the brain healthier,” she said. “It is so healing.”
It’s a crucial social outlet for her as well.
Jerry didn’t start singing publicly until after the couple moved to Snohomish from Arizona four years ago to be closer to their daughter and three grandchildren in Woodinville.
In Snohomish, they not only found affordable senior housing, they also found a home.
The birthday party is to thank the town for making them feel so welcome.
The feeling is mutual.
“They add so much to the street life in the city,” Snohomish Mayor Karen Guzak said. “Both are such radiant, positive people.”
Jerry’s usual singing corner is by Joyworks, a vintage shop on First Street that provides the electricity. His melodies drift inside.
“The customers like it,” said Jana Johnson, of Joyworks. “When he first came in he sang ‘Amazing Grace’ to me. Since then they’ve been setting up out front.”
Passersby often pause or stop when Jerry is at the mike.
“Thank you,” he says at the end of each song. If he gets a tip he blows a small wooden train horn. The tips, while small, make him feel like a man who can still provide for his family, Elaine said, adding that later he counts every penny, over and over.
His voice is soulful and resonant, almost gospel-like as he lingers over long notes and hits the high ones with gusto.
“It’s beautiful,” said Patty Monteith, of Marysville, on an outing with her elderly mom. “We were just walking down the street and what a gift. We’ve been here for half an hour.”
Between songs, Jerry chats and jokes with people. He takes requests. No tip necessary, though a mention of his medals is valued.
“I really appreciate it when people notice them,” he said.
Elaine said Jerry was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s five years ago, but there were earlier signs.
“He’d leave the water on, the burners on, the doors open,” she said. “I couldn’t leave him alone.”
Elaine, 64, sometimes brought him to school with her during her last year of teaching second grade in Phoenix before moving to Washington.
“Since he has been out there singing I have not noticed any decline,” she said. “It’s more about confusion than memory.”
The dementia isn’t readily obvious and Elaine doesn’t want people to mention it in front of him.
“He’d be really embarrassed,” she said.
She rarely leaves his side. When he sings, she runs her fingers over his arm.
He knows something is up.
“She ordered a caretaker for me,” he said.
She interjects: “We’re looking into someone being able to come in and help with the chores.”
The couple met in 1974 in Indiana when she was a night-shift waitress and he a day cook. After marrying, they operated restaurants in Montana, Oregon and Idaho.
His specialties: “Steak and lobster,” he said. “And Cajun food from Louisiana, because that’s where I was born.”
Long before Elaine, he was a chef at a Hollywood studio.
“I sang with Elvis,” he said. “He was always in and out of there. I remember every song he’s ever written.”
Andrea Brown 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @reporterbrown.
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