[Ads-l] Antedating of "Barbershop" (Music)

[Peter Reitan]

"Barber shop chord" dates to at least 1892.

Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Sep 18, 1892, page 16.

https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/179822144/

In a description of prepatations for the new blackface minstrelsy season.

Barbershop chords were also known as "coon chords."

Omaha Daily Bee

Omaha, Nebraska, Jul 23, 1899, page 8.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-daily-bee/179863524/


Back in the day, a significant percentage of barbers were black men, suggesting a connection.  I haven't seen any particular time, place, or event that created the association of the musical style to barbers.  But by the late 1899s, there are examples of white men's groups (not in blackface) singing barber shop chords.


________________________________
From: Peter Reitan <pjreitan at hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2025 5:37:01 AM
To: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Antedating of "Barbershop" (Music)

"Barber shop chords" dates to at least 1892.

Star Tribune, Minneapolis, September 18, 1882, page 16.  In a description of preparations for an upcoming season of blackface minstrel shows.

https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/179822144/

________________________________
From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of Bill Mullins <amcombill at HOTMAIL.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2025 7:19:24 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Subject: Antedating of "Barbershop" (Music)

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Subject:      Antedating of "Barbershop" (Music)
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1913 Variety 18 Jul 18/3

The Dancing Harmonists did some barbershop chords and danced some waltz son=
gs that pleased the Jeffersonians.

https://www.proquest.com/docview/1529161878/?sourcetype=3DMagazines




1913 Billboard 25 Oct 50/2

The quartet consists of four of the members of the Majestic Theater Orchest=
ra.  The boys are practicing
barbershop harmony, close harmony, and all other kinds of harmony known to =
exponents of vocal art.

https://www.proquest.com/docview/1031457637/?sourcetype=3DMagazines

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