Singing for a cause: Barbershop quartet prepares for annual show

The Coles County Barbershop Chorus will be hosting their 44th Annual Show on Saturday at the Charleston High School.

Tom Woodall, the co-director for the group and a former Eastern professor and cross county coach, said he and Ron Leathers formed the group in 1967.

The group has about 35 members from around the county and is known for their philanthropic efforts.

Woodall said the group raised more than $8,000 for local homeless shelters, food pantries and high school music programs.

He said art programs, especially the music programs in high schools, are being cut because of decreasing budgets.

This year, they were able to raise and give about $2,000 to area high schools from their “Singing Valentines for Hire” fundraiser.

“This happens to be the only real fundraiser we have,” Woodall said. “The rest of the year we sing in churches and try to do community, good will things.”

For their 44th show, the group chose the theme “Music in Mayberry” as a play off of the “The Andy Griffith Show.”

“We have various members of our group who look like or can act like Opie, Sheriff Taylor, Otis, Gomer and Barney,” Woodall said. “It’s a musical thing, but there’s that little spread of those characters going through it.”

To keep with the theme, a bluegrass band comprised of two chorus members and two community members will play along with the chorus.

“In barbershop singing, everything is unaccompanied – no piano, no guitar, no instruments,” Woodall said.

The band includes a five-string banjo, bass and a guitar, he said.

Woodall said the group’s name is also a play on the 1960s show.

“If you remember the Maynerry show, there was a bluegrass band called the Dillards,” he said. “We’re kind of a play on words, but we called ourselves the Dullards.”

The Forefronts will be performing as a guest quartet.

“For the last two years, they’ve placed seventh in the international competition,” Woodall said. “They could very well be in the top five in the world. They’re extremely good.”

The show begins at 4 p.m., and tickets cost $12.

Amanda Wilkinson can reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].