Schumacher Puts Barber Shop Harmony Experience to Test with Temptations

EVERETT, Wash. – More than 35 years of singing barber shop harmony came to a head for Bob Schumacher one nerve-wracking evening. Schumacher, president/CEO of $46 million Snohomish Co. PUD Credit Union, got the surprise of his life when he was told that he would be singing along with Motown legends, the Temptations at the conclusion of an evening of fundraising. He’s been a member of the Barber Shop Harmony Society since the age of 15 and was an applied voice major at the University of Wisconsin. For the past three years, Schumacher has been performing with Zing!, a barber shop quartet, one of many he’s gigged with over the years. The popular quartet has its own Web site (www.zingquartet.com), rehearses once a week, and averages at least two performances a month. With the holidays right around the corner, the quartet has several back-to-back performances booked, Schumacher said. They’ve also placed high in national competitions. “It’s in my blood, it’s such a release,” Schumacher said of his love for harmonizing. “It takes me out of my daily routine.” Schumacher sings baritone but used to sing lead before his voice “dropped.” While Zing! embraces the familiarities of traditional barber shop harmony, it also welcomes opportunities to bring new slants to more modern songs. Right now, the group is learning a new arrangement of a song from Toy Story 2. Two genres of music came together during a recent National Credit Union Foundation/CUNA fundraiser that featured the Temptations. Schumacher served as auctioneer for the event. One of the items up for auction was the chance to sing with the famous group. Bids went up to nearly $11,000 before a colleague announced to the packed room that it had been decided that Schumacher would be the one tapped to perform. “After I picked my mouth up off the floor, I had to wait for two hours,” he recalled. “I was apprehensive and nervous, to say the least.” After the Temptations finished their set, lead singer Dennis Edwards pulled Schumacher on stage to sing two classics: “My Girl,” and “Just My Imagination.” Not only did he nail the harmony, Schumacher kept up with the trademark choreographed steps. “Dennis was such a gentleman. They’re one of my favorite groups,” he said. As much as he loves performing, Schumacher said he will never quit his day job. “It remains my main hobby,” he said. “It keeps me challenged musically. Each time I perform, I feel better about it.” [email protected]