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Chorus shows 'How The West Was Sung'

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March 15, 2012

by April Helms
SPECIAL PRODUCTS EDITOR

Wild west meets smooth barbershop harmonies this year at the Akron Derbytown Chorus' annual show, "How The West Was Sung," which will be March 30 and 31 at the Cuyahoga Falls High School's theater.

Both shows start at 7:30 p.m. This will be the Derbytown Chorus' 65th annual show.

"We relied on our memories, from the 1950s cowboy shows," said Jim Elliot, Cuyahoga Falls resident and the music and performance vice president.

Elliot said he and seven others took a trip down memory lane to put together the program of western-style songs from the likes of Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Tex Ritter and others.

"There were a whole lot of cowboys from that era," he said. He added his favorite number is "Don't Fence Me In." "I think it just reminds me of my younger days. We're all having fun reliving our younger days."

This year's a cappella Western Extravaganza will feature the International Bronze Medalist men's quartet "A Mighty Wind," Regional Champion Sweet Adelines quartet "TGIF" and the acclaimed Cuyahoga Falls High School "Choral Elite Ensemble," a subset of the school's A Cappella Choir.

Jim Bishop, president of the Akron Derbytown Chorus, said that this is the first year the show will feature a women's quartet.

"We went to a show in Salem and heard a women's barbershop group," Bishop said. "We are getting a lot of talk about it."

Bishop said that many quartets who have performed at the Akron Derbytown Chorus shows are not only current award winners, but have gone on to take top honors in competitions.

"The road to gold goes through Akron," he said.

The show's master of ceremonies, Tom Gentry, is an international barbershop performer, past music category specialist for the Barbershop Harmony Society and a music arranger for more than 40 years.

Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $5 for children/students and $15 for groups of 10 or more.

Cuyahoga Falls High School is at 2300 Fourth St. in Cuyahoga Falls. Order tickets by phone at 330-690-6158, online at derbytownchorus.org or purchase at the door.

E-mail: ahelms@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3153




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