The Dapper Dans

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The Dapper Dans are a barbershop quartet that performs at Disneyland in Anaheim, California (since 1959), at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida (since 1971), and at Hong Kong Disneyland in Lantau Island, Hong Kong (since 2005).

While the group generally performs as a quartet, they actually comprise twelve singers, plus occasional substitutes. This allows them to have multiple quartets performing separately or to combine and form a larger ensemble. Membership has changed over the years as various singers have retired or died and new ones have been brought in to succeed them. The Dans have been tested at Disneyland Paris in the past, but were cut due to cost management at the struggling theme park. The Dapper Dans are members of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

As of early 2006 the Dapper Dans at the Disneyland Resort consisted of Shelby Grimm (lead), Bob Hartley (tenor), Jim Campbell (bass), and Bill Lewis (baritone). In 2006 it was announced that a new group of Dapper Dans would be cast, to make their debut in May 2006. David (lead), Robbie (tenor), Frank (bass), and Steven (baritone) can now be seen Tuesday through Saturday at Disneyland on Main Street, USA.

You can be serenaded by the Dans at the Magic Kingdom in Florida whilst having your hair cut in a real, working barbershop on the Main Street there, while the Dans at Hong Kong Disneyland stroll up and down Main Street from Town Square.

The Dapper Dans of Disneyland as of Fall 1995, clockwise from top: Jim Campbell (bass), Bill Lewis (baritone), Shelby Grimm (lead), and John Heffron (tenor).

The Dapper Dans of Disneyland, in a publicity photo taken in Spring 2006. Although many of the men pictured here know multiple parts, the color key is Gold/Green - Tenor; Blue - Baritone; Purple - Lead; Red - Bass. From left: Front row: Phil. Second row: Robbie, Daniel, Bandon, David. Third row: Steve, Jason, Brandon. Fourth row: Steven, Frank, Matt, Jim. Photo by Michael Smart[1]

[edit] References in Popular Culture

The Dapper Dans appeared in Home Improvement as the Flannels.

The Dans were the Singing Voices for The Be Sharps in The Simpsons.

They were also the singing voices for the busts in the 2003 Disney movie The Haunted Mansion.

The Dans were Spoofed twice on FOX's new series Talk Show with Spike Feresten with the Dapper Daniels, a "barbershop quartet that sings about homo-erotic encounters".

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