First-year undeclared student Brooks Paul was known by the ScatterTones a cappella group as a “subwoofer of a bass” for his ability to hit extremely low notes.
Paul died from osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, in March 2010. The ScatterTones will hold its annual spring concert, titled “Get Sprung IX,” on Sunday at Kerckhoff Grand Salon in Paul’s memory and in support of the Andrea Grace Soter Simonson Memorial Foundation.
Caylynn Simonson, a second-year biochemistry student and niece of Andrea Simonson, remembered meeting Paul at the ScatterTones’ audition callbacks.
“The first thing I noticed about him was that he was amputated from the knee down,” Simonson said. “We were standing in a circle, and … he got up and scatted in front of everyone. There was no way I could (do it).”
The concert will include “Wavin’ Flag” by K’naan, Tina Turner’s version of the Creedence Clearwater Revival song “Proud Mary,” “Helplessly Hoping” by Crosby Stills, Nash and Young and “Trashin’ the Camp” from Disney’s “Tarzan.” According to second-year psychology student Asher King Abramson, the group also plans to have five new arrangements prepared by the time of the performance.
This will be the first solo concert at UCLA this year for the ScatterTones, which consists of 17 members. According to first-year undeclared student Rishi Menon, a cappella competitions have made it impossible for the group to put on a fall or winter concert.
“We’ve been kind of MIA for a while,” Menon said. “But we’re super excited for this concert. … We feel like we owe it to UCLA.”
According to Abramson, the group will likely perform “If You’re Out There” by John Legend, which was Paul’s favorite song and his mantra while battling cancer.
“The atmosphere of (last year’s) spring concert was (one of) mourning,” Simonson said. “I feel like this time it’s going to be more of a celebration and an outreach to … (people) like the Paul (family).”
Simonson will work with the AGSS Memorial Foundation at the concert to raise funds for cancer patients and their families. The foundation was created in memory of Simonson’s aunt, who passed away in 2008 after a six-year battle with breast and ovarian cancer.
According to Simonson, the AGSS Memorial Foundation differs from other cancer organizations because it is not geared toward a specific type of cancer or age group. It provides those in need with money for treatments rather than services.
“We award direct cash grants to families who are in financial need,” Simonson said. “Other organizations will provide resources … such as teaching you how to apply your makeup and wear a wig properly.”
The ScatterTones will encourage donations to the AGSS Memorial Foundation, which will give away prizes such as wireless headphones, a color printer and a 42-inch flat-screen TV.
This year, Simonson said the ScatterTones will focus more on its singing than its stage presence because the Kerckhoff Grand Salon has a smaller stage than its members are used to.
“I’m expecting less choreography for the concert,” Simonson said. “There’ll be a lot of stomping and clapping still, but not (as much) movement and formations.”
According to Menon, by the start of the concert, the ScatterTones will all be thinking of Paul or other loved ones suffering from cancer. He said Paul’s presence is still very much alive in the minds of the members who knew him.
“Brooks meant the world to everyone in the ScatterTones,” Menon said. “And the ScatterTones meant the world to Brooks.”