The music path for Merle Dollar, a distant cousin, started with the Springville Methodist Youth Choir, under the watchful eye of Marianne Morgan. Mrs. Morgan saw the potential and gave her many opportunities to perform for community events at a very young age. At 17, Merle joined a rock and roll group called Pandora’s Box with Robin Morgan. They performed all around the Birmingham area for several years. She later joined Fable, a band that toured the Southeast for 2 years, working her way through college with her earnings. In 1980, she became a school teacher and turned her musical attentions to Broadway musicals, starring in Oklahoma!, and performing in many other productions throughout the years.
In 1983, Merle sang in a school function with Sylvia and Peggy. That was the beginning of Something Else! Another cousin, Ann McNabb also performed with the group for 2 years. The girls worked hard, perfected their style and began to perform for wedding receptions, parties and reunions. For the past several years, Local Color has been their home, where every weekend, they showcase their special vocal talents and Sylvia’s arrangements, which keep their music fresh and original. Dancing is encouraged when the spirit moves you and they love to have customers sing along!
