If you were at our Tuesday night meeting back on June 24th, you were treated to a rare treat? A quartet calling themselves "The Follically Impaired 4", consisting of Gary Corpora, Vaughn Eggert, Russ Keyser and Bob Parker, arose and sang a rendition of "Gels and Hair Creams" sung to the tune of Girl Of My Dreams. This was arranged by Rich Stevens who apparently selected the quartet members (just wait Rich, your day will come!). So that this wonderful song does not pass into obscurity, I thought I would record it's sentimental, heart rending words here for posterity.
Hair; it's been years since I've parted
Gels and hair creams just won 't do, don 't need
It's not all gone yet. It's just not on top.
Doesn't that just tear you up?
At breakfast one day I was reading the AARP magazine. I was reading an article about Tony Bennett and his singing career. He was passing on singing tips to his daughter Antonia and the following caught my attention:
"He said to keep three things in mind: breathe before each phrase, sing as you speak, as if you 're telling a story; and if you sing the word "love", make sure you mean it.,, Doers this not sound familiar to what our director tries to teach us? Proper breathing- don't break up a phrase with a big breath. Tell the audience a story. Get into the song and emote the feeling the song is trying to portray. This requires not only "feeling" the words, but by our "faces." If you look deadpan, the song will come over deadpan.
In other quartet action, a pickup quartet consisting of Bill Amos, Bill Hamilton, Tom Koch and Jim McCarthy billed themselves as the "Dangerous 4" and did a performance for residents at the Oakmont
Presbyterian Senior Care Center. While there, the 4 also visited Ada Buzzelli (wife of member Don Buzzelli) and treated her to a few songs. On Aug. 3rd, the "Random Choice" quartet (Amos, Hamilton, Koch, Pascarella) sang at a "Tea" for the Auxiliary of the Sisters of Saint Francis at the St. Francis convent.
by Jim McCarthy
1O Chapter Members Benefited
From Apple Corps '03
The "Magnificent Ten" from our Chapter who attended and enhanced their knowledge of the Barbershop singing style from this year's Apple Corps (June 12-14) crop were: Joe Veltre; Russ Keyser; Rich Stevens; Gary Corpora; Vaughn Eggert; Rich Finch; Ange Glorioso; Jim McCarthy and Bill Martin (S.O.B.). Most of the guys participated in the "Pick-Up Quartet Contest."
In attendance and capturing first place in the "Amateur Quartet Contest" at the Saturday Night Show was "The Undertones" Quartet which is co-sponsored by the Indiana and Greater Pittsburgh Chapters. Voices for "The Undertones" are: David McMullan, Lead; Justin Landers, Tenor; Corey Skildcamp, Bass; and Chris Obarsid, Baritone. Other Show entertainment included the highly regarded "Matrix" Quartet, the "Hot Air Buffoons" Quartet (always a riot) plus the fabulous "Independence" and "Alliance" Choruses.
A record 325-Barbershoppers from the Johnny Apple-seed District attended this year's Apple Corps.
Some of the many informative courses offered to the Barbershoppers this year included "Orientation of Quartet/ Chorus Coaching Observation"; "Quartet Observation"; "Chorus Observation"; "How to Turn-On a Computer and Go From There"; "Repertoire Singing"; "Tag Singing"; "Sight Reading"; and "How to be a Better .. . Lead... Tenor.. ........ Baritone."
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