Charles Stewart Tenney

Chuck was born December 29, 1942, in Norwalk Connecticut. He attended Brien McMahon High School, Norwalk Connecticut, college at Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Much of his youth was spent between his home in Norwalk Connecticut, and summers at the family farms in Derry and Chester New Hampshire, and Hampton Beach. He loved spending time with his many cousins hunting, fishing, and farm activities. As a teen, he was the bass player in a rock ‘n roll band called Ramblers. The band practiced in his parents’ Norwalk basement. The band signed a contract with record label, Addit. Other band members included Kip Martin (lead guitarist), Mike Spremulli (saxophone), Larry Robertson (rhythm guitar), and Vince Rissolo (drums). Their hit record, “Rambling,” ranked in the nation’s top 15 instrumentals and ranked on Billboard, The Cash Box top 100, and WAAT Hot 100. They travelled the same circuit as Elvis and other big-name bands of that era. The Ramblers made many television appearances, including Clay Coles Summer Show, Big Beat, Connecticut Bandstand, and most notably Dick Clark’s American Bandstand on September 27, 1960.

Chuck served in the U.S. Air Force, from 1961 with an honorable discharge in 1965. He followed his father’s career in carpentry, later becoming a carpet and flooring business owner, Moore Carpet Company, Moore Oklahoma. Chuck volunteered to be Santa to blind children when he was a teen. One of the children pulled at Chuck’s beard, which was glued to his face, then said, “This really is Santa!!” The experience moved Chuck to tears and into a lifetime of service to others. He was a member of the Jaycees in Moore Oklahoma. He joined the police force of Moore Oklahoma as police officer, Deputy Sheriff, then Detective. Melding his love of music and service, he later travelled and served as bodyguard for Eddie Brandon, a successful Elvis impersonator. They made an album recorded with Elvis’s band members. Prior to retirement, he moved back to carpentry and flooring as chief estimator.

Chuck was a Master Mason, Bektash Shriners New Hampshire, and a member of the International Shrine Clown Association. The Shriners community and mission for children and their families was a big part of Chuck’s life. He was a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society. He sang with a beautiful baritone voice in the Barber Shop Quartet, Palm Harbor.

Chuck leaves behind three daughters, Kim Poinsett, Kari Proka, and Kendra Vizen from his marriage to Karen Riggs, his sister Alice Mendenhall, stepchildren Sharlae and Ralph Rhea, grandchildren, many cousins, friends, and colleagues. Chuck is preceded in death by his parents, Charles Corydon Tenney and Marion Louise Tenney (Kimball), and wife Violet.

“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” – Winnie the Pooh

Please visit this link to listen to The Rambler's hit song, "Rambling."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uggs6XvEVYw