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  • Carriage House of the Horicon Historical Society 6696 New York 8 Brant Lake, New York, 12815 United States (map)

An Old Fashioned Sing-Along Celebrates Jimmy Van Heusen in Brant Lake

Piano and sheet music used at a sing-along.

Sing-along in Brant Lake on Sunday.

Some of the most familiar songs in the American songbook have an unexpected Adirondack connection.

On Sunday, August 16, the Old Fashioned Sing-Along at the Carriage House of the Horicon Historical Society in Brant Lake brings the music of legendary composer Jimmy Van Heusen back to the community he called home for the final decades of his life.

Beginning at 3 pm, the afternoon combines live music, storytelling, solo performances and — as the name promises — plenty of opportunities for the audience to join in.

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Jimmy Van Heusen’s Adirondack connection.

Even those who don’t recognize Van Heusen’s name probably know his music. A longtime collaborator with lyricists Johnny Burke and Sammy Cahn, Van Heusen wrote songs recorded by some of the biggest voices of the 20th century, particularly Frank Sinatra.

Cover of the Frank Sinatra album Come Fly With Me

His catalog includes “Come Fly With Me,” “High Hopes,” “All the Way,” “Call Me Irresponsible,” “Love and Marriage” and “Swinging on a Star.” Over the course of a remarkable career, Van Heusen received 10 Academy Award nominations and won four Oscars for Best Song, along with an Emmy.

That Hollywood résumé makes the local chapter of his story particularly intriguing. Van Heusen and his wife, Bobbie, spent the last 20 years of his life at Brant Lake — giving this afternoon of music a sense of place that goes well beyond nostalgia.

An Adirondacks sing-along with stories behind the songs.

Laurence Meltzer, Van Heusen’s nephew, will narrate the program, sharing stories and insights into his uncle’s life and music. Meltzer and Greta Heilman produced the afternoon, with Karin Peet, Didi Dreyer and Joe Millington featured as soloists.

Audience participation is part of the plan. Rather than a conventional concert where listeners sit quietly until the applause sign arrives, several numbers will become true sing-alongs.

That makes the program approachable for longtime Sinatra devotees, casual music lovers and anyone who simply enjoys an old song sung in good company. No vocal résumé required.

ADK Taste insight.

The setting makes this event especially worth noting. The Horicon Historical Society preserves the history of a rural Adirondack community stretching back to the early 19th century, and its collections tell the stories of the families, hotels, estates and everyday life that shaped the Town of Horicon.

Van Heusen adds an unexpected bit of show-business history to that local story: an Oscar-winning songwriter whose music traveled around the world ultimately made his home beside an Adirondack lake.

ADK Taste recommendation.

Arrive a little early and treat the program as part concert, part local-history outing. Visitors staying in Brant Lake, Chestertown or Loon Lake can easily fold the 3 pm performance into a relaxed Sunday afternoon — and when the sing-along starts, participation beats perfection.

Old Fashioned Sing-Along event details.

What: Old Fashioned Sing-Along featuring the music of Jimmy Van Heusen

When: Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 3 pm

Where: Carriage House, Horicon Historical Society, Brant Lake, NY

Featuring: Laurence Meltzer, Karin Peet, Didi Dreyer and Joe Millington

Visitors should check the Horicon Historical Society website or its Facebook page for any last-minute program updates before heading out.

Frequently asked questions.

When is the Old Fashioned Sing-Along in Brant Lake?‍ ‍

The program takes place Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 3 pm.

Where is the Jimmy Van Heusen sing-along?‍ ‍

It will be held at the Carriage House of the Horicon Historical Society in Brant Lake, New York.

Who was Jimmy Van Heusen?‍ ‍

Van Heusen was an Oscar- and Emmy-winning American composer whose songs included “Come Fly With Me,” “High Hopes,” “All the Way,” and “Swinging on a Star.”

Did Jimmy Van Heusen live in the Adirondacks?‍ ‍

Yes. Van Heusen spent the final 20 years of his life living with his wife, Bobbie, on Brant Lake.

Will the audience actually sing?‍ ‍

Yes. The program includes several audience sing-along opportunities along with storytelling and featured soloists.

Is Brant Lake near Chestertown and Loon Lake?‍ ‍

Yes. Brant Lake is in the southern Adirondacks, making this an especially convenient event for visitors staying in the Brant Lake, Chestertown and Loon Lake area.

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