I received this email from Bill Rohlin (a 40-year member of the Society) the other day which he’s given me permission to share here on the blog:

I’d like to see some songs in the BBS style from the top 100 hits from the years when our target demographic was in its teens.  We need simple arrangements.  If the tune could be contestable it needs to be clearly stated that the easy-to-learn version is not. If choruses and quartets could learn some of these songs they might generate interest in the 35 – 50 age group. Simple arrangements with gangbuster tags of songs from 1975 into the early 90′s would be my suggestion.  Surely there must be some songs from that time period that were not rap or heavy metal, some that can fit in. Just my thought.

Sing-cerely, Bill

We’ve seen many arrangers select pieces from the era of music and many of those songs have worked quite well for barbershop groups.  Many are not contestable but certainly make for good show material.  The Society has also published several titles from this era.  “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” “God Bless the USA,” and “You Raise Me Up” come to mind.

So what do you think about this idea?

AND MORE IMPORTANLY…what are some songs from this time period you think would fit the bill?

All too often I read with interest either on the Harmonet or in emails sent to me by our members what people think is “wrong with the Society.” Not specifically HQ but all levels from the quartets to the chapters to the districts and so on. I value everyone’s opinion and when it comes to making decisions for the Society all of the input I’ve received over the years help guide me in my decision making. I sometimes wonder, however, are we too focused on what’s wrong that we are more and more forgetting to celebrate the positives? Read the rest of this entry »

It’s waaaaaaay to early to see what the Membership Growth Task Force is going to come up with — they are keeping their minds open and their options open while they study the sources of our membership decline and guide us toward remedies. Suffice it to say, we’ve got some really bright minds working on this issue. Read the rest of this entry »

The women who become Associates are not members of our Society per se, but they’re still official with the Society, if you know what I mean. Society Board member Skipp Kropp’s wife, Nancy, has shared in the barbershop fraternity and lifestyle for years with her husband, and she recently became an Associate. Skipp has already noticed some subtle but interesting shifts in behavior since then. Read the rest of this entry »