A barbershop quartet is a group of four singers who sing music in the barbershop style, characterized by four-part harmony without instrumental accompaniment, or a cappella. The four voices are: the lead, the vocal part which typically carries the melody; a bass, the part which provides the bass line to the melody; a tenor, the part which harmonizes above the lead; and a baritone, the part that frequently completes the chord. The baritone normally sings just below the lead singer, sometimes just above as the harmony requires. Barbershop music is typified by close harmony— the upper three voices generally remain within one octave of each other.
Acoustix is a Dallas, Texas-based quartet that won the 1990 International Quartet Championship of SPEBSQSA. They have all, at different times, been members of the Dallas-based Vocal Majority chorus.
Sweet Adelines International is a worldwide organization of women singers, established in 1945, committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performances. This independent, nonprofit music education association is one of the world's largest singing organizations for women. "Harmonize the World" is the organization's motto. It has a current membership of 23,000 and holds an annual international singing competition.
Gotcha! is an American barbershop quartet formed in 1996 by four members of the Masters of Harmony chorus.
Gas House Gang was a barbershop quartet that won the 1993 SPEBSQSA International Quartet Competition. They started singing as a group in 1987 in St. Louis Missouri. After winning the 1988 Central States District Competition in their first attempt, they began a steady climb up the International Competition ladder which culminated in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where they were awarded the 1993 International Quartet Championship.
Keepsake was an American barbershop quartet from Florida that won the 1992 SPEBSQSA International Barbershop Competition. Members of the quartet are Joe Connelly (lead), Tony DeRosa (baritone), Don Barnick (bass), and Roger Ross (tenor).
The Confederates were a barbershop quartet that performed in the 1950s and 1960s.
Metropolis is a barbershop quartet affiliated with the Barbershop Harmony Society. The group won five consecutive medals with the Barbershop Harmony Society at their annual International Convention. Metropolis has performed over 460 stage shows in the United States and in Finland, Russia, England, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Japan and Ireland. They have performed in over 190 cities around the world and over 40 states/provinces in the USA & Canada.
Marquis is a barbershop quartet that won the 1995 SPEBSQSA international competition. Originating from the Cincinnati-Dayton area, they won the championship less than two years after they formed.
The Four Harmonizers was a Barbershop quartet that won the 1943 SPEBSQSA international competition.
The Auto Towners is a Barbershop quartet that won the 1966 SPEBSQSA international competition.
Most Happy Fellows is the Barbershop quartet that won the 1977 SPEBSQSA international competition in Philadelphia.
Grandma's Boys is the barbershop quartet that won the 1979 SPEBSQSA International Contest.
Classic Collection is the barbershop quartet that won the 1982 SPEBSQSA international competition. Members of the quartet are: Curt Hutchison, tenor; Larry Wilson, lead; George Davidson, baritone and Terry Heltne, bass.
The New Tradition is the California Barbershop quartet that won the 1985 SPEBSQSA international competition. The name refers to an earlier quartet, the Grand Tradition, with the same lead and baritone. It is not to be confused with the New Tradition Chorus from Northbrook, Illinois.
Rural Route 4 is the Missouri-based barbershop quartet that won the 1986 SPEBSQSA international competition. They are known for their signature costumes of matching overalls in keeping with the rural theme of their group in venues where formal attire is expected.
The Interstate Rivals is the Barbershop quartet that won the 1987 SPEBSQSA international competition in Hartford, Connecticut. Formed in 1982, the Rivals won the Cardinal District championship that fall. The next summer at the international contest they placed tenth, followed by sixth, third, second-place finishes before winning in 1987. They sang and travelled widely, until they disbanded in August 1991. All four members went on to repeat gold medals with Keepsake, Gas House Gang, Marquis, Platinum and Old School. The members combine for a total of 11 gold medals between the four, all winning on just one voice part each.
Second Edition is the Barbershop quartet that won the 1989 SPEBSQSA international competition.
OC Times is a male barbershop quartet affiliated with the Barbershop Harmony Society. They earned second place silver medals at the International Barbershop Quartet Contest at Denver's Pepsi Center on July 7, 2007, and won the International Quartet Championship on July 5, 2008, in Nashville, Tennessee. The quartet combines traditional barbershop harmonies with contemporary music styles. The music of OC Times is inspired by artists like Michael Buble, Sinatra, and Elvis.
Tim Waurick is a barbershop tenor singer, and coach for various barbershop choruses and quartets. Waurick creates learning tracks – recordings in which one part is dominant and the others are sung softly in the background – for the Barbershop Harmony Society, Sweet Adelines International, and various other quartets and choruses around the world. His learning track company is named TimTracks.
