[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 146 (Tuesday, September 19, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E1803]]


                 TRIBUTE TO THE ALEXANDRIA HARMONIZERS

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 19, 1995

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give much deserved 
recognition to the Alexandria Harmonizers Barbershop Chorus, a 130-
voice barbershop chorus from Alexandria, VA. Led by Scott Werner, the 
Harmonizers have been entertaining audiences since 1948. This year the 
Harmonizers have been recognized for the seventh time since 1979, as 
the International Barbershop Chorus Champions, distinguishing them as 
No. 1 among over 825 men's barbershop choruses internationally. I 
admire their efforts to preserve this piece of American culture where 
synthesizers and electronic instruments would have taken over. I submit 
for the Record an article from the Washington Post which further 
expands on the history, and essence of the Harmonizers.

                [From the Washington Post, Aug. 3, 1995]

      Harmonious Hotshots--Barbershoppers Hit Prize-Winning Pitch

                             (By Lan Ngyen)

       Strike another high note for the Alexandria Harmonizers.
       The all-male singing group just won its third international 
     barbershop chorus championship in nine years, beating out 21 
     groups from the United States, Canada and England.
       With its performance of ``I'll Be Seeing You,'' a song 
     above love, familiarity and remembrances that was written for 
     soldiers in World War II, the 130-member chorus again wowed 
     the judges at the annual contest sponsored by the Society for 
     the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet 
     Singing in America.
       The Harmonizers also staged a dazzling rendition of ``Sweet 
     Georgia Brown,'' which was widely popularized as the Harlem 
     Globetrotters' theme song and is about a woman who comes to 
     town and stirs a commotion among the men. Along with their 
     booming four-part harmony, the singers sway side to side, 
     snap their fingers, dance in a chorus line and synchronize 
     the flashing of their purple-sequined vests.
       ``We want to be the best we can to bring to people not only 
     an excellent singing group but an entertaining group at the 
     same time,'' said Scott Werner, the group's director of more 
     than 20 years. ``It's not a professional group, but the level 
     of our singing is comparable to a lot of professional groups. 
     We've worked very hard at perfecting our hobby.''
       The Harmonizers is one of more than 800 groups in the 
     Wisconsin-based barbershop singing society, whose motto is 
     ``Keep the World Singing.'' Their form of music is based on 
     the four-part harmony of a bass, a baritone, a tenor and a 
     lead, who sings the melody. The songs have simple versus and 
     are sung a capella because the blend and the richness of the 
     four tones require no instruments to embellish the sound.
       This type of singing dates to the late 1800s, according to 
     Brian Lynch, the society's public relations director. People 
     on street corners and in churches would sing four-part 
     harmony to pass the time. Yet barbershop singing began to 
     fade with the demise of vaudeville in the 1930s, around the 
     time the national organization was formed by two barbershop 
     singing aficionados.
       Part of the Harmonizers' mission is to keep barbershop 
     music alive in an era of MTV, synthesizers and other 
     electronic equipment that can play the sound of many 
     instruments at once. For their part, the Harmonizers try to 
     attract a wide range of audiences by singing more than 
     traditional barbershop tunes, such as ``Sweet Adeline.'' At a 
     free concert last week at Fort Ward Park in Alexandria, for 
     example, they crooned their version of ``Music of the 
     Night,'' a popular song from the play ``Phantom of the 
     Opera.''
       And unlike other barbershop chorus groups whose 
     performances more resemble something you'd expect from a 
     staid Sunday church choir, the Harmonizers emphasize pizazz 
     in their pieces, with the help of Geri Geis, an actress and 
     choreographer. In a remake of the 1950s rock-and-roll tune 
     ``Little Darlin''' by the Diamonds, all the singers sport 
     sunglasses. In a medley of selections from ``Guys and 
     Dolls,'' they don 1930s costumes and act out scenes.
       The Harmonizers range in age from 15 to 93, and they come 
     from all walks of life--doctors, lawyers, students, 
     architects and military colonels. Many grew up singing in 
     church groups or performing in school musicals.
       ``Choruses like ours are made up of a bunch of Joes who 
     like to sing,'' said Bob Sutton, a 10-year member. ``There's 
     a tremendous reward for those who join. It's a part of my 
     life. As long as I can continue to get the thrill that you 
     get singing four-part chords, I'm going to continue to do 
     that.''
       The Harmonizers practice three hours a week, give two 
     performances a month and stage two full-blown shows in the 
     fall and spring to finance their trips and costumes. They've 
     taken their act on the road for Supreme Court justices and 
     for performances at Wolf Trap, Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy 
     Center, where they've sung with the likes of Perry Como.
       Members of the Harmonizers, founded 47 years ago by a dozen 
     or so members, attribute their success and longevity to the 
     fraternal bonds the men have forged practicing and singing 
     together. They say they make lifelong friendships and keep in 
     touch through a monthly newsletter that notes births, 
     weddings and funerals.
       ``A lot of [the organizations' success] has to do with 
     camaraderie and friendships that you build in an organization 
     like this,'' said Tyce Light, 29, a D.C. computer analyst who 
     joined the group three years ago. ``When members of the 
     chorus are sick or wives have babies, the Harmonizers do pull 
     together with strong family spirit.''

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