The "Standards," a group of five singing brothers from Idaho, delivered a high-energy musical performance -- and an anti-drug-and-alcohol-abuse message -- to Greene County high school students at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center on Monday.

In two performances at NPAC, the Standards, who range in age from their late-20s to mid-30s, combined "boy band" good looks and choreography with stunning a cappella harmonies that literally had students dancing in the aisles.

Tim Armstrong, the Greene County Board of Education's vice chairman, told students prior to the Monday afternoon performance that the Greene County Board of Education and Scott Niswonger, the Greeneville business leader and philanthropist, had made the financial arrangements necessary to have the Standards perform here.

Before the performance, Armstrong said the group also performed at 8:30 a.m. Monday for North Greene High students and half the student body each of South Greene and Chuckey-Doak High.

He noted that members of the Greene County Board of Education saw the Standards perform last November at the Tennessee School Boards Association annual meeting in Nashville and had set about working to have the group sing here.

On Monday afternoon, West Greene High students were joined by the other halves of the student bodies of South Greene and Chuckey-Doak.

Armstrong apologized to the students before the Monday afternoon event for short notice, noting that the arrangements had only been finalized last week.

About 'The Standards'

The Standards, who are made up of Morgan Williams, Nathan Williams, Jordon Williams, Nicholas Williams, and Quinn Williams, are leading the way to help make vocal music a favorite among fans, according to their Web site.

Originally from Twin Falls, Idaho, the Williams brothers now call Nashville home.

Nathan Williams, one of the five brothers, told the audience during a Monday afternoon performance that the group took its name from the fact that they originally performed mainly well-known "standard" songs.

"Sharing the stage with the likes of country sensation Lonestar to the legendary Manhattan Transfer, and the Oak Ridge Boys, they continue to bridge the gap found in common music genres," the Standards' Web site says.

Open With 'Fifties' Music

Judging by the reaction of high school students during Monday afternoon's performance, songs from the 1950s -- if delivered with modern choreography and stirring vocals -- can still reach 21st-century students.

The Standards opened their performance with a high-energy version of the 1950s Del Vikings hit "Come Go With Me."

Within moments, the Standards had the students cheering.

"You really know how to make us feel welcome," group member Nathan Williams said after the opening number.

After Nathan Williams explained the group's beginnings, they performed "Somebody To Lean On."

Then Nicholas Williams, another member of the group demonstrated his ability to mimic, using only his voice, musical instruments ranging from a tuba to drums.

At one point, he even mimicked the sound made by an automobile stereo system with its base speakers blaring as loud as possible.

After another high-energy performance of the 1967 Van Morrison hit "Brown Eyed Girl," the Standards transitioned into their anti-drug-and-alcohol-abuse message.

Jordan Williams told the audience about how his best friend in childhood had taken his own life after falling victim to alcohol and drug abuse as an adult.

The friend, he noted, had been "stuck in a dead-end job" and had been unable to provide for his wife and three children as well as he would have wished.

After first turning to alcohol -- and becoming an alcoholic -- the friend had turned to "harder stuff," before putting a gun to his head and taking his own life, Williams said.

Their friend hadn't been a bad person, he had simply made bad choices, and had come to feel he had no way out, Williams said.

The brothers also performed a slow ballad about dealing with the loss of someone you love that included the refrain "It's so hard to say good-bye to yesterday."

Students sat silently as the Williams brothers sang the song.

They urged the students in the audience to offer help to anyone they believe to be in a similar situation because of drug or alcohol abuse.

"Offer them a helping hand or take that helping hand (if you find yourself in a similar situation)," the Williams brothers.

The Standards closed the anti-drug portion of the program by telling the audience, "Let's make a difference, starting with ourselves today."

After delivering the anti-drug-and-alcohol message, the Standards lightened the mood -- and literally brought the students out of their seats -- with a rousing performance of the "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."

Prior to performing the song the Standards asked for volunteers from the audience to mimic "jungle animals."

During the performance, the students gathered at the base of the stage, where they danced and clapped as the Williams brothers performed on the stage above.

Before closing their performance with a call for students to help "keep drugs out of our communities," the Standards said they planned to return to Greeneville in concert later this year.

According to their Web site, "In such concerts, the Standards "continue to forge new ground by adding theater type performances such as the Mamba, which features the five, dressed in a tribal setting for a truly amazing black light show.

"In addition, you may find them standing around a piano for an original song or two creating a multi-level vocal showcase."

The group's Web site adds that despite a busy concert schedule, the group "finds time to offer advice to the youth across America by performing at schools for educational fundraisers and 'Music with a Message' programs that speak about the danger of drugs.