Illini Statesmen

by Tom Woodall, Coles County (Illinois) Chapter

A Little Background The Harmony Brigade initiative began more than 50 years ago when singers from the Dixie (and the now Sunshine Districts) decided it would be fun for quartet singers to meet in some ”southern city” for a weekend of musical fellowship and fun. It was quite informal. Charlie Rose, (his membership number is 100881) is the current “go to guy” when it comes to Brigade history was involved in those early Confederate Brigades. In 1990, he initiated a Carolina Brigade which was much more structured. Eight years ago, the Indiana Brigade formed and the following year, there was an Atlantic Brigade. The movement is spreading so fast, it is hard to follow. The Great Lakes Brigade kicked off last June and in the near future there will be new Brigades in Minnesota, Nevada and Toronto.

Currently, attendance is by invitation only (following a letter of application with references) and quartet men assemble at a pre-designated city for a two day weekend affair. The number of attendees varies from 100 to perhaps 150 singers. Some men travel great distance and annually sing in several Brigades around the country. They received music and learning CDs at least 5 months in advance and are required to know at least 10 songs by memory....so well that they can stand up and sing any of them with three other singers....at the drop of a hat. At some Brigades, men arrive early on Friday and sing in schools and retirement homes. The first official meeting finds men randomly assigned to foursomes and given a song they will sing in the Friday night contest. This year the IHB had 32 quartets (with only two or three men doubling up on parts). Judges select the top ten quartets who then sing a different song (they received the title as they walk on stage to sing) in the finals on Saturday night. Most Brigades perform a Saturday night Show for the public. It is quite a sound when more than 120 men, who though they have been together for just a few hours, unify and perform the songs they have learned over a five month period. Highly qualified directors bring it together in a two hour chorus rehearsal.

My Indiana Brigade ExperienceThough an experienced 47 year Barbershopper, up until recently, I had only heard about the “Brigade” experience. I never tried to find out much about it until a year ago when long time barbershop friend and judge, Mike O’Donnell (Michigan) encouraged me to give it a try. He was persuasive enough that Tim (our son) and I both sent in application letters and Mike was kind enough to provide the needed recommendation that we be included in the big event which was to be held in Indianapolis, IN on November 12th and 13th. Shortly thereafter we received our invitations to attend, we both received part specific learning CDs and a spiral binder of music to the ten songs to be learned. The day it arrived, the adventure began and because of so many other irons in the fire, I delayed in seriously starting to learn and memorize the songs. That was my first mistake.

These were not “pole cat” songs, and many were very complex arrangements with complicated rhythmic patterns and some stylistic issues that would not be acceptable on the contest stage. But they were all interesting and forced an “old dog to learn some new tricks”. Of the ten songs, “You’re Just Too Marvelous” had the most words...it seemed like hundreds and they required hours of memorization work. Probably the most difficult song in terms of staying in tune, was “Tangerine” with four key changes, lots of tight harmonies, sections of “doot, doot doot” and “bah dap bop” (new stuff for an old Dave Stevens/Burt Szabo guy) and some underlying “Latin American” rhythms. Both songs were exciting, partly because the arranger (Mark Hale) made them that way. The David Wright chart of “Goodbye World, Goodbye” may have been the weekend favorite. I teach a Sunday School class of 70 to 80 year olds. Driving home late Saturday night and in the early Sunday morning hours, I decided that since the lesson was about the “shortness of life”, I’d played the “Goodbye World, Goodbye” CD track for them to open the class. It saved my lesson, because my class preparation had been interrupted by IHB concerns.

