Former Gulf High Choir Master Dies

Connie Mack Perdue, a longtime choral director and music instructor at Gulf High in New Port Richey, died this week at the age of 78.

Perdue died Tuesday, Aug. 28, on a visit to Orlando, according to the Gulf High website.

Perdue taught classes at Gulf High School from the 1970s to the 1990s and retired in 1997, according to the site.

While at the school, he established the Total Sound choir group, which performed at events and concerts.

The Gulf website says Perdue started the group 23 years before his retirement and “had led hundreds of students in award-winning performances and two appearances before the United Nations and in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.”

Myndee Washington, who lives in Hernando County, was in Perdue's class from 1986-90 and was part of the first group he took up to New York to perform on the steps of St. patrick's Cathedral. This was 1989, and the club performed American pop songs like "Flashdance."

"I often tell people that we were GLEE, before there was a GLEE," Washington said.

Washington is a performer, costume designer and director and has a degree in music education, she said in an email interview. She taught music for seven years and credits Perdue as one to tell her she should go into music.

When she graduated, he gave her a music box that plays "Amazing Grace" and bears the written message "Through music, God gives our hearts a voice."

Perdue did more than teach music. He held "rap sessions" in class where students worked out personal issues. He and his wife would take kids from troubled families into their home, Washington said.

"We were not just classmates, we were not just in his choir," Washington said. "He made us a family.

"Last night, something that I find amazing happened," she said. "(Twenty-three) years of Total Sound members gathered on the Total Sound site to reminisce. Many had never gone to school together or ever had the occasion to meet.

"The sentiments, however, were universal. Connie Perdue taught us about life, about being a good person, about love and loyalty and friendship. He also taught us to love music, in so many forms."

An obituary on the Gulf website says Perdue was preceded in death by his daughter Karren Perdue Clark. The obituary says he is "survived by wife Connie Sue Bailey Perdue, son Jeffrey and spouse Karen Perdue, daughter Jobeth and spouse Jay Marano; and grandchildren Cooper, Cassidy, Camille, Caylonna Perdue and Noah and Luke Marano."

A viewing is planned at Faupel Funeral Home, 7524 Ridge Road in Port Richey, Friday, Aug. 31, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.

A service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist New Port Richey, 6800 Trouble Creek Road, with graveside services immediately to follow and then there will be a reception and luncheon honoring Perdue.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking people to send only living plants or make a donation to Building Fund, First Baptist Church of New Port Richey, in Connie Mack Perdue's name.

Did you know Connie Mack Perdue? Share your memories here. You can also find find former Total Sound students offering their thoughts on the Total Sound alumni Facebook page.