Barber Shop Music & Quartets

[richard]

Post your memories of Barber Shop Music & Quartets here.

[RER]

"Barber Shop Quartet Music, How Unique"

As young kids my brother and I were exposed to Barber Shop music from the early 1940s through the full life of my mother. I remember well on 5th and Union Street corner; Mom, Hazel, her sister Maggie and mother's best friend Hetty singing Barber Shop songs. It is a unique harmony of sounds that are so nice to the ears.

Mom and several girls had group singing gatherings at times in Columbus, Louisville Kentucky, and other locations. Each year we would attend the Brown County Indiana State Park shelter house Barber Shop festivals. Many times in Columbus we would just drive around town and in the country singing Barber Shop songs with just us boys, friends and parents.

People would come from all over Indiana, and Ohio and Kentucky to join in on the day's fun and picnic at Brown County, and sometimes Donner Park. Everyone brought a picnic basket with mostly fried chicken and other trimmings. Mom would lay out the cover on the ground and we would spend the day listening to the quartets sing from many places. It seemed like hundreds of folks would turn out for these events. If my memory serves me they had a live show at the Crump Theather once, with Barber Shop music. Mom, Hazel and Hetty performed with some other girls at that one.

I remember going to the Brown County singing festival in the 1940s and 1950s. Later, I took my wife to one in the 1960s when home for a family visit in Columbus. In 1966 after coming home from Thailand and being stationed at Grissom Air Force Base Peru Indiana, my wife and I would go to my Mom and Dad's house and Hetty and some neighbors would join in and we would all sing Barber Shop.

What grand times and great music. You have to really love Barber Shop harmony to fully enjoy it. Mixed men and women would join in or ladies or men's quartets would take off with the harmony of their wonderful vocals.
[img src="http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9405/note2em0.gif"]
Some of the songs that were popular:
-Sweet Adeline
-My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean
-Mandy Lee
-When You Were Sweet Sixteen
-How Dry I Am
-and hundreds more songs.

Here are a few covers of sheet music from the old days:




Bob

[RER]

"Barbershop Without A Haircut"


Lady Barbershop Groups are common and great to listen to also. Of course whether it's women or men groups there are basically four singers normally to a group. They are: Lead Singer, Tenor, Baritone and Bass.

For a sample of lady groups go to this and read what they say about the history of the music. Columbus had many groups of women and men singing groups in the 1940s and 1950s:

Example Group Only:

postroadchorus.org/our_music.htm

Example songs of the past:

-Banks of the Wabash
-Let Me Call You Sweet Heart
-Way Down Yonder In A Corn Field
-Carolina Sweetheart
-I Sing A Little Tenor

[RER]

"Everything You Might or Might Not Want To Know About Barbershop Music"


Go to the below site for a complete history and overview of Barbershop music. It isn't just Columbus Indiana or certain selected states; it is nationwide. You have missed great harmony if you haven't really listened to this music.

I can recall other men family members in Columbus that had Barbershop group (4 each) singers. One was named Forest and he had a very, very bass voice for the blend of notes.

If you every watched the television show called The Andy Williams Show, with singer Andy of course; he would have the Osmond Brothers come on during the 60s and 70s. They were very young kids and I think Donnie Osmond was part of the kid singers. Anyway, they sang Barbershop songs and harmony songs that I am referring to here.

Go to this Web Site to read about this music:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbershop_music

[RER]

"A Sample of Harmony and Barbershop Is Below"

Turn your sound up on your computer and double click on this site:

www.harmonize.com/keg/page5.html

Note: Once on the "Pic and Sound" page and the introduction music stops, then key on Sound List to the right and down load the small samples of harmony songs. Try "Who Will Buy" or any of them.

Also, for more longer sounds go here and select a song:

www.kegquartet.com/KEGListen.htm

This works better with high speed internet connections. Downloading may take 30 seconds or less. Enjoy.......Bob

[RER]

"Former Columbus Barbershop Quartets 1940s and 1950s"


I know there were many families and friends that formed quartets for men and women in Columbus. They formed these for mostly the love of the music and harmony and home entertainment. Many Saturdays you could drive by their homes and hear the beautiful notes coming out of the houses.

