Story and Photo
by Linda Munro

     American Barbershop-style harmony was originally associated with the African-American quartets that sprung up in the Deep South during the 1870s. By 1910, the term barbershop in reference to harmonizing was firmly coined within the publication of the song, "Play That Barbershop Chord." A blend of African-American musical strategy, European hymn-singing and American recreational music, barbershop harmony became so popular that, at one time, nearly every barbershop in America had its own quartet.

     During the gay '90s and into the turn of the century, dapper young men of the time chose to "hang out" at the local barbershop, where the tradition of singing a capella would eventually overflow into pool halls and saloons. The barbershop style of harmonizing became threatened with the new lifestyle of Americans; between 1918 and 1938, this form of harmony fell into a lull bordering extinction. In 1939, the "Propagation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America" was formed, breathing new life into barbershop harmony. The name of the now international group would later become "The Society of Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America."

     Today, barbershop quartets are alive and well. The "Friends of Harmony" chapter of the organization not only shares the barbershop experience, but offers Western New Yorkers a unique way to say "I love You." Over the recent Valentine's Day weekend, members of the Friends of Harmony (forming six quartets) traveled throughout the Western New York area expressing love through harmony to more than 150 people during their annual Valentine's Day fund-raising event.

     Of the six groups touring the area, only two were registered quartets, the other four groups met twice to practice before hitting the streets with their message of love.

     The unregistered quartets included "The Border Buddies," who performed locally, enchanting residents at Gowanda Nursing Home, and the group covering areas east of Buffalo, with Collins' own Dick Westlund, a 17-year veteran of Barbershop harmony.

     From songs of yesteryear to songs recently re-released by Rod Stewart, the quartets sang everything from "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" to "It Had to be You" to persons on the job or relaxing at home. Each recipient of the unique Valentine wish was greeted with a rose and presented with a photo of the event to forever memorialize the special greeting.