In the past few years, popularity for a capella music due to influences such as TV shows, “Glee,” “Sing Out,” “American Idol,” “The Choir” (BBC) and many others has caused barbershop singing to become the new craze at college campuses and high schools. No longer is barbershop just four guys in straw hats on the street corner.

Barbershop singing is simply four-part, unaccompanied, close harmony singing with melody in the second voice, called the lead. The tenor (counter-tenor voice) harmonizes above the lead singer; the bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes and the baritone provides in-between notes to form consonant pleasing chords.

Barbershop music is a unique American style and is a melting pot product of African-American musical devices, European hymn-singing culture and an American tradition of recreational music. It is part of the continuum of American music, sharing roots with both gospel and jazz.

The public is cordially invited to hear for themselves this American genre as the local chapter of The Barbershop Harmony Society, The Palmetto Statesmen, will hold its annual show Saturday, June 18 at 7 p.m. at the new Fine Arts Center in Duncan, next to the Byrnes High School campus (150 East Main Street, Duncan, SC). Also on the show are two guest quartets, One Accord, made up of four area music ministers, and 17 Below, a comedy quartet which also sings great barbershop. Tickets may be obtained online at https://sites.google.com/site/palmettostatesmen/Home/tickets or by calling 864-877-1352.

The Palmetto Statesmen Chorus and Quartets are a 501(3)c charitable organization and often sing at various events, dinners and occasions around the Upstate and into North Carolina. They have sung at the Peace Center, Chapman Cultural Center, Red, White and Boom and many other venues.

The chorus is always looking for men who might like to sing for fun. The group practices every Tuesday evening from 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at the Memorial United Methodist Church, located at 150 East Main St. in Greer.

The public is invited to attend practice also.

– article submitted by Richard Carey