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What has dwindled through the years is hoped to be revived on Saturday.
In the 1960s, barbershop music was in full swing throughout the area. Sadly, through the 1970-90s the number of harmonizing voices became less and less. Jeremy Albright, a Jasper County Sheriff's deputy and the director for the Tri Statesmen Chorus, said he is witnessing what is hoped to be a comeback for the special form of entertainment.
The Tri Statesmen Chorus will present the Ozark Harmony Tour to the local community at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Carthage Memorial Hall, 407 Garrison Ave. Albright said there will be several talented performing groups that evening, each with their own local flavor and for four songs approximately 65-70 men will join together for one special show. The tour will feature the Tri Statesmen, Storm Front (2010 International Champion), Sho-Me Statesmen Chorus and Pride of the Ozarks.
“This is going to be a great show,” Albright said. “Storm Front, specifically, is going to supplement the performance with something for everyone in the family to enjoy. They are a riot – and it's clean comedy too. They are true performers.”
On a more serious note of the performance for Carthage, part of the show will be a tribute to Harold Linwood Koontz, a Carthage barbershop singer who passed away this year.
“It's going to be tough but we wanted to honor him,” Albright said. “He was a huge part of barbershop in this area.”
The tour kicks off Saturday, Oct. 29 in Springfield. Albright said the tour will then “come screaming down I-44,” to perform in the evening at Carthage. After what is expected to be a long, fun night, the tour will continue south to Rogers, Ark., for a Sunday show.
Albright has directed the Tri Statesmen Chorus for six years. He said when he took over, there were nine men. In three years, the group grew to 29. As a huge music enthusiast, Albright said he hopes the barbershop style will make a comeback in the area, in addition to turning the tour into a highly-anticipated annual event.
“With the support of the community,” Albright said. “Having an international champion here is a pretty big deal … We hope this show will help revive this form of art in our area, and help us be an important part of the community.”
Tickets will be sold at the door for: $20 (front seating), $12.50 (middle to back seating) and $10 (balcony seating.) For more information or tickets in advance, call 417-234-2086 or 620-232-6159.
For more information on the Storm Front singing group, visit http://stormfrontquartet.com/presskit.php. For more information on the Tri Statesmen Chorus, visit http://joplintristatesmen.com/default.aspx.
What has dwindled through the years is hoped to be revived on Saturday.
In the 1960s, barbershop music was in full swing throughout the area. Sadly, through the 1970-90s the number of harmonizing voices became less and less. Jeremy Albright, a Jasper County Sheriff's deputy and the director for the Tri Statesmen Chorus, said he is witnessing what is hoped to be a comeback for the special form of entertainment.
The Tri Statesmen Chorus will present the Ozark Harmony Tour to the local community at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Carthage Memorial Hall, 407 Garrison Ave. Albright said there will be several talented performing groups that evening, each with their own local flavor and for four songs approximately 65-70 men will join together for one special show. The tour will feature the Tri Statesmen, Storm Front (2010 International Champion), Sho-Me Statesmen Chorus and Pride of the Ozarks.
“This is going to be a great show,” Albright said. “Storm Front, specifically, is going to supplement the performance with something for everyone in the family to enjoy. They are a riot – and it's clean comedy too. They are true performers.”
On a more serious note of the performance for Carthage, part of the show will be a tribute to Harold Linwood Koontz, a Carthage barbershop singer who passed away this year.
“It's going to be tough but we wanted to honor him,” Albright said. “He was a huge part of barbershop in this area.”
The tour kicks off Saturday, Oct. 29 in Springfield. Albright said the tour will then “come screaming down I-44,” to perform in the evening at Carthage. After what is expected to be a long, fun night, the tour will continue south to Rogers, Ark., for a Sunday show.
Albright has directed the Tri Statesmen Chorus for six years. He said when he took over, there were nine men. In three years, the group grew to 29. As a huge music enthusiast, Albright said he hopes the barbershop style will make a comeback in the area, in addition to turning the tour into a highly-anticipated annual event.
“With the support of the community,” Albright said. “Having an international champion here is a pretty big deal … We hope this show will help revive this form of art in our area, and help us be an important part of the community.”
Tickets will be sold at the door for: $20 (front seating), $12.50 (middle to back seating) and $10 (balcony seating.) For more information or tickets in advance, call 417-234-2086 or 620-232-6159.
For more information on the Storm Front singing group, visit http://stormfrontquartet.com/presskit.php. For more information on the Tri Statesmen Chorus, visit http://joplintristatesmen.com/default.aspx.
