A conversation with IES 2019 special guest educator, Deke Sharon
Getting to Know – or Know More About – Deke Sharon BY HILLARY PINNOCK, REGION #31 RMT (UK/THE NETHERLANDS)
W
ell, it’s a new year, with so much to look forward to, including Sing and Celebrate, the 2019 International Education Symposium in Region #31 – the UK to be exact – in the wonderful eclectic city of Manchester in northwest England. Region #31 is looking forward to welcoming Sweet Adelines from all over the world to what will truly be a fabulous range of workshops presented by an equally fabulous lineup of top Sweet Adelines instructors, such as Judy Pozsgay, Lori Lyford, Sandy Marron, Paula Davis, Linda Keever and more. ClassRing, the 2019 Queens of Harmony, will accompany them, as well as our special guest educator, the inimitable Deke Sharon. Many of you met Deke at IES 2017, but for those who’ve not yet had the pleasure, we asked Deke to share a little about himself with us:
Deke: My first vocal harmony started in church choir, camp
Hillary: Some refer to you as “the father of contemporary a
Deke: Perhaps it’s a cliché but my first experience singing
cappella.” You must be pretty proud of that mantle?
Deke: Well, I’m proud that I’ve been able to get more people
singing, which was always my ultimate goal. The name is helpful for publicity but the closer you get to my friends, the more it’s an albatross about which I’m perpetually teased, be it bandmates calling me “Padre” or cohorts thanking me for “inventing a cappella.” And then if anything goes wrong or is the slightest bit out of tune, they turn to me in a whisper and say: “You know, that’s all your fault!”
Hillary: Where did it all start, and did you always know music was going to be your life?
(around the campfire) and the San Francisco Boys Chorus. All three were valuable in teaching me different skills and techniques and I remain committed to creating music that spans differences and boundaries while reaching as many people from different walks of life as possible.
Hillary: Who inspired you when you were younger and who inspires you now?
Deke: As a child? Mr. Rogers. As a teen? Bertrand Russell. As a young adult? Nelson Mandela. And now? Mr. Rogers.
Hillary: Being from the U.S. West Coast, how soon in life were you aware of barbershop singing?
barbershop was as the lead in The Music Man freshman year in high school. I loved it so much I kept it going all four years but wanted to branch out into other styles of a cappella and since so little was available, I taught myself to arrange. First arrangement? When I’m Sixty-Four. Biggest arrangement in high school? Bohemian Rhapsody – which is everywhere now – but back in 1985 it was more of a “What does that kid think he’s doing?!” choice.
Hillary: With arrangers like you adding to the repertoire,
barbershop is now becoming more modern in its look and sound. Where would you like to see further change?
Deke: I would like to see more African-American involvement
and influence on the style (especially for historic reasons), including taking more chances, letting the melody cut loose, lead on stage with emotion instead of precision and not be afraid of harmonic simplicity and so on. In this way, we can make barbershop appealing to a much wider swath of singers and listeners, while making amends for the past.
Hillary: You sing, act, produce, arrange, direct, write songs, teach and generally don't rest when it comes to a cappella! What other ambitions might you have in the pipeline that you can tell us about?
Deke: I’m not long into my 50s now and I have to say, I feel like I already won the game. I did exactly what I’d hoped to do – popularize
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January 2019 | TH EP I TCH P I P E
