News
From time to time we'll be posting news and information about the chorus here in our news section. We hope you enjoy our selections!
We Call It Harmony!
Posted 03/09/2010 | By Alex Rubin
It’s definite, this will be our show ever, don’t miss this one! We have an amazing show this year, wonderful talent combined with our highest musical level ever. Traditional barbershop harmony influenced by elements of jazz, swing and pop culture.
This year we’re joined on the stage by Fortissimo. One of Florida’s finest quartets, they’re back together exciting audiences, having fun and making incredible music.
In addition we’re so excited to have the Nation’s third best youth barbershop chorus. Made up of singers under 30 with an average age of under 25 we think you’ll be amazed at the sound and vocal maturity made by these young guys.
The HD Chorus
Visit the event page to download the show flyer.
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Show Program Order Form
Barbershop music back in a big way but ‘it’s not your grandfather’s barbershop anymore’
Posted 06/27/2009 | By Marty Schneider
South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Barbershop music back in a big way but ‘it’s not yourgrandfather’s barbershop anymore’
Quartets and choruses apply old form to new tunes
By Gregory Lewis South Florida Sun-Sentinel
PLANTATION
The traditional red-striped shirts, resembling the old barber’s poles, are gone. So are the handlebar mustaches and the songs from the Tin Pan Alley days. But barbershop is back in a big way, drawing arrangements from 1950s doo-wop as well as rock and soul music,said Riley Cothran, president of the Fort Lauderdale Sunshine Chordsmen barbershop chorus. But even if the clothing has become free form, the four-part a cappella (unaccompanied by music) remains the same. And its harmony gives you “goosebumps, makes your hair stand on end,“ said Rex Partlow, who moved to Coral Springs last year. He and his wife, Cindy, love it so much that last year they flew back to their home state of Illinois twice each month for six months to compete for international titles. So showing up at a barbershop jam session at St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church fellowship hall last week was an easy drive. About 60 barbershoppers gathered to sing with people they don’t normally harmonize with. Barbershop quartets, and bigger choruses, popular before the turn of the 20th century, remain very much a part of the contemporary music scene. The Barbershop Harmony Society, founded in 1938, oversees more than 800 male chapters in the United States and Canada. With two women’s organizations, Harmony Inc. and Sweet Adelines, the number of organized barbershop singers is around 80,000.The musical art form grew out of gospel songs and patriotic hymns, then became associated with Tin Pan Alley tunes such as Let Me Call You Sweetheart.
More modern tunes have attracted younger singers to the genre, leading to a resurgence in its popularity. The first uses of the term “barbershop” in the 1940s were associated with African-Americans. The Mills Brothers, known for jazz and pop music, actually learned to harmonize in their father’s Ohio barbershop and recorded several barbershop albums.“It’s Americana at its best,“ said Bruce Prince, a barbershopper who traveled from Palm Beach Gardens to Plantation to jam at St. Benedict’s. “You equate it with small towns. It’s stayed with us. You can get three other guys and sing any kind of song.“Partlow, 57, was a rock ‘n’ roll doo wop fan before his wife Cindy, 46, turned him into a harmonizer. He sings bass. She’s a baritone in an all-woman group. The couple has never sung together in a quartet, but they’re open to the possibility if they find another harmonious pair. Their twice-a-month shuttles to Illinois to sing with their old choruses paid off. Rex Partlow’s chorus placed twenty first in the world out of 30 competitors in Nashville last year. Cindy Partlow earned her 11th gold medal.“It’s fun when you’re singing together,“ said Rex Partlow. “You have each other for support—and criticism.“Broadway musicals like the Jersey Boys and a cappella groups, such as Take 6, whose songs have madethe Billboard charts, have helped popularize the style for younger people.Jason Lautzenheiser, 34, a member of the Fort Lauderdale Sunshine Chordsmen, is one of those younger people. Its music director, Alex Rubin, is in his 30’s. Opera-trained, Lautzenheiser spent five years singing in New York, at opera houses and on stages. He moved to South Florida four years ago to take a break from that music.He joined the Sunshine Chordsmen after a chance meeting with some barbershoppers at a club. He’s been singing lead with the Chordsmen ever since.“I’ve always loved a cappella,“ he explained. “With barbershop, it’s a great chance to learn. It’s a challenge to sing in a different area. There’s the joy of making the music. I’m in it for life.
“Gregory Lewis can be reached at glewis@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7930.Copyright © 2009, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
BHS staff visits the Sunshine Chordsmen
Posted 06/16/2009 | By Marty Schneider
June 15,2009 Barbershop Harmony Society staff member Mike O’Neil visited the Sunshine Chordsmen at their monday nite rehearsal. Mike is in charge of chorus director development and came to meet with the board of directors and then meet and teach with the members of the chorus. Mike provided the board with many new ideas to improve the chorus. He also had a great time directing the chorus and giving ideas to help and improve singing and performance skills. It was a great time and much thanks to Mike O’Neil and the Barbershop Harmony Society for the visit and the help to improve the chorus.
Songs And Sweetness For Dan And Marianne Smyth
Posted 04/19/2009 | By Marty Schneider
The Sunshine Chordsmen performed sunday april 19th for the Dan and Marianne Smyth Ice Cream Social. This was an effort by Dan and Marianne’s church and the Virginia Schuman Young School where Marianne is a teacher. This was a fund raising effort to help out the Smyth’s. Since Marianne’s stroke last year, things have been a little harder so everyone got together to help out. Dan is a member of the Sunshine Chordsmen singing lead. The South Florida Jubilee also performed for the group, with many other friends in attendance. The Chordsmen give best wishes to Dan and Marianne and continued progress for marianne’s full recovery.
