You never know when you might hear a singing valentine. Not the kind you find in a greeting card shop. But one that includes four men singing classic love songs, like “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”

It’s become a tradition for barbershop quartets from the San-Marcos based Music Men Chorus to go out in the community and deliver singing valentines at shopping malls, restaurants, businesses and homes or anywhere folks ask for them.

One of the Music Men quartets delivering a singing valentine. From left are Charlie Wendt, tenor; Chuck Youde, lead; Richard Kellam, bass; and Joe Pascucci, baritone.

(Courtesy of the Music Men Chorus)

You might spot them at a street-side cafe in their red bow ties and red-striped vests serenading a couple with romantic valentine songs or even in a dentist’s office.

The idea is to bring on a smile, but sometimes tears come, too.

The men’s a cappella choral group has been bringing their version of singing valentines around North County for several decades.

“Last Valentine’s Day our quartet visited a dentist office and we had one of those pure barbershop moments,” said Fred Erickson, who has been singing with the Music Men for two years.

As soon as the four singers entered the dental office, in their striped barbershop regalia, word got around and the waiting room filled with surprised patients.

“One man still had the bib hanging from his neck,” Erickson said. “When we finished singing some barbershop love songs, everyone in the room, including the patient with the bib, had a smile.”

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Music Men Chorus. Some guys have been with the group for close to 50 years. The age range is 50 to 90.

“When we deliver a singing valentine, it is often a surprise,” said Chuck Youde, who has been with the Music Men Chorus for 37 years and has been part of the singing valentines for 35 years. “They may be embarrassed or emotional. Usually, we see a big smile. One time, we sang to a teacher in her fourth-grade classroom. The kids were thrilled and their teacher had tears running down her cheeks. It’s those kinds of experiences that we look forward to year after year.”

The men’s chorus started in 1954 with 30 members as an a cappella chorus in Fallbrook. It was called the Avocado Empire Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society of America. But the name changed to the Palomar Pacific Chapter when its weekly rehearsal meetings moved to San Marcos. The chapter, which has 20 members and is directed by David Garstang, is part of the Nashville, Tenn.-based Barbershop Harmony Society, which includes more than 80,000 singers worldwide.

“Why do we do it? We like to make people happy with our singing,” said Bill Olszanicky, who has been with the chorus for nine years.

Olszanicky said he keeps doing the singing valentines because of the heartfelt response from folks he’s singing to.

“I’ve seen happiness, surprise and tears,” Olszanicky said.

The group likes to add some humor when they can.

Longtime member Charlie Wendt is known for his joke about why to send a singing valentine. Wendt tells folks, “A box of chocolates costs $20, a bouquet of roses, $30, but the look on your sweetheart’s face when she receives a singing valentine is priceless.”

Sometimes a singing valentine will even lead to a marriage proposal.

“I have been singing for valentines since its inception, and loved every minute of it. The greatest pleasure I received when a gentleman told me that shortly after we left, he proposed to his lady and she accepted,” said Roger Hufferd, who has been singing with the Music Men Chorus for nearly 50 years.

The audiences at senior living communities get a big kick out of the songs.

“A lot of our repertoire are songs they grew up with,” Olszanicky said. “Looking at the audience, we see people singing the melodies along with us and keeping time.”

The music has a profound effect on folks. “People with Alzheimer’s and dementia do respond to music,” he said. “They can remember tunes and songs from earlier days even when they struggle to remember family members.”

Olszanicky visited a friend who had suffered a severe stroke and was unable to say much. “But he was happy to sing along to “Love Me Tender,’” Olszanicky said.

This year’s singing valentines will feature two songs, “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and “Heart of My Heart.”

The Music Men plan to deliver singing valentines from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 13-14 across North County. Each quartet will sing two romantic songs and bring a personalized card. Delivery within a two-hour time period costs $60; cost for delivery within a 15-minute window is $75. To make a reservation, call or text (760) 583-2197 or email [email protected]. Visit musicmenchorus.org.