1977

1977

Chapter Eight

Many changes occur in district quartet personnel

Many district quartets experienced changes of personnel in the early part of 1976. Jim Johnson, who sang tenor with the CLASSMATES at the previous international, became the new tenor for a quartet called the SOUND EXPRESSION. The quartet included two former GALAXIES members, Bernie Poehlman, bass, and Al Van Iwaarden, baritone. Bob Buffham, who moved to Grand Rapids in 1975 and sang previously with the GALAXIES, became the lead for the foursome.

In other changes, it was announced that Bob Whitledge and Al Rehkop of GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT fame had joined with Ben Williams and Jim Foley of FOUR RENEGADE and SATURDAY'S HEROES fame to form the PIECES OF EIGHT quartet. They planned on competing in the Illinois District. Lead Galen Oliver of the SOUND SPECTRUM called it quits due to business pressures.

International Board approves Rocky Mountain District as the Society's 16th district

At the Orlando, Florida, midwinter convention, the International Board approved the formation of the Rocky Mountain District, which involved assimilating into the new district areas of the Central States District, Evergreen District, Southwestern District, and the Far Western District. Formation of the new district became effective as of January 1, 1978. It was announced also at the meeting that, while the Society was able to avoid any dues increase during the past three years, a review of our financial position made it painfully apparent that a dues increase would be a "must" during 1977.

One of the C & J Committee recommendations, adopted by the Board at this meeting, was as follows: "No judge shall serve on a panel at a district, international preliminary or international contest if he has coached any of the contestants in that contest within the preceding thirty days." In one other C & J proposal, a clarification of the eligibility of quartet champions allowed two members from each of two champion quartets to form a new quartet and compete should they so desire; this was adopted by the Board.

Discontent at Society headquarters leads to the resignation of Barrie Best

Apparently, the rumblings of discontent at Society headquarters came to a head when International Executive Director Barrie Best resigned his position after having fired Society Music Director Bob Johnson and Member Services Director Bob Meyer. The action taken by Best apparently was promulgated by his feeling of being undermined by his staff at Kenosha, and that these moves were necessary to clear the air.

Pioneer District officers were called to Lansing the following Sunday at 10 a.m. where, after much discussion, they hammered out a two-part resolution. This was presented to a meeting, that afternoon, of district officers, area counselors and representatives of chapters throughout the district. The resolution, signed by 49 of those attending, was as follows:

RESOLVED, that for the good and well being of our Society, the International Board, through its Executive Committee, reinstate those employees dismissed from the international staff during the week of February 28, 1977, without loss of pay and/or other benefits, and that an investigation be conducted under the direction of the International Board to determine appropriate action.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the international president be requested to appoint a committee to study the present management structure of the Society, and that such committee be comprised of members exclusive of the Executive Committee, trained and experienced in management concepts.

These resolutions were forwarded to President Aramian.

The International Executive Committee was finishing up a lengthy session in Phoenix as this action was being taken in Lansing. The Board appointed Hugh Ingraham to the position of acting executive director until such time as a suitable replacement could be employed. Bob Johnson was retained to complete prior commitments or until his status could be determined regarding his pension.

Grand Rapids takes 1977 chorus championship at Midland

Great Lakes "77"

The Grand Rapids GREAT LAKES Chorus came on strong to take the Pioneer District chorus championship at the spring convention held in Midland, Michigan, on the weekend of April 23, 1977. Thirteen choruses competed for the crown, with the Grosse Pointe LAKESHORE Chorus, the Oakland County WOLVERINE Chorus, and the Traverse City chorus finishing in second, third and fourth places, respectively. Traverse City was awarded the 1977 Silver Division Chorus Champion Award.

Vagabonds

Great Lakes Express

Foregin Policy

Fifteen quartets showed up at Midland to vie for the right to represent the district at the upcoming Philadelphia international convention. The three quartets winning the right were the VAGABONDS (Ken Gibson, tenor; Denny Gore, lead; Clay Shumard, baritone, and Norm Thompson, bass), the GREAT LAKES EXPRESS (Steve Boughner, tenor; Walter Dorosh, lead; Robert Hague-Rogers, baritone, and Chan Smith, bass), and FOREIGN POLICY (John Wearing, tenor; Russ Seely, lead; Don Humphries, baritone, and Thom Hine, bass). The SOUND EXPRESSION (Jim Johnson, tenor; Bob Buffham, lead; Al Van Iwaarden, baritone, and Bernie Poehlman, bass) quartet was declared the alternate quartet to the international. Other quartets competing included the DUTCH MASTERS, PERSONAL EXPRESSION, the GOOD VIBRATION, CEREAL CITY CHORD COMMITTEE, SUBTLE IMPRESSION, the GOLDEN OLDIES, VERY IDEA, GOLD MEDAL RESEARCH TEAM, FOUR CHORDSMEN, CAN DO'S, and the WARREN G. HARDING MEMORIAL FOUR.

