FRED is a comic
barbershop quartet formed in 1990 by members of the
Marietta
Marietta may refer to:
Places in the United States
*Marietta, Jacksonville, Florida
*Marietta, Georgia, the largest US city named Marietta
*Marietta, Illinois
*Marietta, Indiana
*Marietta, Kansas
*Marietta, Minnesota
*Marietta, Mississippi
*Mar ...
Big Chicken Chorus.
Despite their focus on comedy, FRED produces a very refined sound. Their performance in 1999 at the
SPEBSQSA
The Barbershop Harmony Society, legally and historically named the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (SPEBSQSA), is the first of several organizations to promote and preserve barbershop ...
International Championship made them
gold medal
A gold medal is a medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture.
Since the eighteenth century, gold medals have bee ...
ists, making them the first comedy quartet ever to win first place at the International level.
FRED's take on the "comedy quartet" was original, in that they have not relied on spoken dialog in between songs to set up the humor in the next song, as most comedy quartets do. Instead, their humor is built into their lyrics, musical arrangements, and stage presentation. Parodies are a staple of their performances, and their parodies (well-known songs set to different words) often have Barbershop "in-jokes" where they poke fun at other quartets and singers, themselves, and even the contest judges.
SPEBSQSA International competition results
FRED has achieved the following results at
SPEBSQSA
The Barbershop Harmony Society, legally and historically named the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (SPEBSQSA), is the first of several organizations to promote and preserve barbershop ...
International competitions:
*1991: 35th place
*1992: 26th place
*1993: 27th place
*1994: 11th place
*1995: 8th place
*1996: 4th place
*1997: 2nd place (silver medal)
*1998: 4th place
*1999: 1st place (gold medal)
Discography
* ''Simply FRED'' (CD; 1993)
* ''Get Happy'' (CD; 1998)
* ''Putting the HA in HArmony'' (double-CD; 2000)
* ''The FreDinci Code'' (CD; 2006)
External links
AIC entry
American comedy musical groups
Barbershop Harmony Society
Barbershop quartets
Musical groups established in 1990
Professional a cappella groups
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