BARBERSHOPPERS SING AT THE WHITE HOUSE

For the second consecutive year, the Blue and Gray Chorus of Inwood, West Virginia performed at the White House during the holiday season. Representing the Barbershop Harmony Society, the all male a cappella group sang traditional Christmas songs from the Society’s Yule Book. When the group slated to follow the chorus was late arriving, the chorus was asked to sing Take Me Home Country Roads to a rousing applause.

While some of the chorus members have difficulty getting time off from work to participate in the annual performance, this poses no problem for the group as barbershoppers from other chapters are happy to fill in and take advantage of the opportunity to sing at the White House. One barbershopper actually traveled from Colorado to be able to sing with the group on this occasion.

A member of the chorus, John Fisher, said, “Barbershop is as American as Mom, baseball and apple pie. Where could it be more appropriate than to sing it in the White House. I guarantee it will give you goose bumps!”

Members of the chorus are already planning to mark the 2008 holiday season with their third consecutive performance at the White House.