(Last modified: $Date: 2003/10/23 20:31:41 $)
This was a fun get-away after the 2002 Midwinter SPEBSQSA Convention, where a small group of us enjoyed a 5-day cruise down the California Coast, from the L.A. area to Ensenada (a small Mexican coastal town about 60 miles south of the border. Presiding over these festivities were two barbershop legends: Maestro de Musica Joe Connelly (lead of SPEBSQSA's Champion Quartets INTERSTATE RIVALS, KEEPSAKE, & PLATINUM ) and Reina de Musica Debbie Connelly (lead of Sweet Adelines Champion Quartet SHOWTIME. ) Not only did we end up putting on a small show aboard ship, directed by Joe, but we also had a hilarious quartet contest, with nearly all of the barbershoppers (including Joe & Debbie) participating in at least one quartet.
After a few singing get-togethers, we figured we sounded good enough to share the harmony, and put on an informal "sing" for any passengers who wished to join us. Besides getting the audience to participate, the barbershoppers in our group performed Home on the Range, Darkness on the Delta, My Wild Irish Rose, Coney Island Baby, Down Our Way, and God Bless America (the chorus only.) Also included on the show was a quartet interlude, with the pickup quartet of Debbie Connelly (tenor), Joe Connelly (lead), Kim Orloff (bari), and Jerry Orloff (bass) singing Hi Neighbor, Sitting on Top of the World, Mary Lou, and Lullabye in Ragtime. "Headliners" for the show were SPEBSQSA Seniors Quartet Champs Cincinnati Pops, (Kent Smith, Don Jennings, Bob Mucha, & Larry Findlay) who also performed elswhere on the ship during the cruise.
It turned out that Debbie and Joe have sung in a lot of quartets, but rarely get the chance to sing with each other, so they really enjoyed the opportunity for a mixed quartet. In fact, all four were having so much fun they decided to enter the Ship's "Talent Show" as the Coast to Coast Quartet to represent the barbershoppers. They laid out a ringing rendition of "Hi Neighbor," followed by Joe's dreamy rendition of "Lullaby in Ragtime." No winners were announced, but if applause was a measure, they won!
The highlight of the trip was the quartet contest. Judges were non-barbershoppers: tour leader Ed Pio (actually a member of the Society, but not a singer), the ship's activities director, and an interested passenger (who later joined his local barbershop chapter!) Judging categories were a bit different than the standard barbershop contest categories. They were:
MOST IMAGINATIVE: Costume, clever words to songs, gestures... won by THE OVEREATERS.
MOST HUMOROUS: The quartet that drew the most laughs ... won by BELLA ROSA.
MOST OUTRAGEOUS: The farthest out, the craziest quartet... also won by THE OVEREATERS.
BEST SINGING: The most enjoyable to listen to (we told the judges "you'd like to hear them sing another song, even if it's not funny... best judged with your eyes closed for 5-10 seconds")... won by THE HUMM'ROIDS.
BEST LOOKING: Not just what they were wearing, but were they interesting... their faces and body language... all through the song? ...won by EL QUATRO LOCO
All of the quartets sang parodies of commonly known barbershop songs... and all were imaginative, enjoyable... and hilarious. Must have been something in the air... or maybe it was those Mexican Margaritas! Of course, having Debbie in your quartet (or Joe, or one of the several other "sparkplugs" from the Cincinnati Pops Quartet) made it come naturally -- a great way to wind up the first month of 2002!