Category Archives: Free Lance Beth

“Dado” Earl Volpert (with the rose) and his quartet delivering a Singing Valentine…Barbershop Style.

For as long as I can remember, songs in four-part harmony have been a part of the audio background of my life. Specifically, the bass parts which always seem to surround my dad with a hum or a tag. I grew up thinking that such songs as “Little Girl”, “My Wild Irish Rose”, and “Lida Rose” were normal lullabies. My two boys have grown up with the same songbook-with some good old school rock-n-roll mixed in. At a recent performance, the MC asked the audience to raise a hand if they had seen more than 10 years of Barbershop Shows in their lifetime. While there were the expected hands from the folks with “snowy hair”, none of the hands was raised more enthusiastically than by my oldest son who proudly said out loud, “I have seen 14!”

Dado, Uncle Steve & Drew-3 Generations of Barbershop Style

One of my fondest memories included an Alaskan Cruise on which our Stone Mountain Barbershop Chorus had been invited to sing. Again, my oldest (then 7) practiced and practiced the chorus’ signature song, “Down By The Riverside” along with his Uncle Steve which then resulted in three generations of “Volpert Men” singing on the same stage. I still think both my boys expect to meet their own “little bright-eyed gal” down by the riverside one day.

Dado, Ditdo & The Boys

My dad’s names are varied. Those close to him call him “Butch”. He is “Earl”  or “Big E” to many. I always called him Dad, but the one that fits him best was given to him by the firstborn, as often happens…Dado. Not only do his own three grandsons call him “Dado”, but most of the neighborhood kids, swim team, hockey, soccer, band, school and church kids call him “Dado” too.

I will always be “Daddy’s Little Girl”, in the best of Barbershop Style. That song will unfairly bring many tears to your eyes. He always hums a little tune under his breath and has a song for just about every occasion. Dado always asks if he can call you sweetheart and tells me that we are the hearts of his heart…Listen for yourself…Let Me Call You Sweetheart…and Happy Father’s Day!