NORWICH, Conn. -- Gary Gagne is in the middle of a very busy concert tour -- all while admitting he has no musical ability. But he sure has heart.
Are you a fan of the Righteous Brothers? Or, maybe Donna Summer suits your tastes a little better? Perhaps you're in the mood for a little Christmas music? The songs all sound different, but the group, Spittin' Image, remains the same.
Gagne, of Lisbon, manages a musical group that doesn't really sing a note. The idea is to have the young entertain the not-so-young -- residents of local nursing homes.
"We want these people to feel good about themselves and have fun," Gagne said. "So, we bring it to them in a party atmosphere."
"We have three shows a week and we do it for seven weeks," Gagne said. "We start it in the beginning of November and we go right up to Christmas. Dec. 23 is the last one."
Gagne came up with the idea for the group 10 years ago. As a religious education teacher at St. Mary's Church in Jewett City, he encouraged the kids to do good works.
"In Christianity, the best way to help God is to help somebody else," Gagne said.
Gagne decided to bring his sixth-grade students to a local nursing home to brighten the lives of the residents there, but he found it wasn't so easy.
"The kids were on one side of the room and the residents were on the other side of the room and there was no way to mingle to get together. So, I thought music would be one of the most powerful and dynamic ways to do that," Gagne said. "I have no musical ability of my own, so I thought, like, lip-synching would be a good way to do it."
In the group's first year, there were eight members. This year, Spittin' Image will perform at 21 different facilities.
Residents of the nursing homes, including those at the Norwichtown Rehabilitation and Care Facility, said they love the performances.
"They know, with the holiday season, the show kicks it off and they really enjoy it," said Beth Ann Heath, from Norwichtown Rehabilitation and Care. "Anytime you bring kids and the residents together, it's always a win."
"You're better this year than you were last year," Mal Smith, a resident, told Gagne.
"Well, thank you," Gagne replied. "And, you know why we're back here?"
"Because you got a lot of talent," Smith said.
Andrew Laro, of Griswold, is one of the 11 members of Spittin' Image. Just days before he was to perform with the group, he needed emergency surgery.
"When I was recovering, Gary called me up and asked me how I was doing. The next day, in the morning, my mom and I were watching 'Everyday Heroes' and I just said, 'That's Gary,'" Andrew said.
"He went right downstairs and started typing up a letter," said Andrew's mom, Anne.
All the youngsters in the group are big fans of Gagne.
"Gary's just a magnificent person," said Katrina Landry.
"I think Gary is an awesome guy," said Anna Cote.
"I think Gary's awesome because he does this for the old people," said Thomas Shaffer.
"I think Gary is just a wonderful person and he's very giving," said Kayla Rizzuto.
"I think Gary's just great for bringing the joy to the elderly people's day," said Kirsten Drobiak.
The parents are happy to see him receive this attention.
"Gary is all about helping people and he looks for nothing. He really does look for nothing and that is why this is so great for him," said Ricky Landry, a father of one of the group members.
Tim Shaffer, who is Thomas Shaffer's father, has known Gagne for more than 20 years. Gagne also happens to be Tim Shaffer's barber.
"It's about giving back to the community, and that's what Gary understands and gets so well," Tim Shaffer said.
"We are going to have one heck of a show here because I have the most awesome people around me," Gagne said at a performance in Norwich.
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