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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