Showcase presents Standards

Northern Showcase is holding a special concert Tuesday, fulfilling requests to bring back a popular performer.

The Standards, an a capella group from Twin Falls, Idaho, will perform at the Havre High School auditorium at 7:30 p.m. The group consists of the four Williams brothers Jordan, 28, Morgan, 27, Nicholas, 25, and Nathan, 23 who perform a mixture of older and newer songs, including originals.

Their performances often include musical standards which was a factor in the selection of their name like "My Girl," "Just My Imagination," "Lean on Me," "Brown Eyed Girl," "California Dreamin'" and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," as well as comedy, audience interaction and energetic choreography.

The group also is available for educational outreach programs, one on the history of a capella music and one on drug, alcohol and tobacco awareness. The group has conducted the programs in 12 states for more than 375,000 elementary and high school students.

The group started when the brothers, working in a Twin Falls-area theater company, were introduced to the Canadian a capella group The Nylons, a statement by Morgan Williams on the group's Web site said. The brothers began practicing their singing while they were with the theater group, Jump Company, and soon were performing at promotions for it.

In March 1994, the brothers' parents surprised them with tickets to a concert by The Nylons, a concert that inspired them to begin performing at venues like fairs, church events, weddings and birthday parties.

The brothers made a list of possible names, including The Standards. That name was put on the back shelf until Morgan learned the term describes music considered classics like the 1950s and '60s songs the group was performing.

The Standards have released four recordings. Two, 1994's "Room to Groove" and 1995's "Keepin' on Track," are no longer in print. The group released "In Perfect Harmony" in 1999 and "No Silent Corners" in 2001.

The Standards' first concert, in Twin Falls, sold out 1,000 seats, and 100 copies of their first recording were sold there. Since then, the group has opened for acts like the Manhattan Transfer, All-4-One, Lonestar, River Dance and Dan Seals.

Northern Showcase season tickets will not gain admittance to the special concert. Tickets, costing $10 for adults, $5 for children and $20 for a family of five, will be available at the door.