Since 1968, the Grains of Time men’s a cappella group at N.C. State has performed songs ranging from country to doo-wop to rap.

Brad Wood, a senior in textile engineering and pre-med, said the Grains – of which he is president – is the oldest a cappella group in North Carolina. ”We started off as part of the Glee Club, and they actually used instruments,” Wood said. “They were called the Statesmen back then. The Grains of Time didn’t actually come around until a few years after that.” Wood said the songs the group performs do not use instruments, only vocals.”We use a vocal percussionist so that’s kind of our rhythm section – there’s one guy just spitting into a microphone,” Wood said. Wood said the group does a lot of covers of popular songs, most of them arranged by members of the group on their own time. ”We’ll get a song in our head that we really like that we think might work well for the group. We know all the people, we know their taste and things and you kind of gear it around that – so you end up with rock, you end up with rap and a few country songs and oldies. It’s very eclectic choices, so it comes from a lot of people,” Wood said.As for balancing school work, jobs, a social life and the Grains, Woods said it comes down to effort and responsibility. ”The time is there, you just have to utilize it and be mature enough. School always comes first. We’re all trying to graduate – that’s the main focus,” Wood said. Justin-Ray Whitley, a junior in mechanical engineering and a first year member of the Grains, said while he has enjoyed it so far, it’s been a large time commitment.”It did take away a lot of my free time. I’ve got a lot of homework because I’m a mechanical engineering major,” Whitley said. “I’ve just been not going out as much and I’ve been singing a lot more.” As a new member, Whitley said he started out as a “Grit,” and became a “Grain” after his first concert with the group. ”After your first concert that’s when you turn into a Grain,” Whitley said. “We’ve learned seven new songs since I’ve been in [the Grains] – we learn songs pretty fast.”Justin Gray, a senior in construction engineering, and Daniel Knight, a senior in history, have been part of the Grains for five years and have experienced the changes that have occurred within the group over time. ”We’ve seen a lot of changes, we’ve sang with a lot of different people, we’ve gotten to experience a ton of different styles of songs,” Gray said. “We’ve been on two CDs, studio albums. We’ve seen several different eras of groups go by since we’ve been in it.”Knight said the Grains were the reason he came to the University in the first place and has never looked back. ”The Grains is pretty much the reason why I applied to college and at the end is why I chose State over another school – for the group,” Knight said. “It’s been pretty cool to see how the group has changed over the course of five years, just in song selections and strength of the group and closeness of all the guys together. We’re all pretty much like brothers.” Knight said although balancing the different parts of his life with the Grains is not easy, the group is what gets him through the tough times. ”In the past I’ve had to balance a job, and the group, and a fraternity and doing 17-18 hour semesters, so it’s really, really hard. But one thing that makes it easy is that we all are in the group because of our love of music. In the end, we know that this actually helps us get through our weeks,” Knight said. “We know that this two-hour practice two times a week is what helps us get through those tough times. Because we love the group so much, we’re willing to make it work – whatever lengths necessary to make the group work.” Wood said the most rewarding part of his time with the Grains was creating an album.”Actually having my voice – and knowing that it’s mine – on the CD… that’s kind of the biggest reward for me,” Wood said. For those interested in hearing the group firsthand, the group will have their spring concert Stewart Theatre. The concert will begin at 8 p.m.