The Old Songs

Click the gray box below the photo for a 30 second audio clip. Actually the clip isn't with the guys pictured (except for me). We're singing, Please Don't Give My Daddy No More Wine (I've got the melody).

A Valentines quartet from the Great Lakes Barbershop Chorus, Grand Rapids Chapter, Paul, Mike (me), Scott, and Josh. Grand Rapids, Michigan



My first public performance with the Great Lakes Barbershop Chorus was for Valentines Day February 14th 2005. The chorus divided into 7 barbershop quartets which were hired by lovers to sing to their Valentines where ever they may be in the Grand Rapids area.

We sang to a realtor in her office as she held up her phone recording it to her boyfriend’s voice mail.

A factory secretary where we had to shout over beeping and revving forklifts.

There was a home maker with a toddler on her hip.

An orthodontist who we brought to tears.

Two lovers cuddling on their couch surrounded by candles.

A kindergarten teacher in front of her class of 5 year olds.

In a high school cafeteria for the school’s principle as over a hundred of his students surrounded him with lots of guffaws and applause.

We sang to an old woman at a nursing home in her small room crowded with her family. She floated off to sleep as we serenaded her with those old time love songs.

Best Valentines Day I ever had!



Valentines Day rose-
plucking off the thorns
in the car
.

After their holiday break my first practice with The Great Lakes Chorus of the Grand Rapids Barbershop Chapter at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church. Cascade, Michigan.

My first exposure to barbershop was in the musical, Music Man, I loved those charming themes and male harmonies. Outside of that it was a rarity to hear, typically exiled to the realm of geekdom. I didn't give it much more thought until some years ago when I was at a wedding reception for an American and Russian couple. As is the tradition in Russia many of the guests sang and performed classical and folk music while we Americans just sat and watched. It was then I realized how far we had drifted away from our cultural roots and was feeling just a little ashamed. Then with no fanfare an American father and his three sons stood up and burst into several spirited barbershop quartet tunes, they were fantastic! The contrast in styles from the formal Russian performances and these tight barbershop harmonies was a shock to everyone. When they finished they received rousing applause and cheers, even the Russians were impressed. Nobody thought they were geeks that night.

barbershop quartet
passers-by give
a wide berth