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For barbershop quartets, it's all about the harmony

What began as a simple hobby for a father and son turned into a trip for the father to the Super Bowl - of barbershop-quartet singing, that is.

The OC Times (from left) Shawn York, Sean Devine, Corey Hunt and Patrick Claypool, do a sound check at the Convention Center on June 29, 2010. (Kristen J. Bethel / Staff Photographer)
The OC Times (from left) Shawn York, Sean Devine, Corey Hunt and Patrick Claypool, do a sound check at the Convention Center on June 29, 2010. (Kristen J. Bethel / Staff Photographer)Read more

WHAT BEGAN AS a simple hobby for a father and son turned into a trip for the father to the Super Bowl - of barbershop-quartet singing, that is.

"I have three sons, and I have sung with all of them," said Tom Halley, 52, of Wallingford.

"But one day Matthew turned to me and said, 'Dad, let's start a barbershop quartet.' "

Halley then contacted friends who also enjoyed singing and created a quartet named Frank the Dog.

Today, Frank the Dog will perform at the 72nd annual Barbershop Harmony Society Convention & Competition, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

The competition, which hosts 52 quartets, 30 college-level quartets and 30 barbershop choral groups, is expected to attract 8,500 people, said Eric Herr, public-relations chairman of the host committee for the Philadelphia convention.

"Anytime you do a hobby, it takes time away from your family," Halley said about his 18 months with the group.

"We are all married and have kids and jobs. Our personal goal is to keep this fun and not let it be a burden on our families."

Matthew left the group after three months and was replaced by Ross Trube.

"We are in our hometown, so we know lots of people," Halley said. "When we talk on stage, people bark for us. We encourage that. 'Let your inner dog out,' we always say."

The other "dogs" are: Tim Knapp, 40, of Allentown; Steve Kirsch, 41, of Lansdale; and Trube, 52, of Hamilton Square, N.J.

"A lot of people look at barbershop and immortalize it," Herr said, referring to the legendary Buffalo Bills, who starred in the 1962 hit "The Music Man." "But it's come a long way. Quartets now use show tunes or rock songs."

Herr said this phenomenon might have come from recent TV shows, like "Glee," that glorify the art of singing.

Frank the Dog has noticed the trend. Halley said the group has its own repertoire of contemporary songs.

"Every group has what we call barbershop songs, which score well in competition, but then we all have songs that are a little different and more rock 'n' roll. We just did a version of the Beach Boys' 'In My Room.' "

The judges of the Barbershop Harmony Society are looking for quality in the singers' voices, said Jim DeBusman, a judge of the collegiate barbershop-quartet contest.

"The responsibilities of a singing judge are to listen to the overall sound," DeBusman said.

"Do they lock the chords? Does the sound go flat, or do they stay pretty much where they should be?"

Singers in the competition say that only practice can enhance a group's success.

Alex Kuen, lead singer for the collegiate-level quartet Snap Shot, said that "competition" might not be the right word for this week's events.

"It's not like we can guard the other quartets," he said. "All we can really do is practice and try to perform to our best abilities."

Halley said that making it to the international competition shows the group's work ethic, but the majority of practice is done individually.

"We do all things in moderation," he said. "We do it passionately, but we're not trying to kill each other to win contests."

Frank the Dog rehearses once a week for three to four hours, Halley said.

Aside from competing today, Halley said, he is excited to see what other quartets have prepared.

"There are some magical moments at these contests," he said. "And it doesn't matter if you are old or young, rich or poor, you'll enjoy them."