Honouring the Black Roots of Barbershop Harmony
As we celebrate Black History Month, we recognize and honour the deep musical heritage of Black artists in shaping barbershop harmony.
Though barbershop is often associated with early 20th-century white quartets, its origins trace back to the rich, improvisational harmonies created by Black musicians in the late 19th century. These singers blended spirituals, folk songs, and call-and-response traditions into the distinctive close-harmony style that became the foundation of barbershop music.