Middle Georgia barbershop quartet spreads Valentine's love
A Middle Georgia quartet has been providing harmonies of love through Valentine's Day serenades.
On Saturday, the Macon Harmony Quartet delivered roses and cards to couples as they belted out classic love tunes. Dressed in black slacks, with red vests and bow ties, the group continued their annual tradition on a sunny and mild day.
One special visit was to the Bibb County home of Lucy Duke, who knew something was up when she heard one of her dogs barking as the chorus arrived. Earlier that day, she and her husband, Al, were at a restaurant when another quartet sung to a woman. She mentioned to Al how the group performed for her the previous Valentine's Day, but was caught off guard by the group's return several hours later.
When asked if her husband was an "incurable romantic," Duke quickly responded with a resounding "yes." The chorus also sung a rendition of "Happy Birthday" for Duke, who celebrated her birthday Friday.
"He's always put me first, he's always done that," she said about her husband of 26 years. With a laugh she added, "he's a very easygoing person unless you mess with me."
The Heart of Georgia Barbershop Chorus, which the quartet is part of, started about 60 years ago and since the late 1980s has performed singing valentines. The quartet is currently made up of baritone Bob Smith, tenor Dave Reiff, bass Don Schall and David Hale, who provides the melody. The chorus is an education nonprofit that practices Monday nights at Christ United Methodist Church in Warner Robins.
A portion of the money raised from singing valentines will go to the Heart of Georgia Hospice, a Middle Georgia agency that provides care to the terminally ill. The chorus recently presented the nonprofit with a $2,000 check.
"It's a way to give back to the community," Schall said.
The quartet also makes frequent visits to assisted living facilities throughout the year. Those are places where some of the tunes they sing bring back familiar times. "You'd be surprised with how many people who don't respond to anything that will respond to the music they know," Schall said.
The barbershop quartet's first stop Saturday afternoon was to the home of a Warner Robins couple that's been married for 60 years.
Mary and John Yarbrough looked on as the chorus sung renditions of "Heart of My Heart" and "Let Me Call You Sweetheart."
The couple's son-in-law Eric Fenton came up with the idea to provide a unique memory for the couple.
"We just wanted to do something special for all the years they've been together and brighten up their Valentine's Day," Fenton's wife, Lynn, said.
To contact writer Stanley Dunlap, call 744-4623 or find him on Twitter@stan_telegraph.
This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 7:53 PM with the headline "Middle Georgia barbershop quartet spreads Valentine's love ."