Vocal group hopes for chart success

A WARRINGTON man – whose vocal group has signed a £1 million record deal – is aiming for chart success this Christmas.
Alan Hughes, 24, a graduate from the University of Chester’s Warrington campus, is aiming for chart success with his group the Great British Barbershop Boys.
The quartet has recently signed with Sony and their album Christmas Time looks set to be a big selling success.
Alan, a commercial music production graduate who is also a trainee teacher, has been barbershop singing his whole life – after being introduced to the music by his father.
He said: “My dad has always been into barbershop singing and we always used to listen to it when we were on long car journeys. I started singing myself when I was 10 and carried on all the way through university.
“I joined the National Barbershop Youth Chorus and that’s where I met the rest of the group and we became great friends.”
Other members of the group are lead singer Zac Booles, bass Duncan Blackeby, and baritone Joe Knight.
They were discovered while representing the UK at the International Barbershop Convention in Philadelphia and invited to visit a number of record labels in London.
Alan, who is the group’s tenor, said: “We went to visit Sony Records and just started singing in the offices. Most people send in a demo CD so we were certainly different.”
They made the CD of favourite Christmas songs in September. The group has also been on Radio Two and sang at the Coronation Street 50th anniversary party.
Alan said he always thought he would have a career in music, but thought it would be “behind the mixing desk.”
He said: “It’s been fantastic though to have experience of the technical side of music production and chatting and giving input to the sound engineers on their level. I also learned all about the music industry which has been a great help.”
Jim Mason, senior lecturer in commercial music production at the university, said: “It is absolutely brilliant to see Alan involved in a massive project like his.
“Alan was an excellent student, and is also an extremely likeable and down-to-earth person, so I’m particularly pleased to see him doing so well, and sincerely wish him the very best of luck with the album.”
Pictured: The Great British Barbershop Boys – Alan Hughes, Zac Booles, Duncan Blackeby and Joe Knight.