TRIVIA
 
The first college champion to become gold medalists, Four   SPEBSQSA's history section states the first chorus
Voices, after reforming in 1999 went on to place   competition was held in 1954 and won by
13th in 2000, 3rd in 2001 and 1st in 2002.   the Singing Capitol Chorus. Other sources state
The first second generation gold medallist; Todd   that the 1956 chorus winners were the
Wilson tenor of the Acoustix is the son   Michigan City Chorus from Michigan
of Harlan Wilson, baritone for the Suntones.   City, not the Ambassadors of Harmony.
The first father/son combination to win medals in the   Brian Beck is the only man to place in the top ten in
same year: Mike Connelly with The Naturals   all four voice parts.  As tenor in Doo-Dads (1968/70),
and son Joe with Keepsake.   baritone in Dealer's Choice, lead in Side
Gold medallist choruses must stand down from   Street Ramblers and bass in Great Stage
competition for the two years following their   Robbery (1994/95).
win. (SPEBSQSA/SA)   After their debut at the international convention in 1981
Since the Sweet Adeline convention is held near the   the Harrington Brothers scored a perfect
end of the year, from 1993 the quartet   100% on one of their songs from one of the
champions are known as the champions   interpretation judges in the 1982 convention,
of the year in which they reign.   "We Wouldn't Trade The Silver In Our
i.e. Showtime is the "1994 champion."   Mother's Hair."
Power Play is made up entirely of the Slamka family;   Backchat hail from Cashmere High School in
brothers Mike (lead) and Mark (baritone) sing   Christchurch, New Zealand.  They are the
with father Jack (bass), and cousin Don (tenor).   2000 Young Women In Harmony National
Gary Lewis sang tenor in the 1994 CBQC champion   Champions (NZ).  From Wellington, NZ, Southern
The Real Deal.   Harmony came 4th in the CBQC in 1999 and Musical
The Buffalo Bills sang in the movie "The Music Man" (1962). Island Boys came 3rd equal in 2004.
The silver medalists from all 3 organisations in 2001    The performance of "A Song Like Daddy Used To Play" in
repeated their silver in 2002.  Uptown Sound   the 1973 International Convention was the
(SPEBSQSA), Brava! (SA) and Diamond Girls (HI). world debut of the song.  (It was written by baritone
Tony DeRosa is the youngest man to win gold.  He won   Brian Beck.)
gold with Keepsake when he was just 19.   Each member of Nightlife has been section leader in The
He is also the youngest to double-gold as   Masters of Harmony Chorus at some stage.  At the
  well as the youngest to direct a chorus at    1996 convention they all won both chorus and
  the international.  He directed the "Heralds of   quartet gold medals.
  Harmony" in for the 1st time in 1994.   The Regents' win in 1974 was by a margin of 439 points, this
Nightlife scored a 100% from a Music judge for "Basin   was the highest under the old "Balance/Blend,
Street Blues" in the 1996 international.   Voice Expression, Harmony Accuracy" judging.
The "Swan Song" is sung by the previous year's champion.   The Gas House Gang's win in 1993 was by 303
The "139th Street Quartet" can be seen on two episodes   points to be the highest under the "Stage Presence,
of the TV show "Cheers," singing "Wait 'Til The   Interpretation, Sound and Arrangement" judging.
Sun Shines, Nellie."  They were Doug Anderson,   Currently, Platinum holds the largest winning margin
Larry Wright, Pete Neuschel and Jim Kline.   under the "Sound, Music, Presentation" judging,
"World War I Medley" as sung by The New Tradition (the   a margin of 412 points in 2000.
quartet) consists of the following songs:    There exists a recording of the Oakie Four singing "Bright
"Goodbye Broadway, Hello France," "Pack Up   Was The Night" dated 1938.
Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag," "Over The   Joe Connelly's wife, Debbie, sings lead with the Sweet
Top At Chateau Thierry," and "Hang The   Adeline Internation Champion Quartet "Showtime."
Washing On The Siegfried Line."   The only other quartet to have all its members win gold on the
Rod Nixon is the oldest man to ever win a gold    chorus stage at the same time as they won the 
medal, he was 61 in 1997.   quartet gold, besides Nightlife, was Bluegrass
Reprise, the CBQC winners in 2001 won the 2001 RMD   Student Union, in 1978, with the Thoroughbreds.
district, and placed 16th in the 2002 convention.   The youngest quartet to win the gold, The Four Teens had
Due to a computer error, an incorrect draw for the finals   a total age of only 79 years when they won.
round in the 2002 convention led to a    Among the usual display of choreography, The Masters Of
quartet that had placed 10th not being read   Harmony's winning song in 2002 ("Here Comes The
out.  To be fair, they were later included in the   Showboat") featured an interlude by a quartet -
round, resulting in the 12th placed quartet being   essentially Nightlife with director Mark Hale on lead.
the mic-testers and for the first time ever, 11   In 1987 and 1988 SPEBSQSA experimented with a two-round
quartets singing in the finals round.   chorus contest (6 went through to the Super-Finals).
Metropolis was the first barbershop quartet to win the   Gotcha and Nebraska Compromise tied for 44th place in 1994.
