By Mike Donahue

Moapa Valley Progress

A capella vocal group “The Perfect Gentlemen” will be opening the Moapa Valley Performing Arts Council 2011-2012 season on Monday, September 19.

A concert featuring “The Perfect Gentlemen,” a Southern California quartet that has played all over the world since forming in 1998, will open the Moapa Valley Arts Council season next Monday at 7 p.m. in the Ron Dalley Theater at Moapa Valley High School.

The group uses a blend of harmony and humor in a family-friendly show hearkening back to the days of Vaudeville, according to a news release. A typical performance showcases the group’s versatility whether singing a-cappella or accompanied by guitar or ukulele played by member Tim Reeder who also sings baritone.

The Perfect Gentlemen has performed concert tours of the United Kingdom, headlined on cruise ships and has twice played cities in Brazil with Jazz Festival Brazil among other things.

The quartet, which includes Reeder; Phil Gold, 1st tenor; Dan Jordan, 2nd tenor; and Jim Campbell, bass; sings barbershop, Dixieland, blues, doo-wop, disco, techno punk, rap and big band songs. The men have sung with the Pacific Symphony and South Coast Symphony.

In 2002 the group was named “Best A Cappella Vocal Group” in the U.S. winning the National Harmony Sweepstakes.

“We do concert dates all around the world and in cities across the U.S. and for us it’s nice to go someplace where we can drive,” said member Gold of the group’s planned concert.

The group has performed as part of the arts education rosters for the Los Angeles Music Center, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Performances to Grow On and the Children’s Creative Project, visiting more than 100 schools over the last five years.

While in Moapa Valley, The Perfect Gentlemen will put on its “100 Years of Harmony” show for MVHS students in which it will take the 1908 song, “Shine on Harvest Moon,” and perform it in the most popular styles of music from the last 100 years including rap, blues, doo-wop and more.

Tickets are available at the door. Prices are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and students, and $30 for a family pass.