Schedule of Activities
Sat, Sept 8 Oceanaires Ice Cream Social
Sun, Sept 23 Coastliners 60th Birthday Bash
Sept 27-30 District Contest - Phoenix

Coastliners' Birthday Bash

By Rick Llewelyn

Well, the big day is coming fast, and preparations continue at a hectic pace. The pieces of the puzzle seem to be coming together, and it looks like we're going to have a great celebration. The event flyer can be found on the Chapter's website, www.coastliners.org, and also on the reverse side of the weekly bulletin that's handed out at Chapter meetings. If that's not enough exposure, the party is mentioned on the Far Western District website, linked to our website. We've also purchased a full-page ad on the inside cover of the next issue of Westunes.

So far, we have commitments for appearances from both the LA South Towns Show chorus, and the Long Beach, Golden Sands Chorus, representing Sweet Adelines International. Both groups should give fine performances, and we welcome them to our celebration. The South Bay Coastliners and the Santa Monica Oceanaires chorus will both be performing, and we believe that the Fullerton Chapter may be sending a contingent.

The rest of the entertainment will consist of many of the finest quartets in the west: 139th Street Quartet, The Perfect Gentlemen, High Fidelity, Ready, Willing & Mabel, and many other fine quartets from the participating chapters. Peter Neushul is contacting the local groups, and the performance schedule is rapidly filling up.

We're really excited about the special venue that we've chosen for the festivities. The "S.S. Lane Victory" is one of only three remaining WWII Victory ships that are still in operating condition. We will pretty well have the run of the ship, including two "museum" areas below decks. We are setting up the sound system on the main hatch cover, and hope to provide continuous entertainment during the entire length of the celebration (3:00 pm to 7:00 pm).

The Lane Victory at the Dock Photo from Mike Martin

During the festivities, there will be refreshments served from a no-host bar: soft drinks, bottled water, beer, and wine, for a nominal fee. We will also be offering food from a "make it to order" taco bar. I'm told that they really put out some fine fare, so bring your appetite.

See you on Sunday, September 23rd, at 3:00 pm, aboard the "Lane Victory"!

COASTLINERS SERENADE REDONDO BEACH PIER PATRONS

By Bernie Baron

On Tuesday, August 21, 2007 the Coastliners scored an outside performance on the Redondo Beach pier that lasted almost 2 hours. The event was sponsored by the Redondo Beach Pier Association as part of its summer concert series and was better and more fun than our last performance in this series four years ago.

We had 31 men on the outdoor stage including 2 - count 'em - 2 directors, Pete and Michael and, particularly in the first half of the show, we sang especially well, bringing cheers from the sizeable audience. City staff had put out about 50-75 chairs for the audience, and with the standees around the fringes, we had a large and enthusiastic audience, most of who obviously came just for the performance.


The Coastliners with Pete Directing Photo by Nancy Jackson

My next-door neighbor was there, grinning from ear to ear. Andy is a recent immigrant (legal) from Korea who makes his living playing guitar in a rock band. It was gratifying to see how much he enjoyed this performance of a very American music style. We also had a surprise insertion in the program when George Jackson introduced a 90- year- old lady in the audience who had been to something like 30 of our shows. So, of course, we sang "Happy Birthday."

Since American music is what we are all about, our performance started, unique to my memory, with the "Star Spangled Banner." The audience all stood, and moods altered upward almost as though we had passed out champagne. What a great opening! We then charged ahead with "New Ashmolian" featuring our new bowler hats. It was a thrill to actually have and use them instead of pantomime. "Java Jive" had everyone's feet tapping and it was suitably followed by "Darkness on the Delta." Joe Nagle was our first act MC and he performed with his usual flair and jollity. He introduced Fresh-Aire, who sang a single number. The Coastliners then featured Denny Goodman on clarinet in "Basin Street Blues."

Don Barton, Don Duperon, George Jackson - "By The Sea"
Photo by Nancy Jackson

Not to be outdone, a diminished chorus line made up of Don Duperon, George Jackson and Don Barton performed sans bathing suits in "By the Sea." A pickup quartet with Pete singing bari sang an intro and then the chorus broke into barbershop deluxe, "Down By the Old Mill Stream." Warming to his task, Joe told another joke (?) before introducing Sound Union with Michael Thorpe filling in at tenor.

