The An-O-Chords are turning pure gold.

The popular barbershop group will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a concert July 29 and July 30 at Brodniak Hall in Anacortes.

The barbershop chorus is made up 69 male singers from Anacortes, Oak Harbor and Coupeville. The regional chorus is a chapter of an international organization that includes men who like to sing from all walks of life.

Oak Harbor Mayor Patty Cohen has marked the anniversary with a special proclamation “… to acknowledge and thank all those individuals who make our community the wonderful place it is by volunteering their time, energy and skills.”

Ross Reed of Oak Harbor is the group’s Youth Outreach Chairman.

“It’s an arts and service organization,” he said.

In addition to continuing the tradition of barbershop singing, group members perform community service.

The An-O-Chords have worked with area schools to create a music program.

Budget cuts in recent years have eliminated music at many schools, he said.

The barbershop group’s program is designed to “Get America singing again,” he said.

Here’s how it works:

School teachers help the youngsters learn five or six songs. The An-O-Chords provide songbooks and some coaching, if asked. In the spring, the children sing their songs in a concert put on by the An-O-Chords.

The An-O-Chords also sing at retirement homes, hospitals and for just about anyone who asks. And their barbershop quartets are very popular on Valentine’s Day, when the singers can be hired to sing to a sweetheart.

Some of the members have been with the An-O-Chords for decades. They keep coming back for the comradery and to make beautiful music.

Members get together for weekly practice at 7:30 p.m. on Thurdays at Island View Elementary School, 2501 J Ave. in Anacortes.

Any man who likes to sing is welcome to join, and that’s not gender bias, he said. Traditionally, barbershop is the blending of male voices. The equivalent is women singing in Sweet Adelines, he said.

For either group all that’s required is the desire to sing.

“I don’t have a great voice. I just like to sing,” Reed said.

All members have to learn 12 standard barbershop songs known as polecats.

“It means you can sing barbershop any time — any place,” he said.