District Board and House of Delegates meet April 22-23, 1977

In District Board and House of Delegates actions, DACJC Larry King announced that he was relocating to Connecticut and was submitting his resignation. President Gillespie accepted the same. It was announced later that President Gillespie had appointed Don Lang as the new DACJC for the Pioneer District. Don, who was a certified judge in the district, completed Larry King's unexpired term.

Dan Labumbard

District Secretary John McClinchey presented International Achievement ("Protention") Awards to the St. Joseph Valley, Saginaw-Bay, Lansing, Monroe, Grand Rapids, and Detroit #1 Chapters. District Achievement Awards were presented to the Saginaw-Bay Chapter in the Silver Division and Detroit #1 in the Gold Division.

Division Vice President Dan LaBumbard presented the Area Counselor of the Year Award to Ron Neff of the Niles-Buchanan Chapter. On the stage that evening, President Gillespie presented the Pioneer District "Hall of Fame" Award to Glenn Van Tassell and Cecil Craig, both outstanding Pioneer District stalwarts over the years.

Glenn Van Tassell

Cecil Craig

We do not have pictures of the individuals named in the blank frames. If you have a picture of any missing individual and are willing to share it, please contact Steve Sutherland

Other news from around the district and the Society

Joseph P. Wolff

Joseph P. Wolff, a charter member and one of the founding fathers of Detroit #1 Chapter, passed away June 15 at the Henry Ford Hospital. To Society members, he was best remembered as the author of the Code of Ethics and for his part in designing the Society Logo.

International President Sam Aramian announced that Society Director of Music Education and Services had been retained by the International Board, thus rescinding the action of former Executive Director Barrie Best. The Board vote came after Johnson had hp an opportunity to respond in writing to each of the charges.

Lee Wynne visits the Pioneer District

Lee Wynne, Logopedics Chairman of the Evergreen District, spearheaded his HELP '77 (Help Enrich Logopedics Projects) Campaign by riding a ten-speed bike from Spokane, Washington, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a means of raising money for the Institute of Logopedics.

Pioneer was fortunate in that Lee made two overnight stops in the district on his way to Philadelphia, the first being in Grand Rapids on Saturday, June 25, 1977. The Grand Rapids Chapter had arranged advanced publicity, and when Lee arrived, he was greeted by the mayor of Grand Rapids and district dignitaries. The mayor presented Lee with a resolution honoring both the Grand Rapids Chapter, and Lee Wynne, by naming Saturday, June 25, as Logopedics Barbershop Harmony Day in Grand Rapids. Lee, in turn, presented the mayor with a pair of proclamations from the Evergreen District and from the mayor of Spokane, Washington. The assembled crowd was entertained by the GOOD VIBRATIONS quartet from Grand Rapids, the PERSONAL EXPRESSION quartet from Gratiot County and the HARMONY HOUNDS from Battle Creek. An afterglow was held at the Lexicon Club that evening where the same three quartets entertained, along with the SOUND EXPRESSION quartet and the GREAT LAKES Chorus, both from the Grand Rapids Chapter. Bernie Poehlman, the Logopedics chairman of the Grand Rapids Chapter, and the Grand Rapids members helped to raise something over $500 for Logopedics.

Lee's second stop, Monday, June 27, was in Jackson. The Jackson Chapter hosted an intra-chapter get-together in an airplane hangar at Jackson's municipal airport. Lee was met at the airport by over 60 men from the Hudson, Battle Creek, Lansing, Kalamazoo, St. Joe Valley and Jackson Chapters. Lee was welcomed by the Jackson city commissioner, the pioneer district president, the division II vice president, and the president of the Jackson Chapter.

Entertainment was provided by the Battle Creek and Jackson Chapter choruses, the CAN DO and NOTEABLE FOUR quartets from Jackson and the VILLAGE RAMBLERS and HARMONY HOUNDS from Battle Creek. The chapter raised $300 for Logopedics in the process. The Pioneer District can be proud of the role it played in supporting Lee Wynne's "HELP '77 Campaign."