The first segment, lasting 45 minutes or so, continued with Nagle using a couple of really convoluted (and funny - new material) jokes before introducing those light-footed dancers, the Coastliners Chorus, doing "Always Look On the Bright Side," closely followed by "Creole Cutie" - toes tapping again. Joe introduced Docs On the Rocks, who sang one number. We ended the segment with the highly spiritual, "If the Lord Be Willing."

During the break Dan Ullfig reappeared complaining of stomach trouble necessitating his absence from a chunk of the performance. He expressed optimism that he would be able to perform thereafter.

The second segment featured Josh Cripps as MC who also did a great job of keeping the audience entertained while introducing quartets and chorus numbers. We started with "Stout Hearted Men Medley" followed by those agile dancers doing "They Wrote 'Em in the Good Old Days" and "Sugarcane Jubilee." Fresh-Aire then came back with another number. They were followed by our stellar ukulele quintet leading the chorus in "Teddy Bear." The various Elvis impersonations were just right for our audience, who had changed a bit in personnel but not in character.

"Teddy Bear" With the Ukes Photo by Steve Bunker

Josh then gave a demonstration of vamping while looking around for Dan. He showed up on the run (no pun intended) barely (again, no pun intended) making it to the mic to do the solo for "A Modern Major General" with his own personal chorus. What a trouper!

The Coastliners then sang "Bye Bye Blues" followed by Sound Union. More of the chorus' standing repertoire followed beginning with "Just a Gigolo." "The Galaxy Song" was next with Michael and Josh alternating as soloists and the chorus tripping the light fantastic behind them. We were blessed that the Chapter's sweetheart, Caroline, was able to make it and sing the obbligato to "Lida Rose."

Somewhere in the second segment - I forgot my pen - Nancy and Sue Brennan appeared, looking as lovely as ever, and sang "Three Little Maids from School" from "Pirates of Pince-Nez." The third Little Maid? Why Michael Thorpe, of course.

"Three Little Maids" Nancy, Sue, & Michael Photo Steve Bunker

The party ended with a two-song performance by Docs On the Rocks, followed by a somewhat confused "Pirates of the Caribbean" and closed with "The Old Songs."

Oh well, no one's perfect but we sure had a good time and, more importantly, so did our audience. Joe and Josh each got in a plug for membership with an invitation to stop by Salvation Army on Wednesdays and that's one of the reasons we do these performances. Josh also plugged our web site, a really good idea for the future.

Thanks to Barbara Ramsey-Duke, impresario and representative of the Redondo Beach Pier Association for her hospitality and assistance.

The Barberpole Cat Program

By Joe Nagle

There are 12 songs for which virtually every barbershopper worth his salt knows the same arrangement. When you joined our chapter, you were given a booklet entitled "The Barberpole Cat Program," containing these 12 songs and a learning tape in your voice part for each of them. Learning these "polecats" (as they are commonly called) is essential to your barbershopping experience.

We want to encourage you to learn your part for all of these songs, so we use them to warm up every rehearsal, and the 2nd Wednesday of each month is designated "Barberpole Cat Night", where you have the opportunity to stand up in front your fellow Coastliners and qualify for one or two of these songs, proving you know your part, in a quartet with 3 singers who have previously qualified for each of these songs.

We will track your progress, and once you have qualified for your first six polecats, you will be awarded a certificate suitable for framing proclaiming to your friends and neighbors that you are a Certified Barberpole Cat. When you have successfully qualified for all 12 polecats, you will receive a Barberpole Cat pin of your voice part, suitable for wearing on your lapel, proclaiming to the world that you have completed the program and are ready to sing with anyone, anywhere.

For you older members who think you have already qualified but haven't received your certificate or pin because the official record doesn't show you've already qualified: you also have the opportunity to sign up on any Barberpole Cat Night and prove once and for all that you do indeed know the song. It should be a simple matter, because you've already qualified, and singing is your hobby, right? Something you enjoy doing?

My Observations

By Pete Neushul

I was listening to the DVD of the show and the contest, and while the recordings are about the worst, I could divine a few things, I think. Here are my observations. The chorus has several levels of singers. Two of them are "leaners" and "point
men."

