Remembering Arletta Raley | ETV Classics

May 15, 2026
Arletta Raley - SCETV. Collage.

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Arletta Raley was an educational television producer for South Carolina ETV and a music educator for the SC Department of Education, creating a number of long-running series, such as Time for Sounds, Experiences in Music, and several holiday specials, which became treasured programs in our ETV Classics collection. 

As well as being a renowned director of all things choral, Arletta was the quintessential storyteller. 

We are continually working to add content from our archives to ETV Classics, and more programs produced by Arletta Raley will be coming in the near future. 

 

Time For Sounds II: Songs to Sing (1968) | ETV Classics

In this ETV Classic from 1968, we find Arletta Raley teaching the rudiments of music theory using hand signals, and rhythmic notation, including half-notes, quarter-notes and eighth-notes. She also teaches the word "ostinato," a continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm. With eight students in the ETV Studio to help with her demonstrations, Mrs. Raley reaches out through the medium of television to students in the classroom

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Arletta Raley teaching. ETV Classic

Time For Sounds: A Sixteenth Century Christmas (1969) | ETV Classics

We did a great deal of digging in the ETV Tape Vault to find this special 1969 ETV Classic! Arletta Raley, Musical Director of the educational series, Time for Sounds, featured the Madrigal Singers from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina performing under the direction of Dr. Charles Gaines.

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Arletta Raley - Madrigal

The Drum: Christmas Special (1972) | ETV Classics

The Christmas Special consists of two musical features. The Drum is a pageant with words and music by Katherine K. Davis, with a story line marking the journey of all who sought to honor the new born king found lying in a manger. and the beautiful South Carolina Sings Christmas with the University of South Carolina Concert Choir with Arpad Darazs, internationally renowned conductor and choral director.

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The Drum | ETV Classic

Carol of the Violin (1978) | ETV Classics

In this ETV Classics: Holiday Edition, viewers take a glimpse inside a Christmas Eve celebration. After the family exchange gifts, Mama plays Silent Night and various other Christmas songs on her violin.

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Carol of the Violin - ETV Classics

The Gargoyle: Christmas Special (1982) | ETV Classics on Knowitall.org.

A mysterious white-winged creature knocks the gargoyle from his perch. As a result of this encounter and after helping to mend the creature's wings, the gargoyle receives a Christmas miracle to comfort his lonely soul.

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Arletta in the play The Gargoyle.

The Governor's Carolighting 1982 | ETV Classics

Were you there in 1982 on a damp and cold wintry evening for the Governor's Carolighting? You or someone you know might have been! We hope that you will enjoy this glorious program from ETV Classics!

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Arletta Raley conducts 1982 Governors Carolighting.

The Singing Christmas Tree (1985) | ETV Classics.

Produced by Arletta Raley and Directed by Algric Leo Chaplin, The Singing Christmas Tree is a timeless, festive presentation of song and dance to celebrate the Christmas holidays. Christian hymns and secular Christmas carols are presented by the ensemble staged as a towering Christmas tree.

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Singing Christmas Tree. ETV Classics.

Side Notes

  • Obituary - Arletta Raley - May 20, 1936 to July 10, 2025.
Connie Robinette
Connie Robinette
Writer and tape librarian for South Carolina ETV's vault.
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