(Video Above: A cappella group Voices of the South)
Making friends, making music, and making people smile. Doing just one of these is a worthy goal. But all three at once?
Cue Voices of the South.
Based in Birmingham, Voices of the South is an a cappella barbershop-style singing group with 22 members at the moment. They practice out of the Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Vestavia Hills on Monday nights, honing a sound that has won competitions and wowed crowds throughout the Southeast.
“My favorite was the Anniston’s Got Talent show,” said Kenny Hatton, director of Voices of the South. “There were no empty seats. We sang two songs and came in first out of 26 groups, beating rock ’n’ rollers, opera singers, everyone.”
On June 26, the group performed at the “I Love America” Independence Day show at St. Aloysius Church in Bessemer, singing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “God Bless the USA” and “I’ll Walk with God.” Their pure harmonies and tight intonation repeatedly brought the audience to its feet.
Voices of the South sings an eclectic collection of songs, ranging from a Temptations medley to “Manly Men,” the theme from the TV show “Two and a Half Men” (and one of the winning tunes in Anniston).
Their full range was on display Friday, July 31, at the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover, where the two-hour set put smiles on the faces of camera-clicking shoppers.
“It’s just good a cappella singing, barbershop harmony. It’s a lot of fun,” said baritone Frank Buttler, who has been singing barbershop for 49 years. His sons, one a retired Georgia Power engineer, and grandson also sang for a time.
Voices of the South’s official mission is “to enrich lives through singing.” The members engage easily with audiences and welcome new people to practice with them, reassuring them that they do not have to be accomplished singers.
“We want everyone who loves music to be able to share the same thing we get out of it, which is the ability to entertain and have fellowship with others who enjoy music,” said tenor Darrell Mansfield. “This is our common bond.”
Upcoming schedule for Voices of the South:
Oct. 23-24: Dixie District Fall Convention and Competition, Atlanta
Dec. 12: Voices of the South Annual Show, Spain Park High School, Hoover
Dec. 18: Oxford Performance Arts Center, Oxford
To learn more about barbershop-style a cappella singing, contact the Barbershop Harmony Society.
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