 The Origin of Barbershop Music
Barbershop harmony singing is truly an American art form
having its roots at the turn of the 20th century. Around
that time the local barbershop was not only a place for a
shave and a haircut, but a place to ‘hang out’ - a social
gathering place for men. In addition to the daily gossip of
the barbershop, singing simple melodies to which others
could harmonize became a feature of many barbershops.
Consequently, the term ‘Barbershop’ came to represent this
particular style of singing.
This four-part harmony a cappella style of singing
continued to grow and could be heard at social functions,
picnics, minstrel shows and eventually vaudeville. The
barbershop style is distinctive from other singing styles
because the melody, sung by the lead voice, is below the
tenor harmony. The lowest harmony is sung by the bass and
the baritone voice completes the four-part chord. Close
harmony and ringing chords are what distinguish the
barbershop style.
 A more formal organization of barbershop singers began to
form around 1938 when a gentleman by the name of O. C. Cash
invited friends who shared his love of harmonizing to a
songfest on the rooftop of a hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At
each of the next two meetings more men gathered on the
rooftop and the grand sounds attracted quite a crowd. When
Mr. Cash was interviewed about what was going on, he saw an
opportunity to promote his love of vocal harmony on a
grander scale and said his ‘organization’ was the Society
for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop
Quartet Singing in America –
SPEBSQSA. Word of this new
‘organization’ spread and soon men from all over North
America were interested in joining this new society. Today
SPEBSQSA is known as the
Barbershop Harmony Society and
continues to promote and preserve this style of singing.
The popularity of barbershop singing continues to spread
and can be heard today by men’s and ladies’ quartets and
choruses throughout the United States, Canada, United
Kingdom, The Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, South Africa,
Scandinavia, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan. |
