Barbershop singing is an authentic American music style, with its roots dating back to the minstrel and vaudeville shows of the mid and late 1800's.  Prior to that, immigrants to the new world brought with them music that included hymns and folk songs, often sung in four harmonizing parts.  In 1938, The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America was founded.  Today it is known as the Barbershop Harmony Society, and has over 30,000 members in more than 800 chapters in America and Canada.  The Society also has affiliates in a number of other countries, including Great Britian, Australia, Swededn, New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, Finland, and Ireland. The Society maintains its international headquarters in Nashvlle, TN.

Barbershop harmony is a style of unaccompanied singing in which three voices harmonize to a melody.  The lead usually sings the melody.  The tenor harmonizes above the melody.  The bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes.  The baritone provides in-between notes, either above or below the lead, to complete the chords that give barbershop its distinctive, four-part sound.  The style is further identified by the use of chords that are harmonious and pleasing.  Tuning is as nearly perfect as is vocally possible.  The style is distinguished by uniformity of word sounds and a special emphasis on close harmony.

To learn more about barbershop singing, to listen to songs, to see videos, to locate a chapter, see a schedule of concerts and events, and other related business, visit the Society web site at www.barbershop.org/.