There were a host of men who made the weekend work, but knowing the men in this foursome, I forced them into a quick photo op. From left to right, they are Duane Henry, who is President of the Indiana Harmony Brigade, and long time Barbershopper who sings in the 2009 Cardinal District Championship Quartet. He and his cohorts are so organized...he must have sent out 50 IHB emails in the last four months. Mike O’Donnell is from Michigan. He’s been a Presentation judge, chorus director, quartet singer and last summer he “ramrodded” the first Great Lakes Harmony Brigade. He wrote the recommendation letters for Tim and me to be invited. Dave Gelb (Vincennes, IN) is a Cardinal District icon when it comes to promoting this hobby. He’s directed choruses, sung in quartets, organized many “educational” opportunities (schools/workshops) and our Coles County guys know him indirectly as the father of Chris Gelb who currently sings in a gospel quartet (Legacy) with three former Coles County guys. Gary Texeira is well known in barbershop circles as the former tenor of “Gotcha” (International Quartet Champs). He now directs the Circle City Chorus (Indianapolis) and is bringing them back as an excellent chorus (they averaged 83.3 in their runner-up position in the Fall Cardinal District Contest). In addition, his current quartet (Fourfront) won the Fall District title with an 83.6 average. He, Dave and Mike all directed the IHB chorus in two songs each.

My Friday night quartet decided on the name “But Wait, There’s More”. The foursome was: Ken Huber – Ohio T, Steve King – Indiana L, Chuck Murray – Michigan Bs and Tom Woodall – Illinois Br. We could have called ourselves the “Interstate Rivals” but we knew that most of the singers would recognize that name as belonging to great quartet from years ago. I was pleased that the song selected for us was “My Ideal” (made popular in Illinois by a District Champ Quartet (early 1970’s) named “The Ideals” quartet. We didn’t make the “cut” but sang better on stage than in our 20 minutes practice session and as you would expect, the audience of quartet men made everyone feel like a winner.

Tim drew three singers that were very experienced and they sang well enough to make it to the finals. They did an excellent job on Friday night with the wordy “Too Marvelous for Words” From left to right they are: Brad McAlexander – Ohio – Bs, Ken Huber – Ohio T (note.. he sang in Tom’s quartet as well), Tim Woodall – Illinois L, and Mike Deputy – Utah, Br) It was suggested that Tim stand on a box so as to make his lack of height not be so conspicuous. They called themselves “Evergreen”. Had they selected the name of “The High - Lows” they might have won the contest.




Quartets came up with all sorts of crazy names. “My Other Brother Darryl”, “The Next Exit” and “Compost Occurs” were three of the more memorable names. But when Tim’s foursome was announced as second place in the finals, it was obvious that the winners would be “The Testoster-Tones” I wonder if they were drug tested? Below, Evergreen displays their Runner-Up Certificates but you’ll notice that

Brad’s certificate is hiding his special T-Shirt. He agreed to allow an unobstructed view good frontal view for all you musicians.

Though the contest was fun and a bit stressful as you awaited to hear the name of the song you would sing, the weekend was much more than competition. In fact, the concept of singing with three “prepared” strangers (they weren’t strangers after the first locked chord) was very interesting. As the weekend hours wore on, one could see the growth of sincere respect and appreciation for the individuals and the entire group. Those who had attended other Brigades (about 75% of the men) already knew about the “bond” that would take place.

On Saturday morning in the Motel room, I sang a low Bb easily and wondered what would happen throughout the day....especially when the 30+ new guys would be asked to sing for the others in the morning hours. We practiced with them and it was amazing how quickly the range improved upwards. Unfortunately, Tim and I misunderstood the time of the performance and when we appeared to get on stage...the guys were already singing. They sang very well without us..... : - D We sang along from out seats and got this photo.

We think there were five Illinois District guys in attendance, but could only locate the four of us: Tom (Charleston), Mike Dohogne (Granite City), Bruce Richardson (Kankakee) and Tim (Effingham)

Most barbershoppers know that frequently, fathers/sons/brothers etc get interested and there are significant “all in the family” type opportunities possible. While walking down the hall, we met two brothers, who introduced themselves and told how their father got them started barbershopping in Michigan, many years ago. In fact there were times when the dad and three brothers would all attend a Brigade together. When we decided to sing a song together we found out that we (Dave Queen, Tim, Tom and Ed Queen) had three baris and a lead. No problem. we switched some parts and enjoyed a very musical experience. Brother Joe Queen was also attending, but dad didn’t make it this time. Dave lives in Nevada, so he was pushing us to attend a 2011 Brigade in Reno.

The name Charlie Rose is rather well known. Those who watch TV often will see him interviewing celebrities with great regularity. Even in barbershop circles, that name is popular. There were two guys with that name at the IHB. One was from Indiana, but we grabbed North Carolina Charlie for a quick photo. He kindly explained the shortened version of Brigade history (since he has been part of it from the beginning) as shown at the top of this email summary.

