SPIEBSQSA - Living in perfect harmony.

The article focuses on the history and development of barbershop quartet singing in Illinois, highlighting its origins, key figures, and organizational growth. Barbershop harmony, rooted in African American quartets of the 1880s, gained popularity through early 20th-century performances and was formalized in 1938 with the founding of SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America), now known as the Barbershop Harmony Society. Illinois played a significant role in the barbershop movement, producing numerous national champion quartets and establishing many chapters, with the state becoming a major center for the art form. The article also notes the rise of female barbershop groups through Sweet Adelines International and the ongoing efforts to promote inclusivity and youth participation in barbershop singing. Today, Illinois continues to support a vibrant barbershop community with annual conventions and outreach programs.