Very few of the approximately 700 chapters in the Barbershop Harmony Society are fortunate to have distinguished, or award-winning singers, among their ranks. Over the years, the Pikes Peak Chapter, dba the America the Beautiful Chorus, has been fortunate to have had several.
At present, in addition to our director, Jim Clark, the gold medalist lead with Storm Front (2010), we are proud to have among our ranks one of the most accomplished barbershoppers in the entire Society. To those who know a bit of the history of barbershop, the name Brian Beck is common knowledge. To the uninitiated, the following is a list of just a few of the accomplishments/titles/honors that Brian has accrued in his more than 65 years of barbershop singing.
As a quartet singer in INTERNATIONAL competition, he can claim:
- 1968 Doo Dads 7th place Tenor
- 1973 Dealers Choice 1st Place Baritone
- 1983 Side Street Ramblers 1st Place Lead
- 2004 Saturday Evening Post 5th Place Bass
- 2008 Eureka-Seniors Division 1st Place Bass
- 2015 Saturday Evening Post-Seniors Division 1st Place Baritone
Dealer’s Choice – 1973
(Brian on right)
Side Street Ramblers – 1983
(Brian second from left)
As a chorus singer in INTERNATIONAL competition, he can claim:
- 1975 Vocal Majority 1st Place
- 1979 Vocal Majority 1st Place
- 1982 Vocal Majority 1st Place
- 1985 Vocal Majority 1st Place
Here are a few other facts about Brian’s barbershop singing career:
- Brian is one of 5 people to win an International gold medal singing two different parts (baritone with Dealer’s Choice and lead with Side Street Ramblers).
- Brian is the first person to win an International gold medal (seniors included) singing three different parts.
- Brian is the only person to make it into the top ten in International competition singing all four voice parts (Tenor-Doo Dads-1968-70; Lead-Side Street Ramblers-1981-83; Baritone-Dealer’s Choice-1973; Bass-Great Stage Robbery-1994-95 & Saturday Evening Post-2004 & 2015).
WHEW! By any standard of measurement, that is an impressive record of accomplishments for one of the greatest barbershop singers…..ever! So, what kind of advice would a man of this record of achievement offer to young, aspiring singers?
“PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE…
…sing all of the time.”
But other than being an exemplary barbershop singer, who is this guy anyway?
Although Brian was born in Connecticut, he considers himself a Texan where he did the majority of his growing up. Brian became interested in music early on and participated in band at the junior high, high school and college levels. Brian’s barbershop singing accomplishments have already been listed. But, in addition, Brian can play the string bass, electric bass, piano, tuba, baritone horn, trumpet and drums. And he has played all of them professionally!
Brian served in the U.S. Air Force from 1961-67 beginning as an enlisted member of the Air Force band and ending as a Captain after several years as a communications officer.
After returning to Dallas to resume his studio career, Brian joined the newly formed Vocal Majority Chorus in 1972. He was instrumental in establishing the Vocal Majority as one of the strongest choruses in the Society and began his quartet work with Dealer’s Choice at about the same time. After his 1975 chorus gold medal with Vocal Majority, Brian headed to Los Angeles where he worked as a studio musician. While there he worked with people like Ron Hicklin (the Ron Hicklin singers sang background and theme music to many of the popular tv and movies of the 60’s- Partridge Family, Batman, Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, etc.), and Thurl Ravenscroft who was the voice of Tony the Tiger and was the bass singer in the “Grinch” movie and theme song. Brian and Thurl sang together on a national KFC commercial with the real Colonel Sanders!
Not being the Hollywood type (by his own admission) Brian returned to Dallas in 1977 and resumed his career as a studio singer. In addition, he applied his abundant talent to both writing and producing and has a number of musical charts and shows to his credit. After having won competitive singing medals, ensconced himself in the pantheon of barbershop singing, produced television commercials and worked as a studio musician in several different locations, what does Brian consider his greatest musical accomplishment?
“….BEING THE NUMBER ONE CALL GUY STUDIO SINGER IN DALLAS FOR 30+ YEARS…..”
Brian moved to Colorado in 2001 and directed the America the Beautiful chorus in 2004-5. At the same time, he was singing with the local quartet Saturday Evening Post and did that until 2008. Over the years, Brian has been involved in the musical direction of the America the Beautiful chorus. He currently serves as Bass Section Leader. He can be counted on to provide each member of the bass section the proper vocal techniques to maximize the group sound and provide the foundation for the entire chorus. The photo below depicts Brian leading a frequent bass sectional before a very attentive group of singers.
Brian instructs a group of attentive bases during sectional rehearsal in 2017
As an indication of how fortunate the America the Beautiful chorus is to have so many talented singers frequently present at rehearsals, the photo below captures a gold medal quartet at a February, 2019 rehearsal.
From the left, Jim Clark (Storm Front-2010), visiting guest Patrick Haedtler (Masterpiece-2013), Brian Beck (Dealer’s Choice-1973 & Side Street Ramblers-1983), and Jeff Selano (Storm Front-2010). It appears there is complete agreement among the four as to vowel formation and placement!
Brian Beck is a font of information for any member of the chorus who asks for assistance. His experience as a singer, director and teacher would be a blessing to any singing organization. And, he is enthusiastic about helping any singer, regardless of voice part, improve his technique. As the only singer to have made it into the top ten in International competition in all four voice parts, it is interesting to learn which part Brian enjoyed singing the most.
“Bass….you have certain amount of control….just match the lead to perfection…..expect the tenor and baritone to match that bass-lead ‘duet’….”
–Brian Beck
Our chorus has endured two of the most difficult years in its existence. Now that the lockdowns and restrictions of the pandemic are behind us we look forward to a bright future as we gather again to sing and learn from the likes of one of the finest barbershop singers and musicians that we have had the honor to call one of our own….Brian Beck!