5 minute read
Viva!: Healing and Triumph
Four friends, on the ultimate Sweet Adeline adventure — the quest for quartet gold. To all outward appearances, that was the picture presented as Viva! entered the New Orleans International Competition. However, the quartet reveals that the adventure involved much more.
Viva! began in 2015, formed by a group of experienced quartet singers. Tenor Patty Cobb Baker, who is also the current president of Sweet Adelines International, sang with lead Gina Baker in 2013 International Champion Quartet Touché. Baritone Chris DeRosa, who won her first crown in New Orleans, has sung with several regional champion quartets as well as two international finalists (Crystal Clear and Journey). In 2017, bass Peggy Jones replaced original Viva! bass Joanie Jacques (who sang with Gina in Jackpot). Peggy was a member of 2016 International Champion Quartet Speed of Sound.
Soon after Viva! formed, Patty’s husband, Jeff, baritone of 1996 Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) International Champion Quartet Nightlife, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Patty knew her life was going to be all about caring for her husband, so she told the quartet to replace her.
“They totally refused,” said Patty. “Though we had no idea how long the battle would be, the answer was the same: This is Viva! and we’re doing this together. And we did.”
Jeff passed away March 1, 2017, and Viva! began rehearsing again in June of that year. In 2018, they became regional champions, scoring the highest regional quartet score (715) in Sweet Adelines history thus far. They then came in second at international competition in St. Louis with a package of Bette Midler songs from the movie For the Boys.
This year’s finals package was an homage to Barbra Streisand, with gowns made by Toast of Tampa Show Chorus (#10) member Jennifer Jackson.
“After doing a costume tear-away last year, with two costumes (one on top of the other!), we decided to pack (and sweat!) less this year and stick with just one costume!” said Gina.
That was about the only concession to ease that Viva! made. Already a long-distance quartet — with Patty in Texas, Peggy in North Carolina, and Chris and Gina in Florida — Viva! rehearses one weekend a month, but recording their first CD consumed the first three rehearsals after St. Louis. While completing work on three of their finals song arrangements, designing costumes, planning emcee material and staging, they also did several shows — and Gina was trial scoring as a judge for the first time!
“Because international came a month earlier this year and we
SCORE: 2862 Patty Cobb Baker (t), Harborlites Chorus Gina Baker (l), Toast of Tampa Show Chorus Chris DeRosa (bt), Toast of Tampa Show Chorus Peggy Jones (bs), Carolina Harmony Chorus
SEMIFINALS SONGS:
•Put Your Arms Around Me Honey (A. Dale) •How Deep Is The Ocean? (R. Hopkins)
FINALS SONGS:
• Down With Love (S. Tramack) • I’d Rather Be Blue Over You (G. Volk) • Funny Girl (S. Tramack) • I’m The Greatest Star/
Don’t Rain On My Parade (S. Tramack)
Influences
Patty Cobb Baker, Tenor (Harborlites Chorus)
“My husband’s quartet, Nightlife, has been a huge influence on me. Jeff was one of my longtime quartet coaches, so I learned a lot about the barbershop craft from him. Every person I’ve ever sung with in a quartet and every coach I’ve worked with has been an influencer and an inspiration. Connie Noble, only the best, most incredible tenor singer ever, has been my idol for years and years.”
had to cancel one rehearsal, our international finals performance was the first time we had sung the entire package in front of an audience!” said Peggy. “We don’t recommend this, as a rule!”
All four members were shocked to discover they had won in New Orleans’ strong field of singers, particularly when they learned that their score differed from second place quartet TITANIUM’s by only two points. That was the exact point difference in THEIR second place St. Louis finish in 2018! Of course, Viva! was thrilled.
But the singers say their true mission was, in fact, “to heal our hearts and, through our healing, to perhaps provide some of the same for our listeners.”
“It’s all too obvious that life can be tough, and every member of Viva! has had her share of heartache,” the quartet wrote in their regional newsletter. “Each member of Viva! committed her ultimate support to her quartet mates in this musical journey. As an ensemble, we endeavored to sing only for the audience’s enjoyment, not for a score, not for a placement, not for a medal…It was REALLY hard work to go there. It sometimes left us vulnerable and scared. There were moments of frustration and of elation, despair and delight, trial and triumph. It took all we had to give, and it was worth every bit of that and more.”
Gina Baker, Lead (Toast of Tampa Show Chorus)
“I grew up on barbershop my whole life. I would pretend I was singing like Gene Cokecroft, Connie Noble, and Kim Vaughn all at once. It wasn’t until I met Betty Clipman, because of Carole Persinger, that I truly understood my own instrument. My dad’s comedy quartet, The Allied Four, was a huge influence as far as vision, entertainment, and laughter.”
“My parents, Joe and Lois DeRosa, were HUGE influences. I have watched my brother, Tony, my entire life, and he has been my chorus director for more than a decade on a weekly basis. What I have learned from him is indescribable. He has invested more in my outcome than any human being. The organization changed for me when my daughter Kylie joined. It got way more fun and important.”
Peggy Jones, Bass (Carolina Harmony Chorus)
“My greatest influences have been my mom, Lola Morrison, who was barbershopping before I was born, and my sister Cathy Rothey, who was my very first chorus director and quartet mate. I was also blessed to grow up with The Bron’s Tones.”
