Decatur's barbershop singers have earned kudos worldwide

DECATUR, Ill. (AP) - Decatur resident Larry 'œLG'ť White has performed on stages across the country, meeting musicians Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. He even played guitar alongside Kenny Loggins in an impromptu performance.

But many of the endearing highlights of the 71-year-old's life come from singing barbershop-style music with people who love it just as much.

'œYou don't sing to be a soloist,'ť he said.

The musical style is described as four-part, unaccompanied, close-harmony singing, according to the Barbershop Harmony Society. Along with other Decatur residents, White was a member of the award-winning Ambassadors of Harmony, an all-male barbershop group based in St. Louis.

Membership in the Ambassadors of Harmony can total 160 singers, ranging in age from 9 to 90.

Group members compete and perform all over the world. White and his brother Bruce White and Decatur Chordsman Bob Hedgecock have been on stages in Colorado, California, Pennsylvania, England, Canada and Germany.

'œYou name it,'ť Larry White said.

In some areas of the world, the barbershop singers are quite popular. 'œThey treated us like we were the Beatles,'ť White said.

Ambassadors of Harmony may be rooted in St. Louis, but the White brothers say its members come from all over, including many from Central Illinois.

Although they are accomplished singers, everyday people are part of barbershop groups. Bruce White is retired from Caterpillar. Larry White owned a vinyl and leather repair business.

Decatur is no stranger to barbershop music. It is home to the Decatur Chordsmen and female groups the Decaturettes and Ambiance.

Bruce White lured his brother into auditioning for the St. Louis group nearly 20 years ago. 'œHe's the barbershopper,'ť Larry White said. 'œHe brought me in as a guest.'ť

Larry White has been a member of Theatre 7 and has taken part in other local theater productions for nearly 50 years. Bruce White offered to audition for a play if his brother would attend the Ambassadors of Harmony guest night. 'œI turned out to be more than just a guest,'ť Larry White said.

According to the brothers, barbershop auditions can be stressful. 'œIt's brutal,'ť Larry White said.

Once you pass the audition, the real work begins. 'œIt's like jumping on a moving train,'ť Bruce White, 69, said. 'œThey don't sit still.'ť

To stay on top of the a cappella circuit, groups must adapt to change. New songs and choreography are essential for every production. 'œYou are always putting on new shows and new performances for new audiences,'ť Bruce White said.

Their backgrounds have helped the brothers deal with the strenuous performances. 'œBeing on stage is normal for us,'ť Bruce White said.

Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, music was a big part of the brothers' lives. They listened to several musical acts known for their harmonies, such as the Mills Brothers and Righteous Brothers. 'œIf someone in the house was singing something, the next person would sing harmony with them,'ť Bruce White said.

'œWe grew up talking in harmony,'ť Larry White said.

After he left the Argenta home, barbershop performances were a new outlet for Bruce White. He toured with a couple of groups throughout Illinois before being introduced to Ambassadors of Harmony. In 2003, members of the group carpooled to St. Louis to sing along with nearly 160 other a cappella singers. His first competition took him to Montreal, Canada, where the group earned a third-place trophy.

David Wright, from Mattoon, is the barbershop coordinator for the St. Louis singers. Jim Henry, Johnny Moroni and Wright lead the group. 'œYou follow their lead to the letter,'ť Larry White said. 'œYou can be called out if you're not doing what you've been trained to do.'ť

This year, Ambassadors of Harmony plan to compete in the World Chorus competition in Belgium with only 60 members. Singing at this high level isn't done for the simple love of the art. According to the White brothers, the drive comes from the desire to influence the audience.

'œWe sing with the purpose of enriching other people's lives,'ť Bruce White said. 'œThis is art, this is magic.'ť

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Source: (Decatur) Herald & Review, https://bit.ly/2Ic4P5I