Masters of Harmony: The Early Years
What about those early years? What did the Masters of Harmony do then to keep busy?
During our “off” years (when we could not compete due to contest rules), we certainly did not let grass grow under our feet — musically or otherwise. We had nearly 30 public appearances over a two-year period (1990-1991), averaged more than one performance a month, appeared on television three times, sang for other barbershop chapters, entertained audiences containing such luminaries as Ted Turner, Jane Fonda and Steven Spielberg, produced one recording, and more. Our performance venues broke down into various categories: concert series, barbershop shows, our own annual shows, fundraisers for other organizations, and special performances for unique occasions — such as the Christmas Tree Lighting celebration presented each year by our gracious and generous host community, the City of Santa Fe Springs.
Our concert series performances actually began before San Francisco with an Ambassador Auditorium appearance in November 1989 as part of the theater’s Big Band Era Series. The show entitled “An Evening of Barbershop and Ragtime” featured the Masters of Harmony and the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. Video clips of the fast-paced performance were used by the Society teachers at Harmony University (then Harmony College) to demonstrate how to plan and execute a complete and entertaining chorus package.
Our largest audiences have been at International barbershop conventions. The chorus was invited to perform at both the 1990 and 1992 Midwinter Conventions (Tucson, Arizona and Long Beach, California, respectively), and at the latter we received a special Public Relations Award for our efforts in presenting barbershop to the general public. We then performed at the 1991 International Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, where we introduced several new songs, including “There Used To Be A Ballpark” and the very popular “How To Build A Chorus.”
Our close relationship with the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, began on March 3, 1991, the first Sunday after the end of the Gulf War. We sang “I Believe” and our Patriotic Medley at the Operation “Desert Prayer” performance while a giant 70-foot American flag was raised behind us. We really had to focus on Dr. Greg Lyne as some in the chorus were tearing up and many in the audience were crying. This stirring moment was witnessed by millions of people on national and international television. The response was so great that we were invited back to sing again in October for a post-Desert Storm performance — the very first time any group had been asked to appear twice in the same year! Also noteworthy, our sale of MOH recordings at the Cathedral was the second highest volume for them — surpassed only by Glen Campbell.
The Masters of Harmony have helped other chapters raise money by appearing on their annual shows. In June 1991 the chorus traveled to Las Vegas for two performances on the Gamble-Aires show at the University of Las Vegas. Later, in October, we appeared on the Hemet Chapter show along with Nightlife, Western Union and Cahoots>/b>.
Things were still buzzing in 1991 as, in November, we performed for the Boy Scouts of America at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles in what was referred to as a “Very Special Invitation” category. The Boy Scouts organization was honoring cartoon producer and barbershopper Bill Hanna. The audience at this $1,000-a-plate fundraiser consisted of numerous producers and movie stars, and we felt extremely honored to be part of the celebration. After we performed our standard package, we surprised the audience – particularly Hanna – by suddenly breaking into a medley of Hanna-Barbera songs, including “Flintstones,” Yogi Bear,” Top Cat,” and “Quick Draw McGraw.” This medley was arranged for us in only two days by Dave Briner, and then learned by the chorus in just two rehearsals!
Another truly “unusual” experience for the Masters of Harmony was when, in March 1992, the chorus had a special opportunity to perform for the Society of Preservation of Film Music Performance at the Universal Sheraton in Studio City. What made this tribute to composer, conductor and arranger Henry Mancini particularly memorable was that the chorus sang the theme song for The Hunt For Red October – in Russian! The piece was performed with the Wind Ensemble of California State University-Long Beach, and in the audience was the very pleased composer of the music, Basil Palidouris.
The first few years were exhilarating and rewarding times as the Masters of Harmony began to develop into a premier chorus. History now shows that the chorus has flourished and grown into a performance giant and that, to this day, the chorus continues to thrill audiences everywhere with a long tradition of performances of matchless entertainment value.
