Deke Sharon, often called “the father of contemporary a cappella,” has made it his life’s work to bring vocals-only music to the masses. As director of the Tufts ensemble the Beelzebubs in the early 1990s, his experimental take on a Peter Gabriel song—with voices standing in for instruments—inspired a new era in a cappella performance. Sharon has also helped popularize a cappella through movies like "Pitch Perfect," television, and even Broadway. Earlier this year, Sharon was back at Tufts for a residency where he coached nine singing groups, culminating in a first-of-its-kind all-Tufts a cappella concert. In between rehearsals, he sat down to talk about his career and his mission to create harmony through harmony.
