Barbershop Harmony: The World’s Greatest Secret

In 1962, I saw the movie “The Music Man”. That was my introduction to barbershop quartets – four voices (bass, baritone, lead and tenor) singing close harmony, a cappella. “A cappella” translates to “like it’s done in church”, but has come to mean “without musical accompaniment. I loved it. I heard that there was an amateur singing organization for barbershop harmony, but I never found it in the New York City area. I think barbershop harmony is the world’s greatest secret.

It wasn’t until 1986, when I moved to Bethel CT, that I accidentally came across a barbershop chorus. They were part of S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A – the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America. I was at a bridge party, hosted by “Welcome Wagon”. The husband of the hostess excused himself, explaining that he had a rehearsal of his barbershop chorus to attend. I asked if I could join him. He took me as he was anxious to have a potential member. We went to a fraternal organization where they had a room for themselves. I enjoyed the music, and enjoyed the camradery, but did not yet join.

After meetings, they would go to the bar which, conveniently, was in the building. They hung out, sang in makeshift quartets, and drank. This is called an “afterglow”. I went to their afterglow, where they invited me to sing a “tag” with them. Tags are just the last line of a song – loaded with great chords. They chose a song I knew, and we sang a tag. The chills ran through my body as we sang. I was hooked, and joined on the spot I have been a member of SPEBSQSA for 23 years.

S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A., which changed it’s name to the Barbershop Harmony Society ( abbreviated as BHS), is basically a singing fraternity. I have lived in several states. Whereever I went, I was welcomed heartily. While visiting my mom in Florida, I visited the Plantation Chapter rehearsal. I was welcome at their rehearsal, and sang with them on the risers. They supplied me with sheet music. I attended their afterglow, and sang songs and tags. All choruses and chapters do not sing the same arrangements. BHS has a dozen songs that every member must learn called barber polecat songs. No matter where I go, I can sing a “polecat” with anyone in BHS worldwide.

I reside in the Phoenix metropolitan area – home of many barbershop choruses and quartets. There are two female quartet organizations singing barbershop harmony: Sweet Adelines, and Harmony International. Some BHS members are married to Sweet Adelines.

Many cities have a “Harmony for Lunch Bunch” meeting weekly. Male and female Barbershop singers get together at a restaurant and eat lunch and sing together. It is just like an afterglow, but does not follow any other event.

Quartets are usually formed by members of a chapter, but many are formed with members of multiple chapters. These quartets sing at paid performances, and charity events and contests.

Barbershop chapters put on annual shows, open to the public, to help finance their chapters. Annual shows are one of the last bastions of G rated family entertainment. It’s also a good source for recruiting new members. Chapters sell “singing valentine” packages on Valentines Day. A quartet sings two songs, gives a rose and a small box of chocolates, and gives a note from the sender. This is a great moneymaker, and exposes barbershop harmony to the public. It is such a big moneymaker that it paid my chorus’s expenses for the year. It is a lot of fun. I have delivered over 20 singing valentines in one day.

BHS chapters belong to a division, which is part of a district. Every year, there are divisional competitions, where the winners move on to the district contest. District winners go to the international contest (always held during the week of July 4). Most choruses attend the division competitions. Many choruses refuse to compete at district competitions, although they won the division contest. Either members couldn’t afford to travel there, or could not get off from work. The top chorus of each district, along with some international choruses, compete at the international contest. Everyone loves the international contest. It is televised over the internet. Quartets compete at the district level, and the top quartet from each district, competes at international contests, plus a few wildcard quartets.

Some famous people were previously barbershop members: Harry Truman and Bing Crosby. Arthur Godfrey’s brother was active in barbershop harmony. He introduced the quartet “Chordettes” (who were the Sweet Adelines international champs) to Arthur and they became regulars on the Arthur Godfrey Show. They also were famous for making the hit record “Mister Sandman”. It is unfortunate that it was never mentioned on his show that they were “Sweet Adeline” champions. Had they said they were the Sweet Adelines champions, I probably would have found barbershop harmony organizations many years sooner.

It took me 24 years to find out about barbershop harmony – and I’m glad that I found it. It is too bad that it is such a secret. It has given me much enjoyment, hundreds of friends, and a hobby that brings joy to others, also. I remember going to nursing homes on Dec 23, and sang Christmas carols to the shut-ins. After our performance, the administrator asked us if we could go from room to room and sing to those who couldn’t get out of bed. We went from room to room, and also went to the Alzheimer’s ward and sang. One of our chorus songs was “Love At Home”. We sang at a Mormon Church dinner. When we sang “Love At Home”, the entire congregation got up and sang with us. I didn’t know that “Love At Home” was an LDS hymn.

Men who like to sing should go to www.barbershop.org to find a barbershop chapter near them. Ladies can go to www.sweetadelineintl.org. The Contemporary A Cappella Society of America at www.casa.org is open to men and women and supports barbershop harmony, and other flavors of a cappella music.