http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/02/20/barbershop-group-hopes-100-\
voices/

Barbershop group hopes for 100 voices

By REBEKAH HEIL

February 20, 2008 | 9:48 p.m. CST

Editor's note: This event, scheduled for Thursday night, has been
canceled because of poor weather conditions.

COLUMBIA — The four-part harmony of barbershop music will reverberate
from First Baptist Church on Thursday night, but it won't be from a
quartet.

For the Boonslick Chordbusters, the goal is a group of 100 voices.

To meet that goal, the Chordbusters, a barbershop chorus based in
Columbia that meets weekly at the church and performs around Missouri,
is inviting the public and mid-Missourians involved in music to its
fourth annual 100-Man Night on Thursday.

Singing will begin at 7 p.m. and will continue until 9:30 p.m., with a
break for refreshments and socializing. The group will focus on
learning new songs in the first half, and in the second half, they
will stand on risers to sing as if performing.

"Part of the reason that we exist is to provide opportunities for the
community to get out and experience a cappella singing, whether it's
through actually participating in something like this or coming to one
of our shows," said Greg Grote, a Chordbusters member from Jefferson City.

The Chordbusters sent out invitations to vocalists in mid-Missouri and
expect to have singers from Moberly and a chorus group from Jefferson
City, among others.

One of the farthest travelers will be guest director Jim Bagby of
Kansas City, who recently retired from directing the Heart of America
chorus, which has been internationally ranked among barbershop groups.

Chordbusters member Chuck Bay of Columbia said Bagby is an annual
guest and brings exciting material to 100-Man Night.

"Last year, he introduced what they call `woodshedding,' which is sort
of how barbershop got started," Bay said. "A guy sings the melody and
the other three kind of harmonize around that. It goes back to the
roots of the style. Believe it or not, you can actually do that with a
big group."

Bagby is also bringing a quartet from Kansas City to help teach new
material to the Chordbusters.

The group usually has about 20 or 30 men in attendance, Bay said. He
said that along with getting the community involved in the fun,
100-Man Night is a chance for the group's regulars to see what it's
like to sing in a larger chorus.

Bay has been around barbershop music for most of his life. His father,
Park Bay, was in a Columbia chorus years ago, and after that group
disbanded, the two joined a group in Boonville. In 1997, Park Bay was
one of the founding members of the Chordbusters. One of the group's
goals is to preserve barbershop's chord-based style of music and
down-to-earth lyrics.

Chuck Bay said the group means a lot to its regular members.

"Some of our guys like to joke that it's cheaper than therapy," Chuck
Bay said. "It's kind of stress relief. If you're singing songs, it's
hard to be angry. It certainly puts people in a better mood."

MU student Patrick Lockwood has been involved with the group since
fall of 2006, and at age 20 is the youngest member of the
Chordbusters. He agrees that for men of all ages, the activity is
relaxing and one he hopes more people will join.

"The whole purpose of barbershop is to have fun and enjoy singing with
other guys," Lockwood said. "It's not about performing, It's not about
competitions. The focus here is just to enjoy four-part harmony with
at least four guys, if not more."