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For more than a couple of its members, the experience of the Big Apple Chorus goes beyond the music, the fun, the friendships and "personal bests" but is additionally layered with strong family ties. In the case between father and son barbershop singers, it's usually the father who introduces the son to the chapter where they sing together.

This month's Spotlight on the "Men in BAC" features a father and son team whose musical journey started traditionally enough, but it was ultimately the son who brought his very reluctant dad to the Big Apple. "I wouldn't change that decision for anything in the world, now", says John Patricia about being dragged (not altogether unwillingly) to NYC by his son, Jamie.

John Patricia (the father) was not a formally trained singer. His only first hand exposure to any singer of renown was limited to Singer sewing machines, whose internal mechanisms he designed and patented for the company for 43 years.

He did show signs of showmanship early on however. He worked in a roller skating rink as its nimble young floor manager and was an accomplished roller-skating dancer! Sounds like 50's teenage idol material to me! Based on the calculations of one of the guys with whom he worked, it was calculated that he could have skated around the world twice. Little did he know that choreographic skill would serve him as a senior in the Big Apple Chorus.

John started singing Barbershop in 1960, when a trio of fellow church choir singers invited him to form a quartet. The group, The Ebb Tides, promptly formed, entered and won a local novice contest; thus beginning what was to be an active six-year partnership for young John. In the true spirit of the quartet's lead, he says, "I dragged them all over the place to sing"

The Ebb Tides were perennial chapter show and tavern performers and even placed as high as the top half of the regional International Preliminary contest.

Singing popular American "standards" suited John's taste and easy-going nature. His love for performing sprang from the pleasure of pleasing others and the intimacy a performer feels with his audience.

In 1969 he joined the Montclair, New Jersey Chapter, served a term as the Chapter Music and Program VP and stayed for 29 years until 1998. It was during his tenure at Montclair that he started to bring Jamie, youngest and only musically inclined of his three children, then five years old, to rehearsals.

Jamie, though not formally trained as a singer, was informally brought up as a Barbershopper. He trained by virtue of his exposure to his father's musical life. For 23 out of his 29 years of age he has been attending barbershop chapter rehearsals. From the time he started to string along, at 5, with his dad, until he asked to formally join the Montclair chapter at 12 (in 1989) his interest in singing barely flagged; so they admitted him as a member.

Of course, Jamie's tastes have broadened over the years. Today he is receptive to almost any music (including rock and rap). But look at the collection of CDs in his car and you know he's a hardcore A Cappella and barbershop brat. He even listens to Barbershop Chorus CDs, other than the ones he's been recorded on! "When I hear good four-part harmony I get goose bumps."

"My friends laugh at me." But he can take it. He's vindicated each time his rough and rugged professional associates at the FBI (where he's a Corporal line supervisor) are moved to marvel when they hear him sing in small ensembles at official Police functions.

Jamie leaves no doubt, "My favorite things about singing in the chorus are: one: singing with my father, and two: knowing how much people enjoy our performances." He never grows tired he says of, "seeing people leaving our shows with a big satisfied smile on their faces".

Yet, in spite of being on stages since childhood, and being a naturally sociable, schmoozer, Jamie says he's shy and suffers from stage fright. He recalls playing the part of a wooden soldier in a musical number once and says "If I was any stiffer I would have BEEN that wooden soldier. This from a man who potentially risks his life for a living.

There is also a strongly competitive side of this otherwise amiable, mellow, easy-going sociable, younger version of his dad. Jamie is an avid football and basketball fan. His lust for good competition follows him into the musical arena too. Taking about the chorus he says, "We're haven't been number one internationally yet…we're getting close…but knowing we're successfully working towards it keeps me in the game." He's also a team player in the best sense of the word.

He hasn't shied away from the hard work or the commitment necessary to be in a top ranked chorus. He regularly volunteers and labors on operational duties that service the chorus from behind the scene. "I hate missing rehearsals. At the BAC we always come away with something. " It's enough to compel him to commute 75 mile each way to rehearsal and he cites the chapter's work ethic as one of its most appealing draws. This is, in fact, what drew Jamie (at 21), along with his farther (haltingly in tow) to New York to join the Big Apple Chorus in 1998.

After years of faithful membership in the Montclair chapter, Jamie grew eager to stretch his young wings and convinced his father that together they should raise the bar for themselves. His father shuddered at the thought of traveling so many hours and into the abyss of the looming, gloomy Gotham across the Hudson! They visited many neighboring chapters first, before taking the plunge.

Now, eight years later, the senior Patricia reflects on the chapter they finally chose: "I still enjoy challenges. I've learned a lot with Manhattan. I wouldn't trade that for the world. There's so much talent in this chapter. Joe [the Chorus Director] is easy to follow, he has charisma, and isn't afraid to try new stuff." Marveling at the current repertoire he muses, "Our music is more modern. We're going from Broadway towards Presley! Manhattan is a notable Chapter in the Barbershop Society. People keep their eyes on us because they never know what we are going to do. I'm proud to be a part of that"

Jamie likewise looks positively on the move he made with his dad to the Manhattan Chapter. Besides enjoying the benefits of the in-house talent, the opportunity to stretch to his own "personal best" and the competitive standing of the chorus, he counts among the perks a few that are unique.

In recognition of the NYPD and FBI for having served New Yorkers during the Sept 11th attacks, he was flown to Minnesota to sing the national anthem for the opening of a televised Vikings / Giants game (along with NYPD officer- and fellow Big Apple Chorus member, Vinny Haynes) About which he humbly says, "We were treated like kings because of what we do for a living but honestly we didn't do anything we weren't supposed to be doing. That was our job"

The change to Manhattan also afforded him the chance to experience a concert tour, throughout Russia with the Big Apple Chorus. Not only did he enjoy the overwhelmingly appreciative Russian audience but renewed and discovered new bonds of friendship with chorus members and their families that traveled with them.

As a result of his Barbershop singing experience he says, "I can go anywhere in this country I know I'm going to have a good time, make friends, hang out and be shown the area.

I asked the Patricia's to recount a single event that might capture the combined joys of this father and son's journey.

For John: He laughs that he and his son had never had been in Carnegie Hall before 1989. And how sweet is was that when he and Jamie joined the Big Apple Chorus, they would now be there, together, on that famous stage looking out to the audience and performing!

For Jamie it was a moment in Atlanta in 1999 at the International Convention with the Big Apple Chorus; he was there to compete. It was the evening of July 4th, and the fireworks filled the clear night sky. He was seeing and hearing the amazing Dallas Vocal Majority Chorus sing for his first time, and they were doing a song from the Lion King, accompanied by the Atlanta symphony. It was almost all a little too over whelming. Jamie recalls, "I just leaned over to my dad and gave him a big hug."

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Steve Adams	Dan George	Gabe Butler	Glynn Fluitt	Jim and Michael Steiner

Scott Brannon	Gary Ford	Brad Verebay	Vinny Haynes	Frank Hendricks	The Patricias

Bob Kovach	Joe Husstege	Gordon Harrison	Roger Payne	Dick White

John Gouveia	Pat Kelly