Barbershop History
The first group photo of the Aurora Chapter of SPEBSQSA, 1948.
The Lamplighter Chorus of Aurora, IL, traces its roots back to 1946. Specifically, the chorus petitioned for its charter in the Barbershop Harmony Society on April 22, 1946, and the charter was granted on May 4, 1946. The chorus has a rich history, entertaining with the gift of song for almost 75 years in Chicago’s Western suburbs.
WHAT IS BARBERSHOP?
Barbershop harmony is a style of unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant (harmonious) four-part chords for every melody note in a primarily homorhythmic (the same word sounds at the same time) texture. The melody is consistently sung by the lead. The tenor harmonizes above the melody, the bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes, and the baritone completes the chord. Barbershop harmony is rooted in African-American traditions of the late 1800s in the South.
In the 1700s, spontaneous music, known as “Barber’s music,” came to America from England and developed especially in the South and among the black community. In the 1800s, minstrel shows, followed by Vaudeville, saw the rise of musical quartets becoming popular. Then, in 1900, the term, “Barber shop quartet,” was first used in a column written by Tom the Tattler, a black music critic who was lambasting black quartets’ love of “slang chords,” particularly the 7th chords. Thus, the term “barbershop quartets,” was born.
THE START OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY
The Lamplighter Chorus is a chapter of the national Barbershop Harmony Society. The Society traces its origins back to 1938, when on April 11, O.C. Cash and Rupert Hall organized a club meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to promote barbershop singing. Their first club meeting had 26 men in attendance.
WHAT IS BARBERSHOP?
Barbershop harmony is a style of unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant (harmonious) four-part chords for every melody note in a primarily homorhythmic (the same word sounds at the same time) texture. The melody is consistently sung by the lead. The tenor harmonizes above the melody, the bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes, and the baritone completes the chord. Barbershop harmony is rooted in African-American traditions of the late 1800s in the South.
In the 1700s, spontaneous music, known as “Barber’s music,” came to America from England and developed especially in the South and among the black community. In the 1800s, minstrel shows, followed by Vaudeville, saw the rise of musical quartets becoming popular. Then, in 1900, the term, “Barber shop quartet,” was first used in a column written by Tom the Tattler, a black music critic who was lambasting black quartets’ love of “slang chords,” particularly the 7th chords. Thus, the term “barbershop quartets,” was born.
THE START OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY
The Lamplighter Chorus is a chapter of the national Barbershop Harmony Society. The Society traces its origins back to 1938, when on April 11, O.C. Cash and Rupert Hall organized a club meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to promote barbershop singing. Their first club meeting had 26 men in attendance.
This group is what would later become the founding chapter of SPEBSQSA, the “Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc.” The organization is now known simply as, “The Barbershop Harmony Society.” The Society has grown over the decades from 26 men to 22,000 members as of 2015.
Aurora Lamplighters Chorus, 1972.
BIRTH OF THE LAMPLIGHTERS
The Aurora chapter was chartered in 1946, but it wasn't until November of 1971 that the group changed its name to the Aurora Lamplighters Chorus. The name was a good fit, because the group's hometown, Aurora, is known as the City of Lights. Aurora took the nickname, "City of Lights," in 1908, because the town was one of the first cities in the U.S. to implement an all-electric street lighting system in 1881. Today, the group is officially known as the “Lamplighter Chorus.”
The Aurora chapter was founded by Bill Henderson. Henderson had visited the SPEBSQSA barbershop chapter in Geneva, IL, and enjoyed himself so much, he thought it would a great idea for Aurora as well.
The Aurora chapter was chartered in 1946, but it wasn't until November of 1971 that the group changed its name to the Aurora Lamplighters Chorus. The name was a good fit, because the group's hometown, Aurora, is known as the City of Lights. Aurora took the nickname, "City of Lights," in 1908, because the town was one of the first cities in the U.S. to implement an all-electric street lighting system in 1881. Today, the group is officially known as the “Lamplighter Chorus.”
The Aurora chapter was founded by Bill Henderson. Henderson had visited the SPEBSQSA barbershop chapter in Geneva, IL, and enjoyed himself so much, he thought it would a great idea for Aurora as well.
The Lamplighter Chorus, 2019.
EVERYONE IN HARMONY
When the national Barbershop Harmony Society was first founded in 1938, it was a male-only organization. That all changed, when after 80 years of male membership only, a new strategic vision called, “Everyone in Harmony,” was launched by the Society in June of 2018. This made membership open to everyone, including: people of every age, every background, every gender identity, every race, every sexual orientation, every political opinion or spiritual belief.
This means that women can now join the organization with full rights and privileges. In 2009, women were allowed to join as directors and officers, but only with an “associate status.” In 2018, women could join the national organization as members, but could not join an established chorus, as chorus membership was still all male. Now - as of January 2019 - women are allowed full membership, which includes singing in women’s choruses and mixed choruses (men and women singing together).
The Lamplighter Chorus was one of the first Society chapters in the nation to become a mixed chorus in January of 2019, when chorus membership was allowed to change from all male to mixed (men and women) singers. Melanie Hansen is the first female member of the Lamplighter Chorus.
When the national Barbershop Harmony Society was first founded in 1938, it was a male-only organization. That all changed, when after 80 years of male membership only, a new strategic vision called, “Everyone in Harmony,” was launched by the Society in June of 2018. This made membership open to everyone, including: people of every age, every background, every gender identity, every race, every sexual orientation, every political opinion or spiritual belief.
This means that women can now join the organization with full rights and privileges. In 2009, women were allowed to join as directors and officers, but only with an “associate status.” In 2018, women could join the national organization as members, but could not join an established chorus, as chorus membership was still all male. Now - as of January 2019 - women are allowed full membership, which includes singing in women’s choruses and mixed choruses (men and women singing together).
The Lamplighter Chorus was one of the first Society chapters in the nation to become a mixed chorus in January of 2019, when chorus membership was allowed to change from all male to mixed (men and women) singers. Melanie Hansen is the first female member of the Lamplighter Chorus.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Moving forward, the Lamplighter Chorus is looking to a future of new growth in its membership, and continuing its rich tradition of celebrating the joy of harmony in music. The chorus performs for audiences throughout Chicago’s Western suburbs and loves to share its passion for the unique sounds of the barbershop tradition.
Moving forward, the Lamplighter Chorus is looking to a future of new growth in its membership, and continuing its rich tradition of celebrating the joy of harmony in music. The chorus performs for audiences throughout Chicago’s Western suburbs and loves to share its passion for the unique sounds of the barbershop tradition.
(below) Original charter document of what would later become the Lamplighter Chorus.
