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<h2>How Shri Ghantasala Helped the Formation of Detroit Telugu
Association</h2>
<a href="mailto:katta_murty@umich.edu">Katta Murty</a>
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<P><I>Editors Note: This article is in Unicode; If you cannot see the Telugu script, please scroll down to read the RTS Transcription, or see the <a href="g-detr.pdf"> pdf version here</a>
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<P>In September, October 1970, a visit of Ghantasala with an accompanying troupe  of
musical assistants and the mimicry artist Venumadhav to a select set of
American cities was sponsored by Palanki
Ramarao (PR) garu of New Jersey. PR knows Katta Murty (KM) of Ann Arbor.
So, PR called KM and asked whether it would be possible to arrange a
visit of the group to Detroit.</P>

<P>At that time there was no Telugu association in Michigan. So KM talked with
Tummala Madhavarao (TM) and Cerukuri Ramarao (CR) and some others
about the possibility of the visit. They thought that it was a great
opportunity that should not be passed up, and started organizing for the
visit.</P>

<P>When the group arrived,  Ghantasala was already suffering from a severe cold and
exhaustion from continuous travel. Each member of the visiting group was
provided accommodation for their stay with a Telugu family living around
Detroit. Ghantasala stayed in CR's house. Lunches and dinners to honor the
visiting troupe were organized by many  Telugu families, but Ghantasala did not attend any
of them because of his cold, and also because he was afraid
of loosing his voice by eating too much.</P>

<P>The group stayed in Michigan for only a couple of days. During the
daytimes, we took the group sightseeing, visiting Detroit city, and
landmarks like the Green field village and the Ford Assembly plant. Ghantasala
joined some of these trips and seemed to enjoy them immensely.</P>

<P>The main event was of course the concert held one evening. In spite of
his poor health Ghantasala insisted on fulfilling his commitment to his fans,
and the concert started around 7 PM, with his rendering of 
.G .>/> ,M0$AG .>/>.
He started the concert saying (> *>2M2J (M(??(M(> (>A (M?&? &G. 8K&0A!A (>G8M500>5M  &G5&>8A2K  *>A &M-A$.FV( (( *M0&0M8?>!A.
For many in the audience it was a great thrill to hear
Ghantasala sing this song in person, and there was wild applause for a long time.</P>

<P>The concert was attended by an unbelievably large crowd consisting of
not only Telugu people, but also many people from all states in South
India, and many North Indians as well, and it lasted many hours. We
wanted to reimburse the visiting group for at least their travel
expenses, so we had to charge $10/person, which was considered a large
amount at that time by many people.</P>

<P>Even around midnight the audience were bringing slips of paper with names
of songs that they wanted Ghantasala to sing. At that time Ghantasala made an anouncement
to the following effect .?$M0A2A (.8M>0. 0M%0>$M0? >58M$K&?, /?(> > >2> *>2A *>!.(? K0A$A(M(>0A. (>G$ *>!?AK5>2>(G .@ -?2>7A '(M/5>&>2A, >(@ 28M/ 5!.B2>( 5>3M?? *(?5M5.(? (> K0?. .@A > (> *>2A 5?(>2(?	G ((M(A .3M3@ J8>0? .@ 
0A? *?2?*?AK.(? (> *M0>0M'(. *M*A!A .3 *>!? 5M5>3M3 .A?8M$>.A .@ (AK!?</P>

<P>This way the program was a success beyond our expectations. This
concert was the starting point for Telugu programs in Michigan. Shortly
after that program the Detroit Telugu Association (DTA) took shape. Ghantasala's
trip and his concert provided the impetus for the birth of this association.</P>

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