Barbershop Harmony Society, band
The Barbershop Harmony Society is a musical group focused on four-part, unaccompanied singing where tenor sings above the melody, lead carries it, baritone fills the middle, and bass sings the lowest notes. The organization maintains a collection of more than 4,500 songs, teaches singing techniques through videos and online lessons, and organizes competitions at local, regional, and international levels.
The group was founded in 1938 in Tulsa, Oklahoma by two men stranded overnight who wanted to sing together, starting with 26 members at a rooftop meeting. The second chapter opened in Kansas City in June 1938, and by the end of 1939 at least eight chapters existed, spreading across multiple cities.
The group draws from African American musical traditions of the late 1800s, especially jazz, and traces back to singing in barbershops where men would gather to harmonize. Today it welcomes all people regardless of gender, age, or background, creating a shared space where close four-part harmony brings singers together.
The organization operates in schools, churches, hospitals, and community centers with thousands of volunteers performing at local events. Each summer it hosts Harmony University, where more than 400 singers from around the world come to learn singing, music arranging, and group leadership.
The group's name comes from a playful acronym, SPEBSQSA, which stood for 'Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America' and parodied bureaucratic-style initials. In a memorable May 1938 event, loud singing by 63 members outside a hotel caused passersby to stop and police to arrive, as people thought a protest was happening.
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