A four-part harmony treat

Kay Blatter remembers that almost 70 years ago he and his brother would sing two-part harmony songs when they were doing their chores on their family's ranch outside of Chinook.

It was the beginning of a lifelong interest in music.

Today, he's in his 23rd year of being a member of the Bullhook Bottoms Barbershop Chorus, and he and fellow members are practicing four-part harmony for the "A Cappella Highway" concert that will be 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 23, at Havre's Fifth Avenue Christian Church.

For barbershop music fans, this concert will be a special treat, he said.

The Bullhook Bottoms members, all from the Hi-Line, will be joined by barbershoppers from Helena and Great Falls for a full-fledged concert.

"People always tell us they enjoy our music," he said. "But I think this one will be special. You can't find a better musical treat,"

The church holds 550 people, he said, and the barbershoppers are hoping for a sell-out crowd.

Traditionally, he said, the chorus puts on two concerts, one in Havre and a second in Chinook. But he said they can't ask the Helena and Great Falls signers to come back to Havre for a second concert. So they are planning one big concert.

The chorus has several subgroups, he said. This year, for the first time in a long time, he's hoping to have an all-Chinook quartet.

A Chinook High School teacher and a high school student have joined the chorus, he said, encouraging members that younger people are interested in barbershop music and carrying on the tradition.

They are selling 10 tickets to businesses for $70, he said. The businesses can use the tickets themselves or give them to favored customers or employees.

There is a special deal, he said.

"You can get a ticket for $7 or two tickets for $15," he said, laughing. "I don't have to spend a lot of time making change."

"It's a deal for us," he said, and many people have taken him up on the offer.