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Barbershoppers to present Diamond Anniversary show
McCOOK -- In celebration of the 75th anniversary of America's Barbershop Harmony Society, barbershop choruses will combine for shows to be presented Friday, March 22, at the Fox Theatre in McCook, and Saturday, March 23, at Colby Community College in Colby.
The Prairie Statesmen Chorus from McCook and the Tumbleweed Chorus from Colby are joining to present the shows, which will be headlined by the Rusty Pipes, who were chosen in 2012 as the nation's Senior Quartet Champions.
"It is an honor to have a quartet of the caliber of the Rusty Pipes come to McCook and Colby for the shows," said Bill Graves, spokesman for the Prairie Statesmen. "They won the votes of the judges in Tucson with an outstanding performance, and they will warm the hearts of the people in this area with their voices and showmanship."
Tickets for the shows are now on sale. The McCook show tickets, costing $12 each, are available at Hershberger Music Co. or Farrell Drug, or they may be purchased from any member of the Prairie Statesmen Chorus. As a special tribute, veterans from all wars will be admitted to the show in McCook free of charge.
Barbershop harmony singing has been part of the McCook scene from more than 42 years, starting in 1970 when Jack Reichenbach of McCook and Ron Heldenbrand of WaKeeney, Kansas, brought 30 men together to start a chapter.
The men have been singing together ever since, presenting annual shows for the past four decades.
Under the direction of Evie Caldwell, the director, those participating in this year's Prairie Statesmen Chorus are Merlin Brown and Rod Bryan, both of McCook, tenors; Bill Graves and Paul Kitt,
Wauneta, baritones; Dennis Hoyt, Culbertson; Lyle Moskal, McCook; Roy
Harshbarger, Norton; Arlyn Wine, Wauneta; and Chuck Druse and Ron
Johnson, Cambridge, leads; and Mike Langley, Cambridge; Ron Shiemo,
Norton; and Larry Porter and Jack Reichenbach, McCook, basses.
Members of the Prairie Statesmen not participating this year due to
illness are Rod Berryman, McCook, and John Miller, Culbertson.
Songs the Prairie Statesmen will be singing are "Lida Rose," "A Little
Street Where Old Friends Meet" and "Back in Those Days Gone By."
In addition, the Prairie Statesmen will join the Tumbleweed Chorus
from Colby in singing "Armed Forces Medley," "Celebrate Harmony" and
"You're the Flower of My Heart."
"Barbershop harmony singing is a great hobby," Graves said. "It's
therapeutic. You can't be unhappy when you're singing. That's what we
want to demonstrate at our shows. We invite people from throughout the
area to attend."