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Getting to Know Deke Sharon
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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)
Well, 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:
Hillary: Some refer to you as “the father of contemporary a 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? Deke: My first vocal harmony started in church choir, camp (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?
Deke: Perhaps it’s a cliché but my first experience 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
a cappella – and while doing so I achieved a higher platform than I’d expected. Now my mission remains as it always was: share the joy of harmony in hopes of healing the world. I know, sounds corny, but it’s what I truly believe. People who sing together understand and respect different people more, know how to listen better, and so many more things that everyone who is reading this already knows. (Sorry for preaching to the choir – literally!)
Hillary: And you're joining forces with Sweet Adelines again this July in Region #31. Tell us why.
Deke: I can’t wait! I had an amazing time at the last IES and made so many new friends that, when asked, I jumped at the chance. One upside is that it’s in Manchester, which I fell in love with recently while doing a new show for the BBC. It’s an amazing city with an incredible history and there’s no better way to experience it than with a bunch of harmonizing buddies from around the world. No doubt this event will be a huge magnet for singers across Europe, which means we'll all leave with incredible memories and new friends galore!
IES in Manchester? There's no better way to experience it than with a bunch of harmonizing buddies from around the world!
Registration opens Jan. 8, for Sing and Celebrate: IES 2019, July 25-28, in Manchester, UK.
STARRISINGRISING 2019 Quartet Contest STAR
Sweet Adelines International welcomes young women ages 25 and younger to compete in the 2019 Rising Star Quartet Contest! The contest will be held on July 27, during Sweet Adelines' 2019 International Education Symposium (IES) in Manchester, UK.
