By Lanier Laney
Who: “Tidal Fource” is the name of one of the singing foursomes from The Beaufort Harbormasters Barbershop Quartets.
The head of Tidal Fource is Hal McCann, a retired educator, who talks about the members of his singing group and their role in the community:
What do you do? “We are a 501c3 singing charity that has fun! Throughout the year we sing to the sick and infirm at all the nursing homes and assisted care facilities in Beaufort, at the hospital several times each year, and we are the entertainment at various club meetings (such as the Lions and Rotary clubs) and upon occasion at the military bases and local churches. It is a win-win for us: we love what we are doing and we bring joy to others. Music is magic!”
Hal adds, “We are a part of the Barbershop Harmony Society, the largest singing organization in the world, an international choral society that has 23,000 members. While this society is celebrating its 75th year, we are celebrating our 15th year here in Beaufort. The late Peter Stephenson (The Spirit of Old Beaufort) started the organization and it has continued and grown. I am a chorus member and head of Tidal Fource, which is the name of one of our Barbershop quartets.”
He said, “When possible, we donate to other local charities, most recently to the Boys & Girls Club and to Friends of Caroline Hospice. This year we will support the Voices choir of Beaufort High School.”
Annual Valentine’s Day Fundraiser: “We provide Singing Valentines — a quartet appears at the appointed place and time to sing two love songs and deliver a rose and a card to the lucky person or office staff. And, if additionally ordered, a box of Chocolate Tree chocolates. The standard singing Valentine costs $35, and delivers an unforgettable Valentine surprise, guaranteed! We have delivered everywhere: gyms, golf courses, restaurants, private homes, assisted care facilities and many more. This activity is a fundraiser. It also is the most fun singing we do all year.” Call 843-838-2401 to book a singing Valentine for friends and loved ones.
Who are the members of Tidal Fource? “This is one of the wonderful parts of the Harbormasters, the camaraderie that results from a tremendously diverse group of men — we come from all over and represent many different ages, professions and parts of the country. Most of us met in the Harbormasters. In Tidal Fource we have me, baritone Hal McCann, a retired educator from Massachusetts; Lead Jim Rowe, a former Washington bureaucrat; George McMurtry, bass, an entrepreneur from California; and tenor John Devlin, a former Colorado fire chief.”
How can people make tax deductible donations to your group? “We accept donations and request them at the time of our annual show: This year it is in March at the Beaufort High School Auditorium. The full Harbormaster chorus, 21 in all, and the chorus of the Beaufort Belles, also with 21 members, will each sing songs. Tidal Fource and two other quartets — one from the Harbormasters, Eu4ia, and one from the Belles, Sea Island Sound — will all be singing. This is a full show, with a lot of Irish songs (it is still March) and our favorites from our 15 years of performing.”
The shows will be Friday, March 28 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 29, at 3 p.m. at Beaufort High. Tickets are $15. Call 843-838-2401 to order tickets or purchase them at the door. The shows will last about two hours.
For more information, go online to www.Beaufortharbormasters.org.
