On Dec. 9 in the Meadows School of the Arts lobby, SMU’s all male a capella group, the Southern Gentlemen, performed its annual winter concert for a crowd of 100 or so SMU students, faculty and parents.
Known for their ability to perform popular music without instrumentals, as well as their incredible harmonies and cohesive sound, the Southern Gentleman have become an SMU favorite since their founding six years ago.
The group consists of all SMU students, some of which are studying music and others who just enjoy performing.
According to their website, “SMU’s Southern Gentlemen was created both as a way to foster camaraderie between undergraduate men through music and as a spark for the a cappella community at SMU in general.”
“It is always so fun interacting with the crowd and having our friends there to support us,” said senior Elliott Bouillon, who is in his third year as a member of the Southern Gentleman. “This is a great end to the year – performing for the student body.”
The show opened with a rendition of “Sugar” by Maroon 5, featuring soloist Richmond Dewan, followed by a myriad of popular songs including “Real Life,” “Writing’s on the Wall,” a mash-up of “Beautiful Girl” and “Stand By Me,” and the beloved classic “Come on Eileen.”
The Southern Gentlemen then delved into their holiday portion of the performance by singing jazzed-up versions of classic Christmas songs, including “Heart of Christmas,” “We Three Kings,” and “This Christmas.”
“We had a great set list this year,” Bouillon said. “It showed a lot of different sides of the group.”
Southern Gentlemen President Joseph Hutchinson then took the stage before the finale of the concert to share his gratitude to everyone who came to the show. Hutchinson also highlighted senior member Ted Tooley, who is graduating this semester, by expressing how much the group will miss him.
“To sum it up in one word, it would be ‘unforgettable,’” Tooley said. “I am forever grateful that I got to do what I love with the most amazing people.”
The Southern Gentlemen finished their performance with a boy band medley, including a mashup of songs by The Backstreet Boys, 5SOS, The Jonas Brothers, One Direction and NSYNC. Upon finishing their performance, the group was rewarded with a round of applause and standing ovation from the audience.
Not only do the Southern Gentlemen perform annual concerts, but they can be found singing the National Anthem in Moody Coliseum before basketball games, at Dallas Mavericks games, as well as other events, having sung at the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Library in 2013.
The group has music on both iTunes and Spotify. More information about upcoming performances, where to find their music, and contact information can be found on their website or on their Facebook page.
