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CHAMPS: THEY'RE JUST LIKE US
Ultimate "Sing with the Champs"
Shawn York, gold medalist tenor of OC Times, captured this incredible moment at the AIC reception in Las Vegas last year and shared it via Facebook this week. We couldn't write it any better than he does:
Any time the Boston Common comes out to a convention, you wonder if it might be the very last time you get to see them perform, so you really want to soak it up. This night in Las Vegas was really special - a night that every champ left in the AIC reception (late, Saturday night) will never forget. For 8 minutes, time stood still, and all these legendary barbershoppers got to sing along like kids looking up to their heroes. And once again, we all stood in awe of the Boston Common - just like it was 35 years ago. The video is not short, but the last couple minutes sure are worth it, especially if you've got headphones to put on (you'll feel like you're right there in the room with them).
Note: This is probably not the kind of footage that non-barbershoppers will fully appreciate, which is why I held onto it for so long without making it public. I hope it means as much to you as it does to me, and everyone that got to experience it that night. The night we all got to sing with the Boston Common.
Thanks, Shawn, for sharing this with us and for showing us that, no matter how successful, we all have barbershop heroes.
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| | Boston Common - Whatever Happened to the Good Old Songs |
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WE'LL LEAVE THE LIGHT ON...
Still looking for PGH housing?
There are still rooms available at select hotels in Pittsburgh... and at the event price! You must use this link to get the convention rate.
Omni William Penn Hotel
530 William Penn Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$154.00
The Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square
300 West Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
$145.00
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EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE A (BARBERPOLE) CAT
As sung by...
Mere weeks from today and you could be holding the latest Barberpole Cat book in your hands! Huzzah!
Last week we spotlighted the first two songs in Barberpole Cat Songbook Vol II. This week we look at two more standards:
Caroline - as sung by the beloved foursome the Boston Common. Would that we could do a whole volume of only BC charts, but we did manage to clear two of their songs ("From the First Hello" is the other). This gentle, easy going chart is from the pen of the brilliant Randy Newman. We're betting some of you rename as "Valentine" and reconfigure it for your singing Valentine programs.
#protipDarkness on the Delta - Probably an unofficial polecat for years, this is a perfect song to explain the circle of fifths to new guys. Bluegrass Student Union used this song in shows, sang it at 'glows, and recorded this on their Legacy album. See you at the tag. And yes, we kept that alternate key change intact. Can't remember the other 10? Here they are:
- After You've Gone
- Bright Was The Night
- Caroline
- (When It's) Darkness On The Delta
- Drivin' Me Crazy
- From The First Hello To The Last Goodbye
- Goodbye, My Coney Island Baby / We All Fall
- Hello Mary Lou (Goodbye Heart)
- I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)
- I've Been Workin' On The Railroad
- Lida Rose /Will I Ever Tell You
- Over The Rainbow
Coming soon -- to be released at the convention in Pittsburgh!
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FANTASY QUARTET: ASSEMBLE!
Baritone. BOOM.
Who could possibly complete the megawatt lineup of Waurick, Slamka, and Henry? He'd better have some serious baritone chops! Required: super stealth-mode harmonic abilities, monster fill for the bass clef, incredible accuracy, AND the ability to steal the show without... well... stealing the show. Good thing you voted for this guy!
This week, we introduce the glue that holds the Fantasy Quartet together and makes it BARBERSHOP -- the baritone!
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WHAT'S IN YOUR ATTIC?
ATTN: Hoarders of Barbershop Memorabilia
Keepers of arcane knowledge and finders of lost things, your services are required! A request from Contest and Judging Chair Kevin Keller:
Due to a variety of reasons, we are woefully short on records documenting our heritage of judging rules. Here's what we have at this moment:
- 1941 Joe Stern Letter
- 1941 Book Excerpt
- July 1971 Full
- ARR CD only (1992?)
- Sep 1995 Full
- Jan 2000 Rules only
- Aug 2001 Full
- 2006-2015 Complete
You can see that there are huge gaps in time where we do not have a copy of the C&J Rules. From the first set of C&J rules in 1946, the next copy is July 1971. After that, we don't have anything more until Sep 1995. It jumps forward to Aug 2001, and then 2006. We have everything from 2006 through today.
If you have any C&J Manuals stored away in boxes or on the shelf, please let us know what treasures you have by emailing kkbari@charter.net. This important history will continue to get lost if we don't step in and preserve our written records. Thank you for your help!
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WE'VE GOT SHANE
PGH webcast now 100% more Australian
Can't make it to Pittsburgh in person? Well, the next best thing is watching the webcast! Your fabulous hosts for the week are Shane Scott (BHS), Debbie Cleveland (SA), and Alex Morris (BHA). All are funny, charming, and incredibly knowledgeable about all things barbershop. Plus, we think Shane's enthusiasm for Pro Wrestling could result in some interesting play-by-play commentary. #tagteamfinals #beltinsteadofmedals
To purchase the webcast, visit www.bhswebcast.com
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NOT A HIJACK! NOT A SPOOF! IT'S REALLY US!
New websites launch this week
Don't be surprised when a handsome new site opens in your browser next time you visit the Barbershop Harmony Society online.
Dramatic overhauls to the look and feel of our flagship sites will rollout this weekend. New, more flexible platforms will improve the shipping experience and processing, and will make more content available more quickly.
Our Customer Service Team will be ready to help, although we expect our customers will dig the new look. Your comments will be appreciated, too, as we shake down the inevitable miscellaneous loose ends that always accompany a big conversion such as this.
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HU GOES INTERNATIONAL
World Harmony is REAL at HU! 
When the official theme of the event is Music Around the World, it feels pretty good to live up to it. HU is going to be a local hub of world music with students from THIRTEEN different countries. In addition to representatives from nearly all of our Affiliate organizations, you'll take classes alongside singers from Sri Lanka, Brazil, France, and Italy! Prepare to conquer those language barriers over ice cream with a little "Hello, Mary Lou".
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VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Not a dry eye...
During their climb to the top, 2013 champ Masterpiece debuted this poignant ballad and held an entire arena captivated. This oh-so-personal story of love and loss spoke to so many of us and became a signature song for the quartet as well as an audience favorite. True storytelling happens when we see ourselves within the lyric... a Masterpiece, indeed.
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| | Where've You Been - Masterpiece |
Come see them at the AIC show in Pittsburgh www.aicgold.com .... and bring hankies. |
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FEELINGS... WOAH, WOH, WOH!
BHS member forum in Pittsburgh
Membership value is one of the MOST important components of what we do at the Barbershop Harmony Society. At International in Pittsburgh, let the Society staff know what membership value means to you by attending the Focus Group on Membership Value.
- What do you get for your dues?
- What are your needs as a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society?
- What could the Society be doing better to meet those needs?
- What would you like to see in the future for membership?
This facilitated focus group will be a platform for members to share your thoughts on membership value as well as help shape the future... bring your constructive feedback and great ideas for our future. We want to hear from you!
Saturday, July 4 @ 11am - Westin, Crawford East
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