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Pinellas group keeps alive long tradition of barbershop harmony

By Piper Castillo, Times Staff Writer
In print: Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Singers from the Florida Suncoast Chorus harmonize Saturday night inside the Shark’s Nest at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater during a Threshers game.
	[Courtesy of John Nuss]

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At Saturday night's Clearwater Threshers game, Tom Stoffel and his buddies hammed it up during the seventh inning stretch. "We sang Take Me Out to the Ball Game, of course, and Let Me Call You Sweetheart, among others. As long as we're together, we're going to sing,'' said Stoffel, 69, of Largo.

The barbershop-style serenaders are part of the Florida Suncoast Chorus. "Barbershop is four-part, old-fashioned a cappella singing,'' Stoffel said.

The 59 members, ranging in age from 30 to 93, are made up of tenors, leads, baritones and basses. The group meets every Monday at Crossroads Christian Church in Largo.

"Ever since I was a kid, and my parents took me to a show in Detroit, I've been fascinated with a cappella singing,'' said Stoffel, 69. "I didn't have time to join a chorus until after I retired. The friendly get-togethers, like Saturday night's ball game, is an added bonus.''

"This type of singing has always been a way for average guys to get together and entertain themselves,'' said Joe Roan, 51, the president of the chapter. "It has been going on longer than even radio has been around.''

In October, the group will travel to Jacksonville for the Sunshine District Fall Convention of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Roan plans on having the group sing Pal of My Cradle Days (a tribute to mothers) and Cabaret.

Roan invites interested men to visit a rehearsal. "If you can just carry a tune and like to harmonize, we'd welcome you. We're always looking for new men,'' he said.

And what about women?

"Our group is men only, and that is a fact. However, there is a women's barbershop group, the Sweet Adelines, who practice on Tuesday nights.''