Valley barbershop quartet always in tune
Published 12:47 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008
SEATTLE – When four men in tuxedos with red sequin waistcoats and straw hats walked into the Safeco Field offices of the Seattle Mariners last Monday, the receptionist knew exactly why they were there.
“The national anthem is here,” she said to the person on the other end of the phone in her hand.
The barbershop quartet, known as Friendly Advice, was there for sound check. To show her they were the night’s featured attraction, the quartet serenaded the receptionist and her co-worker with “I Don’t Know Why I Love You The Way I Do.” When the quartet finished, it received a round of applause from the two women.
“When people hear barbershop, their face always lights up,” said Wes Sorstokke, Carnation resident and owner of the Snoqualmie Falls Candy Factory and Friendly Advice baritone.
Sorstokke got into barbershop when he was living in Bellingham after graduating from Western Washington University. His boss at the time recruited him to sing in a barbershop quartet group called the Highliners. Sorstokke had performed in his school choir and in some musicals, but got into the group for the camaraderie as much as he did for the music.
For the complete story, pick up a copy of this week’s Valley Record
