Erie, Pennsylvania and Jamestown, New York are about 50 miles apart. They are located in different states. However, there is at least one thing the cities have in common. They each have organizations that promote a certain style of music.

It's barbershop quartet music. I’m attending an important rehearsal in Jamestown. Erie's barbershop group called Lake Erie Sound is joining Jamestown's barbershop group called Jamestown Harmony Express to rehearse for two shows happening this weekend. One show will be in Erie. The other in Jamestown. Lake Erie Sound was founded in 1957. Jamestown Harmony Express was founded in 1986. This will be the first time the two groups will perform a show together.

"Our directors are good friends. and they talked about it and they said 'Gee, we should try something like that,” says Fr. Bill Sutherland, a member of Lake Erie Sound for 40 years.

Fr. Bill explained to me that barbershop music is not only performed by quartets. It's also performed by barbershop choruses. It's the same four-part harmony but performed by a large group. You'll see everything at this weekend's shows.

"Erie will sing some songs themselves. Jamestown will sing some songs themselves. And then the two choruses are going to come together and sing a bunch of pieces that will just be amazing,” says Fr. Bill as the choruses perform “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”

The groups will be performing music from the 50's and 60s. During this rehearsal, I'm hearing songs from The Beach Boys, Rick Nelson, and The Beatles. They even threw in a song from The Turtles.

I'm having fun at the rehearsal. I can't wait for the public performances this weekend.

The barbershop show in Erie is Friday, October 25 at the Jefferson Education Society on State Street. It starts at 7 pm. If you can't make it to the Erie show, the performance in Jamestown is Saturday, October 26 at the Robert Jackson Theater on East Fourth Street. It also will begin at 7 pm. Tickets are ten dollars.

The groups are looking for new members. For more information call Bob Morganstern at 814-434-0587.