The 120+ man chorus performed for several hundred people in an area high school. Never having been in a large chorus that sang that well was indeed and interesting experience. It allowed one to focus on his very best tension free, supported and resonant vocal production, knowing that he did not have to “carry” the section. Most of the chorus singers, have home chapter choruses that are barely 25% the size of this group. Prior to the Show, it was fun to take a picture of Tim (short guy in the back row) across the sea of men preparing to sing in front of him. It was Norman Rockwell moment for me. The show went very well....as you might expect.

Several adult male quartets performed very well on the show, but the crowd favorite was the Reen Family Singers. We had been told they were very good and before we went to the risers, we got a picture of the kids. Only four of them performed...the three boys in tuxes (age 9, 11 and 12) and 8 year old sister (red velvet dress) who sang the Lida Rose solo with the quartet. The parents are both music teachers and performers. It brought back memories of when I first heard the Osmond brothers sing at the South Dakota State Fair in the mid-1960’s The unchanged voices locked up chords and thrilled the audience. Can you imagine what is in store in a few years when the three younger ones join the group. It will be the Von Trapp Family all over again.

Thanks for letting me share a unique and fascinating 36 hour barbershop experience with you. The Harmony Brigade (Extreme Quartetting) concept is moving throughout the country rapidly and it may be taken to Europe in a few years.

Check out this web site for additional information: www.harmonybrigade.org/faq.php

by Fred Baran

October 31, 2010, was a day that our Quartet, the original members of Rare Occasion, will fondly remember and add as another treasured event in our history of singing barbershop together. The day marked the 80th birthday of our bass, Bill Manion, a member of the BHS for over 45 years. Bill’s wife, Nancy, started planning in April 2010 to have a surprise party for Bill and also a reunion of Rare Occasion, the Quartet that he was instrumental in founding in early 2000 in Danbury Connecticut. Our original Lead, Paul Just and his wife Janet, upon Paul's retirement as a math teacher in June 2006, moved to Homosassa, Florida, from Danbury, Connecticut, where we all sang with the Danbury Mad Hatters Chorus. Upon moving to Florida, Paul joined the Hernando Harmonizers who meet in Weeki Wachee, Florida.

In early 2009, while visiting the Just's, Bill and Nancy Manion decided to relocate to Florida, and in June 2009, sold their home in Ridgefield, Connecticut, and bought a retirement home in Timber Pines in Spring Hill, Florida, about 20 miles from the Just’s. Bill also became a member of the Hernando Harmonizers, and he and Paul are helping to form a new quartet, which began rehearsing in November.

In order to have a Rare Occasion reunion, Jim Hopper, baritone, and Fred Baran, tenor, made plans to fly down to Florida to attend Bill's surprise birthday party on Sunday, October 31st, and attend the Hernando Harmonizers regular rehearsal the following evening. We took along some Rare Occasion uniforms for Bill and Paul, and while we had not sung together for over four years, we fell right back into our familiar “groove” with some favored songs from our old repertoire.

Needless to say, Bill was very surprised when he arrived at his birthday dinner party at Nouvelle Cuisine Restaurant in Spring Hill and saw Jim Hopper and his wife Marti, and Fred Baran sitting at the table in their Rare Occasion shirts, singing Happy Birthday. As for our singing, we received many compliments, and as Bill is wont to say, “It's like riding a bike, you never forget.”

Paul and Janet were excellent hosts and kept us “under cover” until the Sunday dinner so that we not spoil the surprise. On Monday afternoon Bill and Nancy hosted us for a luncheon and cookout at their beautiful new home in Spring Hill. While warming up to sing for the Harmonizers at their Monday night meeting, the original Rare Occasion sang for many hours and remembered most of the songs from their repertoire of over 40 songs. Rare Occasion is still singing with the Mad Hatters in Danbury, Connecticut, and Robert Golenbock, Lead, and Terry Dunkle, Bass, have replaced Paul and Bill, respectively.

