RESOLUTION
NO. 180238
Celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Barbershop Harmony
Society and declaring Wednesday, April 11th, “Barbershop Harmony Day” in Kansas
City, Missouri.
WHEREAS, the
Barbershop Harmony Society, formerly known as the Society for the Preservation
and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, Incorporated, is a
non-profit, non-sectarian men’s singing Society dedicated to charitable works
and to singing and encouraging others to sing four-part a capella Barbershop
harmony; and
WHEREAS, in the lobby of the Muehlebach Hotel of
Kansas City, Missouri, Owen C. Cash, and Rupert I. Hall of Tulsa, Oklahoma met
by chance in 1938, which resulted in the formation of an impromptu quartet that
sang on those very premises. The experience so enriched their lives, that
upon their return to Tulsa they formed what is known today as the Barbershop
Harmony Society, and has since become the largest all male singing Society in
the World; and
WHEREAS, the
Heart of America Chorus, the Central Standard Chorus, the Leavenworth Cody
Choraliers Chorus, the Olathe Trails West Chorus, the KC Chorus of Sweet
Adelines, City of Fountains Chorus
of Sweet Adelines and the Vocal Standard Chorus of Sweet Adelines, with
a combined membership of about 350 men and women, all represent a body of men
and women dedicated to preserving the spirit and sounds of the unique style of
barbershop music and a capella harmony singing, and co-reside in the Kansas
City metropolitan area; and
WHEREAS, today the Barbershop Harmony Society is the world’s largest
all-male singing Society of 22,000 members across North America and affiliated
men’s and women’s organizations, including Sweet
Adelines International (SAI), in more than a dozen countries, with
active singers totaling over 80,000 worldwide; and
WHEREAS, the
Society urges all visitors and citizens to enjoy and participate in Barbershop
Harmony, and to support the joy of singing as “EVERYONE IN HARMONY” both now
and into the future, and to bring singing back to its leading social activity
in the city, state, and the world; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL
OF KANSAS CITY:
That the Mayor and Council
hereby congratulate the Barbershop Harmony Society, founded in Kansas
City, Missouri, on the occasion of their 80th anniversary; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that
this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof
and that a copy hereof be presented to Mr. Barry Sanders and a Quartet with the
Mayor and Council declaring Wednesday April 11th “Barbershop Harmony Day” in
Kansas City, Missouri.
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