Many of my relatives on the Eddelman side sang Barbershop. My mother and her friend Hetty sang with a couple daughters of the Paul Eddelman family. Their names were Janine and Joan.

The men's named the Maple Grove Quartet consisted on Forrest (bass) and Paul Eddelman, Morris (Mutt) Turner and John Hammond. The family ladies group were named I believe, The Barberetts consisting of my Mother, Hetty, Janine and Joan. Anyway, they were all very practiced and good when they blended the harmony.

I recall the lead singer always had a round pitchpipe to set the note for the quartet to begin.

I just wonder if Columbus today has any Barbershop Quartets or groups. I know many places in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio still have large numbers of groups singing the grand ole sounds. Further, I wonder if Brown County State Park still holds the annual Barbershop sing offs.



Bob

[RER]

"Columbus Has A Ladies Barbershop Quartet"


Richard did some research with our joint friend for life;Hetty a former Barberett Quartet member. She indicated that there is a ladies quartet in the Columbus area, but they may have merged recently with some ladies in Franklin.

Richard will try to get the information about the group etc. The reason it might be interesting is maybe they could be asked to perform a couple songs at next years Historical gathering, with David's approval. The music has been around Columbus well before the 1940s and forward to today.

Anyway, I am interested in Indiana groups and schedules for my next visit to Indiana.

Bob

[mrmoosey]

Singing is in our family's blood. Rer's Mother was my Father's sister, my Aunt. Dad, his brother Dale and I used to sing every now and then. Uncle Dale and I belonged to the Barbershop Quartet Assoc in Columbus in the early 1970's. Uncle Dale had a beautiful voice. Grt Uncle Forrest and Great Uncle Paul did as well. I wish they had one near here where I live in Texas. The nearest thing to it is the Vocal Majority in Ft Worth Texas.

[RER]

"Sheet Music For Barbership"



Bob

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

I finally took the time to look up the web site of one of the top Barbershop Quartets right here in Columbus. Their group name is " Anytime" and they have performed many times at the Donner Park Shows. They usually are the last show for the season. One of the members Jerry Hatton and wife Adrianne sing with me in the Choir at First Baptist Church. They have a performance coming up September 16th with the larger group " The Chordlighters". Will add more info as I have the time.

If you ever have a chance to hear them you will be in for a very special treat. Some of my favorites are "Spam" and " Who Wrote the Book of Love". They use a pitch pipe to get their notes. They also mix in corny jokes between their songs and it is a riot !! I promise you a very enjoyable evening if you go to one of their shows. Be sure to click on their photos and you will see the different outfits they wear.
Web site listed below

www.harmonize.com/anytime/

[RER]

"Shine on, shine on harvest moon, for me and my gal....."

Margo................I love that Barber Shop music and I haven't heard a live performance in so many years I can't recall when. Wish, we could attend one of those dates, but that's a long drive from the South to Indiana.

I would encourage all that love harmony type music attend one of these events. Maybe, someday I'll get to hear some good old harmony and Barber Shop music. Anyone attending will walk away saying "now that was fun and great harmony."

Bob

[RER]

Sheet Music Picture of Barber Shop



A Few Songs:

In the Evening by the Moonlight; Lonesome for You Annabelle; The Sun Will Shine Again; If My Wife Could Only See Me Now; Juanita; You Gotta Quit Kickin' My Dawg Around; Lam', Lam', Lam'; Waltz Me Till I'm Weary, Dearie; Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair; 'Way Down Yonder in the Corn Field; The Sunshine of Paradise Alley; The Mansion of the Aching Hearts; She Is More to Be Pitied than Censured; The Band Played On; When the Sun Goes Down on the Range; I've Been Workin on the Railroad; Now, I Can't Forget; A Bicycle Built for Two; May Irwin's Bully Song; Whispering hope; Carry Me Back To Old Virginny.


Bob

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

It will be held at the Center Grove H.S. Auditorium at 7:30 pm on Sept. 16th. High School is located at 2929 S Morgantown Rd. Greenwood .