Bill Manion is a retired nuclear engineer who is still active as a consultant, and recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Nuclear Society. Jim Hopper and Paul Just are retired math teachers, and Fred Baran enjoyed a 31 year career with Texaco. Robert Golenbock is a pediatrician and Terry Dunkle, a former editor with Reader's Digest. We originally chose the name Rare Occasion to mark how infrequently we were able to get to rehearse due to business travel commitments and work schedules.

We ended our reunion with Bill and Paul, by singing at their rehearsal meeting of the Hernando Harmonizers, who were gracious hosts, then joining them for some post-meeting fun and singing at Carrabba’s, their local gathering spot. Whenever I hear the Boston Common singing “That Old Quartet of Mine,” it takes me back to the numerous, wonderful singing appearances that we enjoyed as members of Rare Occasion, and especially to Bill Manion, the great man and friend who initially brought us together.

Our thanks also to Nancy Manion and Paul and Janet Just whose plans and accommodations made the whole weekend possible.

By Steve Jordon
(Originally posted at Omaha.com)

About 80 men stand on risers, take a breath together and then sing:
"It’s been so grand with you, my friend, but soon, now, our time will end..."

It’s the opening number for the Pathfinder Chorus, and the singers’ enthusiasm wins your heart as you watch them practice, combining “Auld Lang Syne” and “South Rampart Street Parade,” and later while they croon “Heart of My Heart” during an informal after-rehearsal session.

This month, 78 members of the group traveled to Mason City, Iowa, and won the hearts of judges at a five-state regional contest. It was the biggest event for the Pathfinders since the singing group began in 1972, and apparently the first such victory by a Nebraska group in more than 50 years.

How about singing “Jeepers Creepers,” or “What’ll I Do,” or “I Got a Gal in Kalamazoo”? “I Will Never Pass This Way Again,” “I’m Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover,” “That’s an Irish Lullaby,” “Blue Velvet”…

Last summer, the chorus competed as a “wild card” at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s international festival in Philadelphia. Next July 3 through 10, thanks to the Pathfinders’ recent win, it will be a full qualifier when the society meets in Kansas City, Mo.

Although the chorus is based in Fremont, Neb., most of the members are from out of town, driving in from the Omaha area, Lincoln, Columbus, Beatrice, Grand Island, Sioux City, Iowa, and towns in between.

They’re looking for new members, too, said director Pete Stibor, an office supplies sales and marketing manager by day and a leader of men by night.

“We want to grow in numbers, but we want to grow musically as well,” said Stibor, whose personal goals include directing the group at the Holland Performing Arts Center in Omaha. He prefers the term a cappella, which means singing without accompaniment and is, literally, Italian for “in the style of a chapel.”

Members range in age from 11 to 85. There’s an audition, and you have to be able to sing in tune. But once in, you’re a part of the group, even if your vocal cords grow weary over time. Members who recruit newcomers observe a half-serious rule: Anyone you bring in has to be younger, a better singer and better-looking.

… “God Bless the USA,” “Sweet Georgia Brown,” “Shenandoah,” “Little Darlin’,” “Peg o’ My Heart,” “Hey, Look Me Over,” “Danny Boy,” “The Music of the Night,” “Deep Purple” …

While the rehearsal focused closely on the sound, the visual aspect was fascinating, too — the expressions of these six dozen men. They’re not just singing, they’re acting: the soulful lover pining for his girl, the cheerful greeter welcoming you to an evening of entertainment, even the joyful celebrant dancing a Western-style jig.

It’s not simple singing — not like humming in the shower to yourself, not like karaoke with a recorded backup band.

Words in these tunes can flip past quickly, and in a chorus this size, every singer must enunciate every syllable or the whole thing comes out like mush. Songs change keys in midstream. Because it’s a cappella, no instruments hint at the next note or keep singers on pitch.

The harmonies can be complex and subtle — a half-pitch off can ruin a classic chord and disrupt the mood. But sung accurately, the harmonies are what make barbershop singing engaging, nostalgic and fun.

If a quartet can produce a full, exciting sound, think of the musical picture that four-times-20 singers can paint.

It’s all memorized, down to the hand-clapping, head-turning and winks and nods that bring selections to life.