International contests in Philadelphia held some surprises

The contest for international quartet championship proved that "sure shots" are not just for horse races, but for quartet contests as well. The Evergreen District's MOST HAPPY FELLOWS emerged as the new champions. For Pioneer District's faithful, it was another year of frustration and disappointment. This was not one of the better years for the VAGABONDS in contest, and district stalwarts were quite shocked at seeing them drop down to the third spot. The Far West's 139TH STREET QUARTET edged the VAGABONDS in both Interpretation and Stage Presence categories to take the silver. Another "odds-on" favorite to take it all was Louisville's BLUE GRASS STUDENT UNION, but they failed to medal in Philadelphia—even though they were leading after the first set. It was that kind of contest and that kind of year. Obviously, "Someone's got to win, and someone's got to lose!" The BOSTON COMMON found themselves in a familiar spot after the battle was over—fourth, again.

As for Pioneer's other two representative quartets, the GREAT LAKES EXPRESS, perhaps feeling the pressure of first-timers, finished 44th and the FOREIGN POLICY was in 46th place. Both gave it a great shot, but the gunning was particularly heavy in this one and the battle most severe.

In the chorus competition, with five former champs out of the 15 entries, the competition had to be fierce; but Scarborough's DUKES OF HARMONY proved equal to the task and brought the first championship to the Ontario district and to Canada for the first time. It took a lot of singing to get Pioneer District's MOTOR CITY Chorus a ninth-place berth in a year when every district came charged and ready for combat. Thom Hine's crew can be heartily congratulated for a fine finish in a year when every chorus seemed to ignite the audience with exciting sound and stage presence.

Some bold actions taken by the International Board at Philadelphia convention

In order to correct a deficit budget situation and ease cash-flow problems, the Board voted to institute a $7 dues increase effective October 1, 1977. In addition, starting with the 1979 convention, the Board voted to increase the convention registration fee for adults to $25 and $15 for juniors.

From the eight cities bidding for the 1981 convention, the Executive Committee recommended Atlanta, Detroit and Seattle. Detroit was awarded the convention on the first ballot.

The Board established the new Rocky Mountain District (our 16th) and took other necessary action so that the new district could begin operation on January 1, 1978.

A fifteen-year staff member, Hugh A. Ingraham, was the choice of the Board for the position of executive director of the Society, filling the vacancy created when Barrie Best resigned in April. Roger Thomas was elected as the new international president for 1978.

The Board also gave permanent status to the "bye" system of allocating quartets for international competition even though the C & J Committee recommended against it. The system allows an additional quartet from the district where a medalist quartet from the previous year has qualified for the next international contest. The system had been used on a trial basis for the previous two years.

MOTOR CITY MUSIC COMPANY captures district crown at Kalamazoo

With 18 quartets competing in Pioneer District's fall quartet contest on October 7-8, 1977, it was obvious to convention attendees at Kalamazoo that the competition would be keen from the outset and the winning quartet would really have to sing to win the title.

Motor City Music Company

And sing they did, as the MOTOR CITY MUSIC COMPANY piled up 1,612 points to put a lock on the district championship and take home the trophies. The GREAT LAKES EXPRESS finished 50 points back of the new champs to take second, and the surprising PERSONAL EXPRESSION gave the youth movement a real shot in the arm by taking third place over some very solid competition—including the SOUND EXPRESSION, the DUTCH MASTERS, the PATCH CHORDS, the HARMONY HOUNDS, and the VILLAGE RAMBLERS—all finishing in that order in the top eight.

Members of the MOTOR CITY MUSIC COMPANY included Galen Oliver, lead, Clinton Valley; Bob Demchak, tenor, Grosse Pointe; Dave Caldwell, bari, Wayne; and Bob Wisdom, bass, Detroit #1 Chapter. Winning the novice championship was the MAJOR EVENT from the Oakland County Chapter, even though they finished in ninth position and didn't make the final cut. Other quartets competing included the CADENCE COUNTS, SUBTLE IMPRESSION, SOUND AMBASSADORS, GOLD MEDAL RESEARCH TEAM, A MOMENTS NOTICE, THOSE OTHER GUYS, the BRIGHTLINE EXPRESS, UNION STREET ARRANGEMENT, and the FIRST AND FINAL ATTEMPT, in that order.