You can turn off the sound, look at the DVD and see who is leaning. You are waiting for the guy next to you to sing the note so you can copy him. You don't know your part well enough to sing it on your own so you rely on the point guys to sing it and you follow along. It makes the whole chorus sound sloppy. I don't know how to get you to learn your part but it really wrecks the chorus. It is gang singing at it's worst.

Now to the point guys. These guys know their part but they are over-singing to compensate for the leaners. Here are some that come to mind, Saffery, Llewellen, Thorpe, Ullfig, Nagle, Duperon etc. These guys are great singers but when they blast away they don't sound good either. They are trying to do it all by themselves. So the net result is that we have ten singers blasting their lungs out so that most of the rest of you can watermelon along for the ride. The result is that everyone sounds bad. I have seen it before when this happens.

An example is Santa Barbara/Rincon. The singers couldn't stand it so after awhile so they formed a new chapter. Another example is San Diego and LaJolla. I have to say that I don't blame them. Making harmony is one of the great joys of life but when the guy next to you is piggy backing on your voice it is quite distressing. I know that you have heard the same speech a million times but this time I would heed this advice. You probably think that I am not talking about YOU but probably I am.

Forewarned is forearmed.

Barbershop Contests: One Guy's Thoughts

By: Denny Lawrence

As I write this, the chapter is in the midst of a struggle as to whether or not we go to the Far Western District contest in Phoenix, AZ on September 29th. The discussion has to do with an apparent low level of interest in this competition which no doubt is complicated by several factors including that the contest is 400 miles away, only quartets are invited, and whatever else.

When I met Donna she was active in the LA South Towns Chorus, which at the time was a large medal-winning chorus. I traveled with her and met a lot of the husbands, many of whom were also barbershoppers. Needless to say perhaps, but these guys got me singing tags in places with lots of echoes and I got hooked into singing and eventually joined South Bay.

But I also got hooked on the idea of going to contests to meet up with old friends, perhaps make a few new ones, and do one heck of a lot of singing. We have been to several international competitions and all of the FWD contests for several years. Seeing some of the competitors can be very entertaining and informative. I also have had a great time wandering through hospitality suites and chorditoriums on into the night.

So, in my opinion, going to Phoenix is a no-brainer. It is another barbershop event that is not to be missed. It would be much better if you were there also. The South Bay Coastliners hospitality suite has been arranged for and awaits your presence.

THE LLOYD B. STEINKAMP STANDING "O" AWARD

[Reprinted from the Fall '07 Westunes - by Dan Jordan]

Lloyd loved entertainment, laughter, and applause. The members of Metropolis, The Perfect Gentlemen, and Hi-Fidelity are honored to have received many "pearls" from Lloyd over the years. We feel that many of his teachings helped us become the quartets we are today.

With Lloyd's passing earlier this year, we felt it was truly fitting that a special award be created to honor everyone's uncle, and hero, Lloyd Steinkamp. The award is the LLOYD B. STEINKAMP - STANDING "O" AWARD. This new award will be presented to the quartet that has been judged as being the most entertaining at the FWD Fall Contest each year.

Each quartet that performs on Friday evening will be eligible for the award. Members of our quartets, along with 100 audience members, will take part in the selection process. The votes will be tallied on Saturday afternoon, and the winner will be announced Saturday evening at the Show of Champions. The winning quartet will receive the perpetual Standing "O" trophy, along with some very handsome lapel pins to wear proudly. The winning quartet will donate their time to assist at a FWD Youth Harmony Camp.

We're asking the members of the Far Western District to attend the Fall convention in Lloyd's hometown of Phoenix, Arizona and join us in this tribute. And should you be approached to be one of the judges for this award, remember that this award is in Lloyd's honor, and that the most entertaining quartet from Friday night's semi-final competition will be the proud recipient of this special award. You'll be doing what Lloyd asked us to do… be a giver. This award is to perpetuate Lloyd's contributions to the world of barbershopping, by honoring those who strive to entertain at the highest level. We'll see you in Phoenix on September 28-29, 2007.