… “What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor?” “Mr. Touchdown USA,” “Ave Maria,” “After the Lovin’,” “For Me and My Gal,” “My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose,” “Let’s Get Away From It All” …

After the rehearsal, 30 or 40 of the men adjourn to Irv’s in downtown Fremont, where tables are lined up in advance, and begin to sing, sometimes soft and sweet, sometimes raucous, sometimes sentimental, sometimes just plain funny.

As the night deepens, they drift away a few at a time. Some quartets assemble on the sidewalk, singing tunes everyone knows. Then they head home to their families, with another night of good memories and a sense that they’ve learned something.

… “Chattanooga Choo-Choo,” “Dear Hearts and Gentle People,” “Let’s Get Away From It All,” “When I Fall In Love,” “I’m Confessin’ ” “Old Cape Cod” …

The music is fun, and that attracts the men. But the longer-lasting bond, the thing that brings them every Monday evening to First Presbyterian Church, that makes them call up their Internet website or turn on a CD to learn the words and music before rehearsals, is the man-to-man connection.

“It’s my adult fraternity,” said Roger Millnitz of Lincoln.

In a time when men can be isolated from each other by computers, political parties, religions, family tangles, age, social categories and economic disparity, they can join together close for this. Your personality comes through. You do your part, support the fellow in front, beside and behind you. You accomplish something together with a group of men.

Not that there’s anything wrong with women, of course. The world’s great vocal music calls for men and women to sing together.

But a male chorus? Well, there’s something special about listening to one, and there’s something special about singing in one, too.

Something special about the Pathfinders.
Contact the writer:
444-1080, steve.jordon@owh.com

Friday morning, October 15th, the site where the first meeting of the Barbershop Harmony Society was held was seriously damaged by fire. The building had been vacant for many years and had suffered multiple small fires started by vagrants over the years. However, this fire was located in the ballroom on the top floor and has sustained serious fire damage. The first Society meeting on April 11, 1938, was held on the roof which is now badly charred.

Read the story originally posted at TulsaWorld.com

Read more about Society history here.

The BABS 2008 champion and International Society International Quarterfinalist and collegiate finalists The Great British Barbershop Boys (formerly known as Monkey Magic) have been signed by Sony records. The tenor Alan Hughes has announced that GBBB will be releasing a Christmas album in time for the upcoming holiday season.

GBBB is extremely excited about this opportunity, and is encouraging all fans and supporters of the quartet to pre-order the album on Amazon.co.uk. Strong pre-order numbers obviously will help the album climb in Amazon UK's album rankings and provide increased publicity for barbershop. Click here to pre-order the album off of www.amazon.co.uk.

Visit The Great British Barbershop Boys on Facebook.

Originally posted at http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/296646 By STEPHEN KOPFINGER, Correspondent

Four-part voice male quartet Touchstone takes top honors at barbershop convention where the crowd yelled, cheered and barked.


It was Crunch Time in the big room.

Plus a whole lot of people threw Frank the Dog a bone.

Did we mention the guys in the pajamas?

It sounds like chaos, but it all added up to something as disciplined as four-part harmony Saturday night at the Lancaster County Convention Center. That's where the 2010 Mid-Atlantic District Fall Convention of the Barbershop Harmony Society filled the cavernous Freedom Hall with sweet sounds, of, well, barbershop harmony.

As in quartets, and choruses. As in, that's it. No orchestras. No studio re-mixes. Just vocal talent, blended as smooth as butter.

Yes, the words "barbershop quartet" conjure up images of older guys in striped blazers and straw hats crooning lyrics such as "I want a girl just like the girl that married dear old dad." That was there — right down to those very lyrics — at the convention center, but the guys who were delivering them were born long after Adm. Dewey came home from the Spanish-American War.

Just ask Brett Thomas, 26. There's nothing staid about barbershopping to him, even if he and his teammates from the Crunch Time quartet were turned out in smartly-trimmed blazers.

"It's a blast. I love these weekends," said Thomas, of Pottstown.

What's the attraction?

"That's a loaded question!" Thomas said. He summed it up as "good people, great music."

And he's been into it since he was 9.

"My grandfather got me into it," Thomas said. "I've never let go of it."