HARMONY SWEEPSTAKES' National A   Milky Way and Music Street tied for 39th place in 1994.
Cappella Championship, In 1998 they sang   Freestyle and Sibling Rivalry tied for 36th place in 2001.
"Some Lucky Day" and "Yakko's World" to win.   12th Street Rag and The Tulsa Tradition tied for 23rd place in
In 1940 The Bartlesville Barflies finished 2nd, inspiring the   2001
"Once a champion, always a champion" rule.   The chorus contest held in 1953 was used as a trial, thus all
However it had not been perfected yet and so   districts weren't represented and the winner
the same four men (singing under a different   couldn't be crowned "International Champions."
name - The "Philips 66 Barflies") came 3rd in   The first International Chorus Champions are 
1941 and 1942.   therefore The Singing Capitol Chorus.
The members of quartets from early years (prior to about   Yes, The Chord Busters and The Doctors Of Harmony
1955) came from old issues of The Harmonizer.   repeated songs in the competition they won.
I cannot be certain the correct person has been   The Masters of Harmony and the Thoroughbreds tied for 1st
placed in the correct voice-part.  Sorry.   in 1990.  The tie was broken by the sound score
No choruses entered to represent NED in 1962.   which had the Masters in front by 6 points.
Edward Wilson died of a heart attack very shortly after   The only time a district had back-to-back chorus champions
The Arlingtones competed in 1969.   was 1970 and 1971, the Mid-Atlantic District.
The Big Chicken Chorus and the Ambassadors of Harmony   Middleton and Q Suburban tied for 3rd in 1954.
tied for 6th place in 2000   Commodores and New Yorkers tied for 11th in 1966.
The Singing Buckeyes and the Thoroughbreds tied for 11th   The Coastmen and Wonderland Chorus tied for 11th in 1979.
in 2000.   West Towns and Big Apple tied for 2nd in 1985.
West Towns and Southern Gatewaytied for 2nd in 1986.   Heralds of Harmony and Sound of the Rockies tied for 14th in
Great Lakes and New-MexiChords tied for 14th in 1988.   1992.  
Lead, Suzanne Harrington (Growing Girls - 1989 SAI   In fact, only 12 people have appeared at international in three
champions and Swinglish Mix - 2003 SAI   or more voice parts; Don Barnick, Brian Beck, 
champions) is married to Doug Harrington   Tim Brooks, Don Dobson, Thom Hine, Glen
(baritone of the Second Edition - 1989   Howard, Jack Pinto, Joe Pollio, Wayne Porteous,
SPEBSQSA champions).  Bass, Naima Meyer   Roger Ross (in the most different quartets, 6), 
(Growing Girls and Swinglish Mix) is married   Mike Wallen and Chip Davis.  See the "All Members"
to Jamie Meyer (bass of the Second Edition).   sheet for details of placement.
Tom Gentil is the only person to direct choruses to gold   Autograph and The New Sensations tied for 24th in 2003.
for SPEBSQSA and Sweet Adelines. (1973   Absolut and Northeast Connection tied for 40th in 2003.
Southern Gateway (SPEBSQSA) and 1981    Gerry Papageorge is the only woman to medal in 3 voice parts
Seven Hills (SA).)   Lead of the Chasonaires, tenor of Panache, bass
All six of the songs Gas House Gang (SPEBSQSA 1993)   of Fanatix.
won with were arranged by David Wright, one   Fraser Brown has competed at the most consecutive
of the Society's best arrangers.  He is also    international contests (25 after Louisville 2004).
responsible for "Looking At the World Through   Phat Cats and Bravo! tied for 24th in 2004.  
Rose Coloured Glasses" (Chiefs of Staff),    Broadway and Reveille tied for 28th in 2004.  
"South Rampart Street Parade," "Blue Turning   Road Show and Odds On tied for 39th in 2004.
Grey Over You," "Dixieland One-step," "Love    Impulse and Keep 'Em Guessin' tied for 43rd in 2004.
Me and the World Is Mine" (Jokers Wild),   Brian Beck was the first to medal in 3 voice parts.
"Basin Street Blues," "Stars Fell on Alabama,"   Keith Houts is believed to be the oldest man to grace the 
"Beautiful Dreamer," "Cross the Mason-Dixon   stage, he was 74 and 11 months at the 2004 contest.
Line" (Nightlife), "Piano Roll Blues," "Dinah,"   I have conflicting records for the songs sung by Ramapo Valley
"Somebody Knows," "Louise" (Michigan Jake),   in 1979.  The other option for this cell is: All Aboard 
and "Lazy Bones" (Four Voices), among others.   for Broadway/Always Leave Them Laughing; Mary's
There were no bonus points in this contest.  Each chorus   a Grand Old Name/So Long Mary/Give My Regards
  was scored out of 3200.   to Broadway.
The Fixx and Lakeside Edition tied for 28th in 2005.   Impulse and Premiere tied for 28th in 2005.  
The 2005 SAI convention was intended to be held in New   
  Orleans, but due to the flooding caused by   
  hurricane Katrina, was moved to Detroit.