Three of biggest guys in Show Biz are coming to the Oxford High School Performing Arts Center in a few weeks along with one little guy.
Michigan’s ‘Three Men and a Tenor? is bringing its high-energy blend of a cappella vocal music and comedy to the OHS stage Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.
Formed in January 1992 while they were members of Michigan State University’s Men’s Glee Club, the four singers put on live concerts consisting of a cappella arrangements from popular musical artists such as The Temptations, The Eagles, The Doobie Brothers, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Bob Marley, Sugar Ray, Garth Brooks and Aretha Franklin plus their own original songs.
Comedy is a major and natural element of the group’s performances. They’ve been described as a combination of the Smothers Brothers, Statler Brothers and Marx Brothers.
The audience gets a big laugh just seeing the foursome standing together.
You see Paul Felch, Chuck Colby and Mark Stiles are each 6-foot, 4-inches tall while Glenn Williams (a.k.a. the ‘Tenor?) is 5 feet even.
‘It is hard for an audience not to laugh or smile right when we take the stage,? Stiles said. ‘Once we have them laughing, it is easy after that.?
The group was booked by the Performing Arts Center, the event’s main sponsor, according to Theater Manager and OHS choir teacher Margaret Payne.
‘This is the first outside group we’re bringing in to perform,? she said.
‘I first saw them about 10 years ago in Gaylord,? Payne explained. ‘Every single person there, no matter what age, liked them. I thought what better group to bring in first ? something the whole community can enjoy.?
‘The music they do covers from the 1950s through the present time. There’s music that speaks to everybody.?
‘When you look out across the crowd, every single person is involved from the littlest ones dancing in their seats or in the aisle to the oldest ones tapping their feet.?
Payne estimated she’s seen Three Men and a Tenor perform ‘a minimum of 20 times? and it never gets old.
‘Every show is a little bit different,? she explained. ‘They change their music so it’s never exactly the same.?
Prior to the actual concert, the group will perform at 1 p.m. for a high school assembly and at 2:30 p.m. they will work with select students from the OHS Chorale, whom they will incorporate into the show’s opening that night.
Because this is essentially a community event, Payne is currently seeking sponsors to help cover the $4,000 cost of booking the group and donate things like water for during the performance ? singing a cappella is thirsty work.
Volunteers are also needed to help with publicity leading up to the concert and aid the group in setting up the day of the performance.
Some community members have already agreed to pitch in.
‘Brad Jacobsen (an Oxford resident and owner of Jacobsen’s Flowers & Garden Town in Lake Orion) volunteered to cook dinner for them the night of the concert,? Payne said.
Tickets for the 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 performance of Three Men and a Tenor are $15 each and on sale now at the high school.
The concert will have general seating and with about 800 ‘comfortable? chairs and no obstructed views in the theater Payne assures, ‘Every seat is a good seat.?
For more information about the concert, sponsorships or volunteering contact Margaret Payne at (248) 969-5168.
For more information about the group visit www.threemenandatenor.com.