"We're essentially part of a fraternity," agreed Matt Fellows, 27, who sings alongside Thomas with Shawn Thomas and Eric Wallen. Fellows, too, has been into barbershop since he was a kid. For him, it's "making music and the thrill of competition."

As it turned out, Crunch Time took second place among the final top 10 quartets who wowed a room filled with an estimated 2,500 people. Touchstone, a group whose members hail from Maryland to Virginia to Harrisburg, took top honors.

To the audience, pretty much everyone on stage was a winner.

They cheered, football-style, the way people do at a Penn State game. They yelled words of encouragement, as if at a high school graduation. And they barked. Yes, barked, when Frank the Dog took to the boards.

Frank and friends, who hail from the Philadelphia/New Jersey area, enjoy tweaking tradition, but their rendition of "In the Cool, Cool, Cool Cool of the Evening" was strictly old school. That wasn't the case with another act, Up All Night, in which the guys stepped into the spotlight in pajamas, where they serenaded a delighted crowd about the joys — not! — of sliding into middle-age manhood.

But barbershop harmony, as mentioned, is for all ages, even in today's jaded age. Frank the Dog, for instance, raised some $400 at the convention for Youth in Harmony, an organization which keeps the tradition alive among young people.

That doesn't surprise Dick Powell, vice president of the Mid-Atlantic District. A cappella singing, he noted, is on the rise on college campuses.

"They don't want to play poker," he said. "They don't want to go bowling. They want to sing."

As discussed in the July/August 2010 issue of The Harmonizer: At the Society’s request, for more than a year, members of the Society Contest & Judging Committee (SCJC) have been investigating an idea that would nearly double the number of choruses eligible to compete on the international stage—dividing the most talented Society choruses into two equal pools to compete on alternating years. The suggestion was proposed by multiple sources, with arguments and anecdotal support compelling enough to request the SCJC research.

Highlights of the proposed two-year rotationThe Society Contest and Judging Committee has formulated a transition plan that would create two equivalent “flights” of competitors, one for 2012 (Portland) and one for 2013 (Toronto). Proposed dates are the committee’s recommendations and are subject to change.  2-Year Rotation Research and Materials
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Example of chorus selection from 2009 scores

NOTE: A poll for Society members and Associates will go live on Sept. 6. Check back here Sept. 6 to take the poll. .

• Qualification for the 2011 contest in Kansas City will follow current rules, i.e. based on 2010 Fall District Contest scores.
• All choruses scoring 81 or higher during the 2010 district chorus contests (or if they do not compete in fall 2010, based on 2010 international scores) will be divided into two groups based on a set formula.
• One group will receive invitations to qualify for slots in the Portland 2012 International Contest. The other group will receive invitations to qualify for slots in the Toronto 2013 International Contest. (Requests from choruses will be honored to the greatest extent possible.)
• These will only be invitations to qualify for international competition on specific years; invited choruses must still post high enough qualifying scores at their Fall District Contests held 8-9 months prior.
• The remaining international slots for 2012 will be filled based on 2011 Fall District Contest scores. Remaining international slots for 2013 will be based on 2012 Fall District Contest scores.
• Districts are guaranteed at least one representative every year.
• All choruses that compete in an international contest on a given year will be ineligible to qualify for the next year’s international contest.
• All choruses are eligible to compete in district contests for score and for district championships in any year, regardless of international eligibility.
• Any chorus that didn’t compete at international on a given year—no matter what the reason—will be eligible to qualify for the next year’s international contest.
• International champs still sit out two years, effectively switching from A to B rotation. Go to www.barbershop.org/2year for a detailed explanation of the proposed transition plan, including a hypothetical A/B rotation based on 2009 district and international scores.

By Shoshee Jau
Originally posted at The Daily Bruin

It all began with a Bach chorale in a music theory class.

From there, the Bach singers expanded their song set from pre-classical tunes in the classroom to the upbeat rhythms and seventh-chord blends of “Coney Island Baby” on the stage.

Fourth-year trumpet student Enrico Lopez-Yanez and fourth-year classical guitar student Kevin Nash first began singing in an all-male quartet their freshman year for a music theory course, but what began as a casual classroom joke soon developed into a barbershop quartet called Three Times a Lady.