Respectfully,

Dan Jordan, Co-Founder - LBS Standing "O" Award for:

Metropolis - 1998 National A Cappella Champions
James Sabina, Bob Hartley, Kelly Shepard, Brian Philbin

The Perfect Gentlemen - 2002 National A Cappella Champions
Phil Gold, Dan Jordan, Tim Reeder, Jim Campbell

Hi-Fidelity -2006 National A Cappella Champions
Craig Ewing, Tom Moore, Gregg Bernhard, Martin Fredstrom

Dick Chambers Moving Away
[Dick Chambers sent the following email to Denny Lawrence on August 3,' 07]
From: RICHARD J CHAMBERS <chambers.richard@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: Coastliners 60th Party
To: Denny Lawrence <dennyol@sbcglobal.net>

Hi, Denny:
I bought a house in Rapid City, So. Dak., and it closes on the 14th of September, if everything goes alright. However, if I'm in town for some reason (like house closing delayed), I would like to attend [the 60th anniversary party.]
At any rate, I plan to make a chapter meeting and say good-bye to everyone I know (there's probably not too many that know me anymore). I will join the Shrine of Democracy Chorus in Rapid City whence I get there.
Thanks, Dick Chambers

Quartet Report
Fresh-Aire Gospel Quartet - Mike Martin

The Fresh-Aire Gospel Quartet (Lloyd Hild, Mike Martin, Charlie Thompson and Harry Stasney) was invited to perform at the Westchester United Methodist Church at their Sunday morning services August 19. This was a return visit for the quartet at the invitation of the Rev. Floyd McKeithen, senior pastor. Always, a delightful and appreciative audience and exactly what Fresh-Aire likes to do most.

Sound Union - Denny Lawrence

Sound Union was asked to sing at the Catalina Chord Club this past month. We had planned on singing there anyway because we wanted to try out three numbers that we had been working on. Little did we know at the time though that the other slated groups couldn't make it so we became the "featured" group by default. We dug up some tunes that we hadn't aired for a while and sang four sets alternating with Ready, Willing, and Mabel.

The Chord Club is a great place to bring a new quartet or for an established group to try out new material. The audience is more experienced and so is tougher than the unenlightened crowds normally encountered at a sing-out, so you get a good rehearsal for your act and get feedback whether you like it or not. They haven't thrown any hard things at us yet though.

In June, we performed for the Hawthorne Chamber of Commerce annual awards dinner. There were about 300 people in the room and we worked hard to deliver through a marginal sound system. This was a "live and learn" performance for us since the sound guy said that all was OK and we found out later that the back of the room couldn't hear us. (No wonder that they didn't throw anything.)

Sound Union has been hired to sing for the Delta Pioneers Christmas Dinner in December and we have two other proposals out for other gigs in the next two months.

C NILE SOUND -- Denny Lawrence

Now that Bruce Beyne is taking a work break, Rick Llewelyn, Karl Jacobs, Bruce and I have rejuvenated C NILE SOUND as an available daytime quartet. Karl was contacted by a stalwart citizen of Mayberry-by-the-sea, also known as El Segundo, to provide some songs for his Mother's 90th birthday. In exchange, this nice man agreed to make a donation to the Chapter. Since the lady is wheel chair bound, she was wheeled to the front porch and so we sang to her from the front walkway. After the usual barbershop version of "Happy Birthday", we sang " Wrote 'Em", "Java Jive", "Paper Doll" (her favorite) and ended with "A Little Song". Our small audience seemed to really appreciate our songs, and particularly this lady who probably couldn't get a more enjoyable gift than a nice surprise from her son on her ninetieth birthday. We were presented with a $100 check made out to the Chapter, which will be delivered to our ogre treasurer, Bernie Baron.

Did you Know?

Society headquarters, which has been in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is moving to "music city", Nashville, Tennessee. Maybe the snow got too deep in Kenosha.
The physical move will take place starting August 27. They are also implementing a new computer program, so information on the website has been limited. All membership renewals due September 30 must be sent by U.S. Mail - no on-line renewals this one time. The new address is Barbershop Harmony Society, 110 - 7th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37203. Email addresses are unchanged. After this move, we assume barbershop music will be sung with a bit of a country music twang.

And this for the Dentists in our Chapter:

There was a Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal. He wanted to transcend dental medication. (Please explain "transcendental meditation" to the baritone next to you.)

Hey, Hey - South Bay!