Founded in 1991, Section Eight began as an eight member ensemble, bourne out of the Singing Men of Ohio; the larger 90 member men's choir at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
For those of you that don't know, Section Eight is now twelve members and takes its name from the military term when an enlisted is discharged due to "mental incompetence."
Ray Feener was the first president of The Singing Men of Ohio, or SMO, and also the founder and first director of Section Eight, which has also been directed by Jonathan Stuckey, Brad Huffman, Aaron Price, Leo Welsh, and Keith Richards. The group has performed for Ohio University Alumni Chapters, and also the National Anthem for hockey and basketball games, as well as many other small parties and engagements.
In 2003 they traveled to Penn State for the International Collegiate A Cappella Competition, and held their first A'Cappella Invitational in April of that year. The Invitational has now become an annual event, held at the Athens First United Methodist Church. The group also released their first CD, "We May Be Disturbed..." in October 2003.
Section 8's repertoire ranges from barbershop to doo wop and pop rock to hip hop!!! Standards such as Mandy and Coney Island Baby lead in to more classically choral pieces like Stars of the Summer Night and When I Hear Her and then take a pop turn with selections like Call Me Al, Worst that Could Happen, and even Weird Al's Since You've Been Gone.
Some other more contemporary arrangements include songs like Insomniac, Africa, Superman, Sister Goldenhair, Hey Ya!, and more!
I realized today that the recording of Africa is exactly the length of smoking one parliament light cigarette. And it made me smile. Hope you guys are doing well! Rob (SMO '01-'03)
Section Eight I am so excited you accepted my add. When I saw you're profile I stopped playing with my dolly and howled. I'm a hugh Ohio University fan since my Mommy went there and I Love the Bobcat's!! You guy's are the best. I would go with a walk with you guy's any day!!
And I just listened to these songs... they made me tear up. I hope my son understands what it means to be part of something as purposeful, meaningful, and driven as the group documented in these recordings.