“We were originally asked for our class to pair up into groups of four to sing Bach chorales as an assignment, and we thought it would be entertaining to have an all-male, instead of a two-female, two-male group,” said Lopez-Yanez, the group’s tenor.

As the four original members grew closer with each song, Lopez-Yanez said their teaching assistant from music theory class, a former barbershop quartet singer, helped them launch Three Times a Lady. In addition to Lopez-Yanez and Nash, the group now includes third-year ethnomusicology students Joseph Lorge, the group’s bass singer, and Wyatt Stone as lead singer.

Traditionally sung a cappella by four male singers, barbershop music involves one lead singer backed by sustained, constantly changing harmonies. Since its beginnings in the 1940s, the style has remained similar, though the singing material has grown to include renditions and parodies of popular songs.

“It’s like vocal acrobatics,” Lopez-Yanez said.

Named after the Commodores’ hit single, Three Times a Lady holds recitals on campus and performs in various settings in the L.A. area, such as organization banquets and community festivals.

Because none of the four members come from a vocal background, they see their performances and rehearsals as opportunities to relax and hone a new skill, said Nash, a baritone.

“You’re coming here just to make music and enjoy each other’s company,” Nash said. “We all have a good sense of humor, and that’s really one of the big things that it’s about. We may not be operatic singers, but we know what we’re doing and it’s fun.”

Though barbershop music has been around for a long time, audiences are often surprised and delighted to hear the music genre for the first time at the quartet’s performances, Lopez-Yanez said.

“I love the novelty of the group and being able to take it out and do it for people, to educate them on something they’ve never heard, but something that’s also so entertaining and funny that you can do it anywhere,” he said.

For Lorge, the portability of the group makes the experience of performing even more enjoyable and entertaining.

“It’s the best feeling to go to a gig and sing and walk out, not having to carry any instruments or gear,” he said.

However, the group finds the most enjoyable aspect of its portability in the spontaneity of its performances, Nash said.

Often, the four members would be at a friend’s apartment or walking down the street when they burst into song, to the surprise of bystanders and passersby.

“One night we went down to fraternity row and serenaded all the people walking by,” Nash said. “That night ended really nicely, because we serenaded one of our members’ then-girlfriend. She was on a balcony, and we felt very medieval.”

It is the light-hearted nature of the quartet’s performances that creates the true character of the group, Lopez-Yanez said. The members’ common sense of humor draws the group together and creates a harmony greater than a simple blend of voices.

According to Nash, the quartet often incorporates choreography and sound effects to enhance the lyrics and generate laughs in the audience.

“Because of the way we present ourselves, (the audience) lights up,” Lopez-Yanez said. “It’s just happy music – you can’t listen to barbershop and be depressed. The chords and the happiness and the cheer of the performance just brightens your day in that way.”

Although the group has shared numerous memories together, they do not feel they will continue the quartet beyond their UCLA years without one another, Lopez-Yanez said.

“You become so close with the members that it eventually becomes hard to replace,” he said. “Maybe down the road, Wyatt and Joseph will form their own (quartet) with two other people, and Kevin will move somewhere else and find three other guys. It sort of loses the Three Times a Lady characteristic if it’s not us.”

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Courtesy of CBS and Philly 57

In the "better late than never" category, we have an appearance by Mid-Atlantic District quartet Frank The Dog with Ukee Washington, morning host on the Philly 57 morning show which occurred during the Philadelphia International Convention this summer. Ukee talks up the Convention and sings a song with the Dogs.

Watch the video here

February 9, 1924 - September 10, 2010
Blooming Grove, NY

Walter O. Latzko, loving husband and father, entered into rest at the Orange Regional Medical Center Arden Hill Campus on September 10, 2010 after a short illness.  He had been a resident at Tomahawk Lake in Blooming Grove, NY since 1953.

He retired as librarian for the Harness Racing Museum in 1991 after having suffered a stroke, but continued to do some freelance research work for them.

