Follow the Pipes

Follow the Pipes is a series of presentations featuring various venues and organists of the Fort Wayne area. Participants are welcome to join at any location, and these events are FREE! View all of the stops here. This event is hosted by The History Center and the Fort Wayne Chapter The American Guild of Organists.

The Embassy Theatre's stop will feature organist Cletus Goens. Cletus began piano lessons at an early age in his hometown of Marion, Indiana. Then at fourteen, he was bitten by the theatre organ bug after hearing the Wurlitzer organ at Indianapolis’ Paramount Music Palace. Two years later, he began helping out as an organist at the Anderson Paramount Theatre during intermissions. Throughout high school, Cletus was booked in several Midwestern restaurants and lounges on Hammond organ, and played theatre organ whenever possible, most notably at Kokomo's Pipe Dream and Fort Wayne's Cardinal Music Palace, being mentored by legendary Fort Wayne organist Buddy Nolan. Cletus moved to Fort Wayne in 1998 to be closer to his beloved Embassy and its Grand Page organ, and held post as first official organist for the Fort Wayne Wizards baseball team for three seasons. He now serves as the official house organist at the Embassy Theatre where he has provided organ music and demonstrations of the Grande Page for tours, including Follow the Pipes and Festival of Trees. By day, he can be found employed by Sweetwater Sound as their Piano Specialist.