By Setarreh Massihzadegan
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Now that he is living at Brooksby Village, Richard Emery has the taken hold of the opportunity to put his musical skills to use.

“Music is just a great love of my life,” he says. “I wasn’t in the music business, I was in graphic design. But what I really loved was music, so I brought it with me to Brooksby.”

A gift for Brooksby
Word traveled fast, and just a couple of days after he moved in three years ago, Emery was approached by Ted Good, the man who created the Brooksby Gentlemen, now a barbershop octet.

Since then, Emery, who previously studied music, has directed the singing group and often composes its songs in addition to singing with the Gentlemen.

“It’s a gift to have it and it’s a gift we give to the place,” Emery says of the octet and its place at Brooksby.

Mature harmony
The group, which has an unusual two men to each part, comprises Ted Good and Norm Benson on baritone, Richard Thornburg and John Murphy on bass, George Rybicki and Richard Emery on top tenor, and Don Hall and Chet  Willows on second tenor.

“It’s a good blend of voices,” Thornberg says.

The group hosts two large performances annually at Brooksby’s chapel and makes guest appearances at nearby churches in between. This year’s  second performance will take place November 14 and Emery says the men will likely perform 18 to 20 songs, three or four of which he composed.

“I think probably my favorite joy is composing,” he says.

Entertaining the audience
One of the group’s novelty numbers, Emery says, is an original that plays off of the favorite “Charlie on the MTA.” The Brooksby Gentlemen’s humorous  version is about people lost in the hallways at Brooksby. Emery says community members identify with that because they often find themselves giving directions to others on campus.

“We get a wonderful response from the audience,” he says.