Singing in perfect harmony

Young Chang

Men used to sing while barbers cut their hair during the 19th century.

They harmonized -- one sang the melody, another took bass, a third sang

tenor and a fourth mixed in some baritone.

The pleasant medley -- a consonant sound, no dischords -- became known

as barbershop music.

These men also shared a fellowship, gathering not only for fresh cuts

and feel-good melodies, but a chance to be away from home and smoke

cigars with the guys.

The tradition lives on with Joe D’Amore, Dan Durfey and Frank Ortega

-- members of the Masters of Harmony barbershop chorus performing

Saturday at Orange Coast College. The four-time winner of the

International Chorus Championship is made up of 140 men ranging from high

school age teens to seniors in their 70s.

“It’s a multi-generational past time,” said Durfey, a 13-year member

of the group.

Directed by Mark Hale, the a cappella group was founded in 1985 and is

chartered as the Santa Fe Springs Chapter of the Society for the

Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America,

Inc. Members gather from as far south as San Diego and as north as

Bakersfield every Wednesday at the Community Center in Santa Fe Springs

to rehearse.

The median age falls between 35 and 55, members said.

“What our mission is, is preserving the music of America,” said

Durfey. “A lot of it is from the ‘20s and ‘30s and even before -- some of

the music that has made America and has really just given the picture of

the growth of America.”

The chorus adapts new songs to the barbershop style, too.

“That’s why young people find our music so intriguing,” Durfey added.

The group’s repertoire includes popular American classics, Broadway

tunes and patriotic songs. Saturday’s performance will feature a Frank

Sinatra medley with favorites like “I’ve Got the World on a String,”

“Witchcraft,” “All the Way” and “My Way,” among other hits like “The

Impossible Dream” from “The Man of La Mancha,” said Ortega, 64.

D’Amore joined the group because the music -- the harmoniousness -- is

pleasing to his ear.

“I also enjoy the fact that it’s clean,” he said. “It wouldn’t be

rated R -- it’s rated PG or G, very family oriented.”

D’Amore is an education director for Bryman College in El Monte.

Ortega is a retired electrical engineer. Durfey, who serves as the

Masters of Harmony spokesman, is a retired school teacher.

“We draw from all walks of life,” Durfey said. “And we appeal to men

of all different ages. But they all have barbershop music as a love.”

FYI

WHAT: “Masters of Harmony”

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Orange Coast College’s Robert B. Moore Theatre, 2701 Fairview

Road, Costa Mesa

COST: $18-$24

CALL: (714) 432-5880