Bromley Barbershop Harmony Club (a.k.a The KENTONES) was formed in 1975, and has been going strong ever since. The Club is one of 60 registered with the British Association of Barbershop Singers (affectionately known as BABS) and is the largest in the South East.
It currently comprises some 40 members in a wide age range, who all share the enjoyment of singing, as well as the genuine camaraderie engendered by belonging to such a group.
The Barbershop style consists of four-part a cappella (i.e. unaccompanied) singing, the melody usually sung by the lead section, accompanied by the three harmony parts – tenor, baritone and bass.
The genre’s precise origins are somewhat obscure and subject to various theories. (There are even references to “barber singing” in Samuel Pepys’ diaries.) However, it is, generally acknowledged that the style is rooted in American music culture and was revived in the late 1930’s, thanks to one Owen C Cash, a tax lawyer (!) from Tulsa, Oklahoma, although it has now spread far beyond the USA and is now popular in many European countries and in Australasia.
The KENTONES perform for both public and private events at a wide variety of venues, as well as in competition (principally at the annual BABS Convention), and were particularly proud to win the highly prestigious title of Top Choir Kent in Canterbury in 2016.
The Club also raises considerable sums for various charities (over £12,000 in the last 5 years, of which over £3,000 was for the Chartwell Cancer Trust) which adds a real sense of satisfaction to performing.
We are always keen to recruit new members. We are currently offering the opportunity to come along to our Club to any men who feel this might be just what they’ve been looking for and also to listen to Barbershop singing – a great chance to try a great new experience and make new friends.
This could be your first step towards a taste of “showbiz”. In a few months, you could be performing on stage smartly attired in a natty uniform and impressing your relatives!
Don’t be put off if you can’t read music – only a few of our current members can, and you will be provided with teach CD’s, and coached by experts. As long as you can sing in tune we can do the rest.
We meet 7.30 pm every Thursday at St Paul’s Church Hall, Crofton Road, Orpington, BR6 8JE.
If interested, give me a call for more information or just turn up and mention that you had read this article in the Dartford Living website.
John on 0797 0737 343 or e-mail : js10br@aol.com
Website : www.thekentones.co.uk
Registered Charity No. 1094386