HotShots Get A New Bass
Posted 04/15/2009 | By Marty Schneider
HotShots would like to officially announce our Bass search is over. After hundreds of highway miles, dozens of tanks of gas and over 147 Grand Slam breakfasts at Denny’s…we happily found Steve Thacker, formerly of The Cincinnati Kids ( 1986 and 1985 Quartet Bronze medalists). He’s been in Florida for the past 5 years and is excited to re-enter the barbershop world. We think he’ll make a great addition to the team and can’t wait to bring you more unique humor and great singing.
We’ve already begun construction of a new Geritones puppet for Steve, so we’re asking any generous barbershoppers out there to send us your old couch cushions, cable-knit sweaters and toilet seat warmers so we can have enough fabric.
We look forward to singing for all of you again on the International stage and good luck to all of the Anaheim competitors. We’ll be updating our website shortly with new information and a bio of Steve.
(Visit HotShots’s website at http://4hotshots.com)
We’ve switched to ExpressionEngine!
Posted 04/07/2007 | By Alex Rubin
As of April 2007, BarbershopChorus.com has switched to using Expression Engine for the backend management of the site. We’re extremely pleased with the ability to customize every feature of the site to our needs. If you’re in need of an awesome CMS check it out! http://www.expressionengine.com/
HotShots wins State Championship
Posted 10/08/2006 | By Alex Rubin
The weekend our very own HotShots went to Jacksonville and brought back the Florida State Championship. The lead the competition the whole way showing off their ability to sing a straight barbershop contest set on Friday night and then came right back with their “money set” the Geritones puppets! These guys have worked very hard to get to this point and a much deserve championship was won! Congrats guys.
Dick Carsello joins the chapter eternal
Posted 09/14/2006 | By Alex Rubin
With very heavy hearts we are sorry to say we’ve lost a chorus member. On Thursday, September 7th, during his normal morning workout Dick Carsello passed away from a massive heart attack. Dick just recently had is 76th birthday at the beginning of August and only a few weeks ago celebrated his 52nd wedding anniversary. This is a huge loss for the chorus and chapter, Dick had been a member for over 17 years attending almost every rehearsal and performance during his membership. We’ll miss you always brother. For more information, read Dick’s obituary in the Sun-Sentinel (Click here)
Preparing for Singing Valentines!
Posted 01/18/2006 | By Alex Rubin
The Chordsmen are in their annual Valentines quartet singing mode ready to deliver one of the best gifts possible, the gift of music! The chorus plans to have 4 quartets roaming the Broward county area with the hopes of completing over 100 performances in a 5 day span. If you want additional information check out the Valentines information page (Click Here). Happy Valentines Day!
Pancake breakfast a tasty treat!
Posted 11/25/2005 | By Alex Rubin
The Chordsmen had the privilege of hosting one of our sponsors (St. Benedict’s) monthly breakfasts on November 20th. The breakfast had been rescheduled a few times due to Hurricane Wilma and power restoration but this time it went off with a bang! Under the leadership of Steve Moody (Bass) the chordsmen served a whopping 5 different flavors consisting of the very popular walnut, apple cinnamon, the kid favorite chocolate chip, banana and of course plain. The was a quartet advertising the breakfast at both morning church services as well singing during breakfast. All the proceeds went to the St. Benedict’s building fund as a way of showing our appreciation for letting us use their parish hall for weekly rehearsals. Thanks to all who came and enjoyed a wonderful Sunday morning breakfast with the Chordsmen.
Fortissimo hangs it up
Posted 10/13/2005 | By Alex Rubin
This past weekends State Championships marked the end of one of our favorite quartets. A planned breakup for the quartet after a very successful run over the last 4 years. The group decided to explore new things in life and continue their educations. We are also sad to announce that Dan Cochran will be leaving the South Florida area and the Chordsmen as he will be attending Jacksonville Community College starting this coming winter (January 2006). We wish him as well as the other members the best success with any and all future endeavors.
Hotshots and Fortissimo take top honors in state championships
Posted 10/13/2005 | By Alex Rubin
Hotshots and Fortissimo competed against the State’s top quartets in our version of the “Fall Classic” held in Daytona Beach. Hotshots finished in 2nd place with Fortissimo right behind in 3rd place.
Library Concert raises money for Hurricane Katrina victims
Posted 09/13/2005 | By Alex Rubin
The Chordsmen produced a free (donation only) show at Broward County’s main library in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Sunday. The show also helped raise funds for Hurricane Katrina store victims, in all the event raised over $200 dollars. In addition, we were please to find out that a family in the chorus can donate the moneys through American Express Corporation and double the contribution. Thank you to all who came to the show and donated funds!
Our First Recording is Underway!
Posted 08/10/2005 | By Alex Rubin
We are so pleased to announce that our first recording is underway. The chorus had its first recording session on August 8th on plan on having the CD completed before the end of August for release in late September. The CD will feature some of the chorus’ extensive repertoire and might even include a few seasonal favorites! More Soon…
International Contest Results
Posted 07/10/2005 | By Alex Rubin
The results are in! Rounders finished 14th overall, HotShots in there first competition finish 39th missing out on beating barbershop legend Joe Connelly by 1 point! We to go guys! Fortissimo finished 5th in one of the toughest collegiate competitions in recent memory. For more information or to see the score sheets check out the Salt Lake City Convention Website
Chordsmen Qualify 3 quartets for Salt Lake City
Posted 05/20/2005 | By Alex Rubin
We are so pleased to be sending 3 quartets to Salt Lake City, Utah for the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International contest Salt Lake City Convention Site. Rounders qualified as the top representative from the Sunshine District (State of Florida) and HotShots was fortunate to qualify as a wild-card competitor for the competition. It will be HotShots’ first appearance at International competition. Fortissimo qualified as one of the highest ranked competitors for the International collegiate competition featuring over 20 international competitors.