He was born in Carlsbad, Czechoslovakia on February 9, 1924 to Felix and Grete Kraus and was legally adopted by Ernest Latzko upon Ernst’s  marriage to Walter’s mother, Grete.  He became a United States citizen in 1943 having served in the United States Army from which he was honorably discharged.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marjorie; his son, Jeffrey of Streamwood, IL and his wife, Josephine, their sons, Jeffrey and Kevin , and daughters, Jinene Basak of Streamwood, IL and her husband, Kris, and their son, Colton; Dina Crocilla of Streamwood, IL and her husband, Joseph and their daughter, Taylyr; his son, Curtis and his wife, Barbara, and daughters, Jennifer and daughter, Ava, Sarah and Emily; and his daughter, Melanie Bradley of Lewes, DE  and her husband, Jason, and their two sons, Aaron and Ryan.  Other survivors include his stepbrother, Kurt Latzko of Spring Village, VA,  his stepsister, Eve Charing of England, and his brother-in-law, Jaroslav Endrst.  Walter was predeceased by his sister, Elsa Endrst.

Walter was a joke-writer and musician having written for Arthur Godfrey’s radio and TV shows, Jack Sterling’s CBS morning radio show, Garry Moore, and Durward Kirby.  He was the arranger and coach for the Chordettes who were regular performers on the Godfrey shows.  He married one of the Chordettes, Marjorie, in 1953 who sang on the famous recording “Mr. Sandman.”

After serving in the US Army, he went to Amherst College where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1948 with a Bachelor’s degree in Music.  He attended Columbia College to study for a master’s degree in music composition and earned all his credits, but did not get his degree because he took the job with Arthur Godfrey.

Walter was a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, and a lifetime member of the Alexandria Harmonizers Chapter, and is internationally known for his arrangements for barbershop quartets and choruses.  He was inducted into the Barbershop Harmony Hall of Fame, the Mid-Atlantic District Hall of Honor, and named Man of Merit by the Association of International Senior Quartet Champions.  He arranged eight albums for the Buffalo Bills of “Music Man” fame.  Even after he had a stroke in 1991, he continued to arrange music on the computer which was purchased for him by more than twenty barbershop groups. Altogether he left a legacy of 1,226 arrangements of which 94 were medleys, many of which were performed and recorded by champion quartets and choruses.

Walter was an organist and choir director for 42 years and served Methodist churches in Dobbs Ferry, Walden, Newburgh and Goshen.

He also directed the Classic Choral Society of Orange County for 32 years in concerts including performances of the Messiah at West Point and many other churches in the county.

Arrangements for cremation will be made by the Donovan Funeral Home.  There will be no visitation.  A memorial service is being planned for October, and will be announced later.

Donations may be made to the Barbershop Harmony Society Foundation 110  7th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203-3704,  Orange County Classic Choral Society, Goshen United Methodist Church.

With very informative, well-paced interviews with Society CEO Ed Watson, Bill Colosimo, and the fine members of the quartet Snapshot, interspersed with such great samples of our artform, the folks at WRTI did a great job of weaving a landmark, factually correct and musically pleasing representation of our great style. The stream features music performed by The Alexandria Harmonizers, Storm Front, The Buffalo Bills, and Last Kids Picked, including a "live" in-studio performance by Snapshot.

Listen to the clipThe show will broadcast Friday night, September 10th at 7pm on WRTI-HD2 under the link "All-Classical webstream". Click here to listen to the web stream

The video of the Ambassadors of Harmony's 2009 contest performance of "Seventy Six Trombones" will air on Monday morning September 6, sometime between 3 am and 6 am, Pacific Time.

Click here to find your station.

by Dave Stevens

What exactly are we trying to preserve? With wit, grace, charm, and humor, the incomparable late Dave Stevens takes us on a journey through the barbershop style, its origins, its hallmark characterists, and how it relates to modern music, and much, much more.

Dave's successful barbershop career began long before he joined the Society staff. He sang in a number of quartets, coached others, and directed his chorus to an International gold medal. Dave was a professional musician with 20 years experience in broadcasting and recording, "sliding in a bit of barbershop quartet harmony at every opportunity." a 20th Century Johnny Appleseed, Dave planted seeds of harmony in virtually all Society chapters. His efforts greatly helped the Society to offer learning media to its membership for its published arrangements. He's still teaching us the essence of barbershop harmony through this "What Are We Trying To Preserve?" presentation. Dave's credentials include a bachelor of Music Education from DePauw and a master's degree from Northwestern University.