John “J.B.” Bennett is a vocal person. When he’s not working as a tour guide in Savannah, he often sings with a barbershop chorus and quartet.
The Richmond Hill resident also sings solo, carrying a tune while he’s driving his car.
Bennett, 63, is a member of 13th Colony Sound barbershop group. He also sings with Ossabaw Sound, one of a number of quartets that evolved out of 13th Colony Sound.
Bennett joined Ossabaw Sound more than a dozen years ago and was the youngest member. One of the members passed away and two others stepped down due to health reasons, yet Bennett wasn’t ready to pull the curtain down on the quartet. He recruited three new members, continuing the legacy of Ossabaw Sound.
“It’s been a smooth transition,” said Bennett, who sings bass. “We knew more songs with the previous quartet, but our present group is doing nicely.” He’s joined by Eric Grimes, lead; Gary Thompson, baritone; and Greg Martin, tenor.
Bennett, who sang in the chorus in high school, joined 13th Colony Sound in 1993. He was working as a car salesman and found out about the group from a customer who gave him two tickets for an upcoming show. Bennett attended the performance and quickly concluded he wanted to lend his voice to the group.
“I saw how much fun the members had and wanted to be part of it,” Bennett said. “I enjoy performing. I love the harmonies and camaraderie. We have a good time.”
As bass in his quartet, Bennett said he provides 55 percent of the volume. Meanwhile, the lead sings the melody, the tenor sings above the melody in a falsetto voice, and the baritone sings the "garbage" part above and below the melody - whichever note is left over to make the chord.
Barbershop singing goes back to the first half of the 20th century. In 1938, at a barbershop in Oklahoma City, a group of men blended their voices together to create harmonies speaking of romance and good times. It was the start of barbershop singing and would spread around the world.
Fifty-four years ago, 13th Colony Sound joined the chorus of worldwide barbershop groups. It had its origins in 1965, when Dr. Frank Johnston started the Savannah chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA). It earned its charter in 1970 and after a brief stint as The Coastal Chordsmen became 13th Colony Sound and performed at churches, assisted living facilities and for service organizations, performing arts groups, parties and various other groups. Nearly five years ago, Ossabaw Sound serenaded Sandy West at her 107th birthday celebration at the Coastal Georgia Center.
In 2018, the group became part of the Barbershop Harmony Society and, as part of a worldwide initiative, welcomed women to its ranks. According to Bennett, half the members are women.
And it’s beginning to sound like Christmas as 13th Colony Sound will host Holiday Harmonies on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Church of the Nazarene at 5995 Waters Ave. Donations are accepted.