2008 Augusta Class Description


Week 5
Vocal Week
Brothers & Sisters: Country Duets
Val Mindel and Joe Newberry


"The advent of radio had a profound effect on the harmony acts of the early country period. Working close to a microphone really changed harmony singing styles into something much more intimate and carefully blended than what had been popular. This can be heard in the singing of the Blue Sky Boys, the Delmore Brothers, the Carter Family, the Louvins, Lula Belle and Scotty, and many groups that don't get as much recognition... Karl and Harty, for example, and The Girls of the Golden West.

In this class we'll learn the specific harmonies of a variety of different groups. You'll come away with several duets that you can sing both parts to in an appropriate style, plus another five or six songs that we'll touch on in less depth. The emphasis will definitely be on singing, although we'll also be listening to original material. And we'll move away from the ones everyone already knows to unearth some gems that are less familiar."  - VM