The Sunshine Coast men’s four-part-harmony group Sh-Boom will perform for the first time with its newest member when they take the stage as headliners at the Artesia Coffee House in Sechelt on Friday, Feb. 28.
Ron Leclerc has replaced Kenny Gustafson, one of the original members of the jazz, pop, and doo-wop quartet, who now spends too much time off-Coast to commit to the group’s schedule of as many a half-dozen performances a year.
“I’m having a blast with them,” Leclerc told Coast Reporter. “They are just the most amazing group of guys I’ve ever met. I got together in late December with Ken and the group before he left and learned his parts for a few of the songs, and then learned on my own for the last few months.”
Leclerc said he heard that Sh-Boom had a spot to fill at a practice of the Music Makers choir, led by Lynne and Reg Dickson, of which he’s been a member for years. “I haven’t performed in a small group since the late 80s, when I was in a bluegrass, country and rock and roll band. I love to harmonize. So, I thought, ‘I’m going to give this a shot,’” he said.
Leclerc is the third replacement the group has had in its ten-year history. Original members Mike Weber and Colin Mailey are still there, along with Boyd Norman, who recalls being recruited three years ago by singing coach and frequent concert organizer Nikki Weber.
“I got collared by Nikki at her 90th birthday party at the golf club in Roberts Creek,” Norman said. “I was playing in the band and at one point I was chatting with her and she said, ‘I think you can sing.’ And I said, ‘Well, I don’t think so.’” Nikki Weber knows voices, and she was right. Norman has been with Sh-Boom ever since.
Weber, mother of group member Mike, still coaches the group at their Monday night rehearsals.
“I put the harmony together,” Weber said in an interview. “My job is to teach them to do that, to get the balance right, get them to sing everything at the same time. At this point, they’re a gem. I love working with them.”
As for new member Leclerc, coach Weber said, “He’s working out really well. He’s got a great ear.”
Also performing at Artesia Coffee House at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre on Feb. 28 are folk trio Bits of String, guitarist Bradley Wells, poet Shelley Harrison Rae, and singer Maddy Weber, daughter of Mike and granddaughter of Nikki. The doors open at 6:45 p.m., the show’s at 7:30, and admission is $15 at the door.