In the chorus competition, once again it was Detroit's men in blue dominating the scene, with the MOTOR CITY Chorus under Thom Hine's tutelage outpointing the Wayne WONDERLAND Chorus by some 48 points. Steve Sutherland's troops made a strong bid but still came up short of the mark. The Grand Rapids GREAT LAKES Chorus, after capturing the district crown in the spring, had pointed all its guns toward this contest; but fell short of the prize and had to settle for a third place finish.

There were 17 chapters represented in the contest, and the quality of the singing presentations reached a new high in competitive warfare—a tribute to the district's musical education program.

Grosse Pointe's LAKESHORE Chorus took the fourth spot, followed by Traverse City, only nine points behind. Lansing's sixth place effort was just two points away from the CHERRY CAPITOL'S singers, and Oakland County finished a scant three points behind Lansing. Monroe's FLORAL CITY entry came in eighth, only ten points behind OCC's WOLVERINE Chorus. From there on it was Battle Creek, Saginaw-Bay, Holland, Benton Harbor-St. Joe, Kalamazoo, Jackson, Niles-Buchanan, Cadillac and Flint.

Doran McTaggart elected to District Presidency

Doran McTaggart

At the Pioneer District House of Delegates meeting held in conjunction with the convention, Doran McTaggart of the Windsor Chapter was elected to head the district for 1978. Doran had been serving as executive vice president, so he was no stranger to the membership. Regarded as one of the district's and Society's premier master of ceremonies, Doran had become a familiar name and face on the international circuit, having emceed in three consecutive Society conventions.

John Gillespie became the immediate past president and international board member, and Division II Vice President Dan LaBumbard of Jackson moved up to the executive vice presidency. Thom Hine, Detroit #1's busy musical director, became vice president for Division I, succeeding Clay Jones. Roger Lewis, Battle Creek, joined the administrative team as Division II vice president, succeeding LaBumbard in that position. Francis Jones, Grand Rapids, continued in the office of Division III vice president. Loton Willson, Boyne City's venerable booster, after an absence of some years, returned as the vice president of Division IV, succeeding Warren Marsh of Cadillac.

James Gougeon, who was named to succeed Dick Guerin as Division V vice president when Dick was forced to resign due to illness, was selected to continue as vice president of that division. Jack Schneider, Grand Rapids, district treasurer, and John McClinchey, district secretary, remained in their respective positions for 1978.

¹Other district news in 1977

Harrisville continued in its popularity among the district members, and this year was no exception. The usual line-up of events were carried out with fantastic enthusiasm, and the big weekend wrapped up with the free outdoor contest which was pegged as the "Parade to End All Parades" at the band shell.

When the dust had settled on that show, they had put on 27 registered quartets and choruses, and they all sang like champions. It was voted to continue this gala event over the future Labor Day weekends. There had been some talk about changing the weekend to some other time due to the inclement weather encountered during recent Labor Day weekends.

On a sad note, Carl J. Restivo passed away on September 25, 1977. Known to millions as the former "Singing Chef" on WXYZ-TV in Detroit, Carl was born in Maryland, but had lived in Detroit for more than 30 years. He was a noted vocalist in the area and a longtime member of the Detroit and Grosse Pointe Chapters of the Society. He was the lead singer for the FRANKENMUTH QUARTET and the PROGRESSIVE FOUR quartet, well-known quartets in the Forties.

Detroit #1 Chapter brought in the HAPPINESS EMPORIUM, the PIECES OF EIGHT, and the HARMONY HOUNDS for their annual show on November 6. Thom Hine and the MOTOR CITY Chorus gave another solid performance to back up their headliners, and WJR's program director, Ted Strasser, gave his special touch of class to the show with his "On the Air" format as master of ceremonies. Ted featured a full hour of barbershop harmony on his "Patterns in Music" show on the previous Sunday, and followed that up with an hour of Sweet Adelines' music later.

¹Bush League Champs at Boyne City

CADENCE COUNTS

CADENCE COUNTS quartet from Wayne Mich chapter were Bush League champs. Bass-Jim Swisher, Bari-Clay Jones, Lead, Tom Pollard, Tenor-Jim McLane.
Information and photograph about Cadence Counts provided by Clay Jones, Huron valley 2004.

¹All information in Red color is not part of Bob McDermott's original manuscript

Email: comments or corrections to:

Page Updated