Southern Tradition is a barbershop quartet in New Orleans, and the four members have been singing together since 1999. Their day jobs span a doctor, a med tech, a civil engineer, and a barber, which means their rehearsals follow hospital shifts, lab schedules, and appointments at the chair.
Barbershop harmony has real roots in New Orleans. Louis Armstrong sang in a vocal quartet before he ever picked up the horn, and the city last hosted the international barbershop competition in 1992 at the Superdome. Local groups like NOLA Vox and the coed Dreamers are keeping the style alive today, singing for friendship rather than paychecks. One member says the key requirement is simple: don’t be embarrassed, and keep going.
Could the Suncoast carry a tradition like this? We’ve got retirees, snowbirds, and neighbors with time and talent to spare. Maybe the next great quartet is warming up in a garage in Sarasota or Bradenton right now. If you know a group like this in our area, we want to hear about them. Tell us in the comments: what’s a hobby you’ve stuck with for decades?