All the groups sing Barber Shop Close Harmony and Groups performing:

Chordlighter Barbershop Chorus
Takin It Easy Coalition
GEMS
Coalition
Anytime (Quartet calling it quits, so last performance on a Chordlighters Show.)
Indiana Harmony Brigade ( A high quality chorus from around the state.)

Tickets are $12, $10 for groups of 20 or more.


Tickets will be available at the door, or on line at [e-mail]

I did not know that the Anytime Quartet was disbanding. Will have to find out more info from Jerry on Wed nite at Choir Practice.
If you like Barbershop singing I urge you to attend if at all possible !!
I guarantee you an Evening of Family Entertainment !! I have personally heard most of these groups and they are great !!! Questions ? please call 812-379-1067 or online at www.chordlighters.org

[RER]

The Annual Barbershop Get Together Location At Brown County Shelter House Many Folks From Columbus Went & And Sang Barbershop

This is a postcard that shows the exact location of the annual Barbershop setup location. The singers would stand on the stage where the people are chaired and sing to folk on blankets and picnic grass areas.

ABE MARTIN LODGE



QUOTE FROM ABOVE PREVIOUS POST: " Mom and several girls had group singing gatherings at times in Columbus, Louisville Kentucky, and other locations. Each year we would attend the Brown County Indiana State Park shelter house Barbershop festivals. "


Bob

[RER]

Typical Ladies Group Picture Singing Barbershop [img src="[/img]img89.imageshack.us/img89/4715/note2em0zy9.gif"]




Barbershop music, with its close, unaccompanied four-part harmonies and ringing chords, is a uniquely American folk art. It evolved in much the same way as other forms of vocal music. Although no one can say exactly when or where barbershop music began, the growth of the tradition was certainly aided between the 1860s and 1950s by the types of songs popular at the time - songs characterized by sentimental lyrics and uncomplicated melodies that could be harmonized with a variety of four-part chords.

Bob

[RER]

The Group Started With Barbershop Music First






THE FOUR FRESHMEN

(Ross & Don Barbour of Columbus Indiana)

Organized in 1948 at Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Four Freshmen became successors of the Mel-Tones and were a great influence for the Hi-Lo's, the Beach Boys, Manhattan Transfer and countless other close-harmony groups.

The group originally consisted of Bob Flanigan, his cousins Ross Barbour and Don Barbour and Hal Kratzsch. Originally the the group was "Barber-Shop" and then formed a more jazz-oriented second group, called the Toppers. in 1948.

Inspired by Mel Torme's Mel-Tones, the new group, renamed the Four Freshmen, was discovered in September 1949 by Woody Herman. In 1950 Stan Kenton arranged for them to audition for Capitol Records, who signed them. after hearing the quartet in concert in Dayton, Ohio. Their first hit single came in 1952, "It's A Blue World", reached number 30 in the USA. They had many hit records during their career and the personel changed frequently...however the original style and quality has been consistant over the years. The latest Four Freshman line-up toured the UK in 1992, backed by Ray McVay's UK All-Star Big Band.

Source:
members.tripod.com/~norwoody/jazz6.htm#4frs

[RER]

"Ross & Don Barbour Early Barbershop Group"

In 1948, brothers Ross and Don Barbour formed a barbershop quartet called Hal's Harmonizers at Butler University Indiana.


One of the most influential vocal groups of the 1950s, The Four Freshmen pioneered a revolutionary new style of close-harmony vocals that set the stage for bands like the Beach Boys and countless others. The bottom-line was the word Barbershop.

Columbus had several groups during the 1950s, but nothing like these talented guys.


Bob

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

Sorry to say, but the Barbershop Quartet" ANYTIME" has disbanded.What's even sadder, is the did not record any CD's or tapes.
However, the larger Barbershop Assembly named the "CHORDLIGHTERS" is alive and well. They practice in Franklin and have some smaller groups also. They always have one performance here in Columbus every year. Part of the group sang at our last Columbus Historical Celebration. They also occasionally have a show at the local Senior Center.