Garish striped shirts and flat straw hats characterize most barbershop quartets, but on the Palouse, they wear gold vests.
In spring 2007, a group of Palouse men came together through their love of singing — much like another group did almost 70 years before.
Now known as the Barbershop Harmony Society, the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America started in 1938.
The Barbershop Harmony Society regulates official barbershop music with rigid rules for song arrangements considered barbershop.
Dan Pierce, a member of the Palouse Harmony Chorus, said barbershop is a specific set of chords.
“It’s three parts revolving around the melody,” Pierce said.
Unlike most choral groups, which have soprano, alto, tenor and bass parts, barbershop has tenor, lead (usually melody), baritone and bass parts, Pierce said.
Pierce said he was introduced to barbershop singing through “The Music Man,” a 1962 film wherein a famous barbershop quartet performs.
Following a performance by female barbershoppers in Lewiston, he said some friends invited Pierce to form a barbershop group in the Palouse.
Pierce said they are now a bona fide chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, with articles and bylaws in accordance with Barbershop Harmony Society rules.
Their responsibilities include information and education. Pierce said they go to schools to perform and talk about barbershop.
“It’s kind of become my part-time job — without any pay,” Pierce said.
He said they also perform at community events, such as Veteran’s Day programs, Christmas carols and singing Valentines.
Doug Ashburn, a member of the group since 2009, said they are looking for men of all ages to participate.
Ashburn said the Barbershop Harmony Society provides professional instruction for chapter members.
Each year, the Palouse Harmony Chorus holds a performance for barbershop groups in the area. This year’s performance will be at 7 p.m April 21 at the Living Faith Fellowship in Pullman. Tickets are $10.
Pierce said the show is the main fundraiser for the group each year.
“It’s also a whale of a lot of work,” Pierce said.
The money raised helps pay for the group’s operating cost, like their rehearsal space at the Moscow First United Methodist Church. The group’s director also gets a small stipend, according to Pierce.
Ashburn said the show is a good opportunity for community members to hear a different kind of music.
He said barbershop can be a lot of work — each note has to be just right for it to sound good. He said it also takes work to memorize each song. But he loves singing.
“When you sing, it’s kind of like it’s all worth it,” Ashburn said.
For more information visit palouseharmonychorus.org
Kasen Christensen can be reached at [email protected]