Grandpa's In the Mood for Singing

It's time to learn about the musical talents of Worthington William Glover Sr.. His flair for music was recognized early when he was asked to sing a solo verse of "We Three Kings of Orient Are," in his third grade Christmas pageant. Obviously loving the spotlight, he went on to sing in the high school choir, even participating in the South Dakota All-state Choir. He performed a solo in the Lead High School production of "Brigadoon," and also sang in West Central States Mission youth choirs. During his senior year of high school, he attended a program put on by traveling LDS missionaries who called themselves, "The Elder Generation," which he found very inspirational, and he began teaching himself to play the guitar.

When he enrolled in college at BYU, he joined the Air Force ROTC Choir and continued utilizing his God-given musical abilities. He bore his testimony in song and so impressed one young lady in the congregation that she declared to her roommates that whoever married him was going to be very lucky and very blessed. A few months later when he used that gift to serenade her with love songs, she was smitten!

When Worthy left on his mission, he carried his guitar with him and used it to learn and teach people the simple messages of the Gospel in English and Navajo. When he was asked to participate in reinvention of "The Elder Generation," he was thrilled. To his singing and guitar playing abilities, he added the bass viol to his repertoire. He loved helping spread the gospel through song, and friendships that were created at that time continue to this day.

Upon returning from his mission, he created, along with some mission friends a group called "Just Us." They appeared in various venues at BYU and at Riverside, California.

After moving to Blanding to begin full-time employment, Worthy was asked to join a local choir called, "Canyonlanders," led by the legendary Pete Henderson. He also created the comic singing character, "Dr. Lobotomy," who has entertained at many ward, community, family, and Navajo Reservation groups. He keeps trying to retire, but somehow he comes back to life occasionally.

While working for UNDC as the Education Director, he sat in his office one day and sang into a tape recorder to make a tape of Navajo and English children's songs. He took his copy of the tape to the San Juan School District to get a copy made, and unbeknownst to him, they kept a copy and began mass-producing and marketing it as "Navajo Sing-along #2." If anyone needs a copy of it, just let him know; he has finally convinced the school district that they should provide copies to him at cost.

Worthy has been asked over the years to participate in musical theater productions, and he enjoyed a delightful character role in "Once Upon a Mattress," and the lead role of Noah in "Two by Two." In the latter, he also showed great athletic physical comedy skills! "Forever Plaid" was his most recent foray onto the stage, and he enjoyed that show very much.

He currently practices and performs with a four-man group who call themselves "The Elk Ridge Boys." They often provide meals and entertainment for family reunions, class reunions, and other get-togethers. They were even asked to perform an entire evening on the stage for the Kigalia Arts Group, and they used humor, props, dialogue, and song for one of the most enjoyable cultural acts in years.

Singing and playing the guitar for grandkids is one of Worthy's favorite things. Who can forget "Lion Hunt," "Tooty Tat," "I'm in the Mood for Singing," and many more. Name your favorite . . . he can do it!

We all love it when Grandpa Worthy sings!



And all the big kids, little kids, old kids and young kids love this one.

Aren't we lucky to have such a talented man in our family!?!