4th of July Tribute to our Armed Forces

As a retired Air Force member, I think this is a moving tribute to the Air Force for the upcoming 4th of July. I know the intro to the tribute says armed forces, but there sure are a lot of airplanes in the pictures. So... for a more inclusive tribute to all service members from the beginning of our country to present day, see below.

Un-Named Quartet Sings at "A Night of Music"

The Un-Named Quartet, composed of Paul, Bob, Dan and Gene performed at Chillicothe's Tabernacle Baptist Church this evening. We sang When There's Love at Home and I Believe. Then Dan's wife made us sing Oh, How I Miss Her. This audience laughed at it. We'll have to see if they ever invite us back!

Chorus Sings National Anthem at Paints Game

On Thursday evening, June 18, members of the chorus sang the National Anthem at the Paints Game. Before the game we sang a few songs (Polecats) for guests of Rathkamp Financial, who generously paid our way into the game and provided us a picnic dinner. Here we are, waiting to sing. Left to right. Mark Hatfield, Paul Hixon, Len Sabatini, Mark Poyet, Bob Cook, and Gene Hoyet.

VLQ Performance in Chillicothe, June 16, 2009

The chorus quartet with no name (Paul, Dan, Gene and Bob), along with Chester Collins, performed for the Chillicothe Evening Lions Club's installation banquet on Tuesday evening, June 16, 2009. The VLQ sang selected Polecats for about a half an hour, with the NONAME Quartet singing Shenandoah and Kentucky Babe. I think the general consensus of the VLQ was that we did OK! Along with the songs, we provided a little history/background on Barbershop singing and made a pitch for anyone who likes to sing to join the chorus. We left a few of the "You Can Sing Too" brochures for anyone who might be interested.

Our next performance will be at the Paints game on Thursday, June 18, 2009. The highlight of that performance will be singing the National Anthem for the start of the game!

Apple Corps

Here's a picture of me and Gene Hoyet finishing breakfast at Apple Corps. I'd have to say the food was as good as the singing and instruction. What a great experience!


There were so many great things happening, it was difficult to choose which to attend. But I chose "How to be a Better Bass", with the class conducted by Realtime's bass, Jim Metzger. What a great person, who just happens to have a fantastic voice. Here he is in front of the class passing on great information.

Jim also has a web site/blog that has a tremendous amount of information related to quartet singing and performing. It's called "Owning the Stage". I've just started to look at it. I think it will be a big help in improving my singing and performing.


Apple Corps is held at Kenyon College. A beautiful campus located in Gambier, Ohio.

What I Saw (and ate) at the Drexel Theater

I went to see American Harmony last night at the Drexel Theater in Bexley. I knew it would be a good night when I saw the Drexel Radio Cafe next door. When I discovered they served crème brûlée cheese cake..... Oh, What a Night! I had a piece and was ready to watch the movie. They even had a senior's price. What a deal! There weren't very many people in the theater; 30 at most. And most of us had gray hair. There was a row of young folks in front of me, however. So there may be hope for the Society yet.

The movie started with a little historical footage showing the origins of the Society for Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA). And as the promo for the movie says:

It follows the lives of some of the biggest names to emerge from international competition in the Society’s history, as well as interviews with rank-and-file members, called “Joe Barbershoppers.” The film features four prominent Society quartets – OC Times, Max Q, Vocal Spectrum, and Reveille – over a span of years, on stage and at home, in their personal quests for international recognition as they experience the thrill of victory, and the agony of not quite making it.

So, my assessment is that the quartet I'm part of has a bit of practicing to do if we even want to hold the water bottles for any of the top 50 Society quartets. It was a great movie. Go see it!

Our First Attempt at Video, Down Our Way

We had only 4 guys at "chorus" practice last night, luckily we had the right voices for a quartet, thanks to Mark's willingness (and ability) to sing Tenor. We had fun. This is our first attempt at video recording something. We used a little old used camera and it shows. We were not even sure we had sound, and we barely do. But it's a start!. The quartet: left to right, Mark Hatfield (Tenor), Paul Hixon (Lead), Bob Cook (Bass), Gene Hoyet (Baritone)

American Harmony, The Movie, Starts Fri, June 5

American Harmony starts Friday, June 5, at the Drexel Theater. 2254 E. Main St., Bexley, OH 43209 - (614) 231-1050 Here is a map to get to Bexlely from I 270 in Columbus.

Here are the show times from the Drexel web site. The Dierctor is Aengus James

Fri 06/05: 1:45, 5:20, 7:30, 9:35
Sat 06/06: 1:45, 4:15, 7:30, 9:35
Sun 06/07: 1:45, 4:15, 7:30, 9:35
Mon 06/08: 5:20, 7:30
Tue 06/09: 5:20, 7:30
Wed 06/10: 1:45, 5:20, 7:30
Thu 06/11: 5:20, 7:30, 9:35

From the Drexel web site, here is what they say about the movie:

Every year thousands compete in the world’s greatest singing competition… that you’ve never heard of. AMERICAN HARMONY journeys deep into the ultra-obsessive, zany, and heartfelt world of competitive barbershop singing, where passion is equaled only by raw talent, and the reward is not fame or fortune, but simply victory. The film focuses on 4 quartets vying to win the International Championships of Barbershop Singing, in what turns out to be the closest and most controversial victory in its 70 year history. Max Q is the heavy favorite – a superstar quartet comprised of former Champions. Looking to upset them is OC Times (The Heartthrobs), Vocal Spectrum (The Rookies) and Reveille, an aging foursome that has been singing together for 30 years. In total fifty quartets duke it out for the coveted gold medal, while facing the pressures of quartet life – from big egos to brain cancer and everything in between. To win, it’s not enough to have one “Idol,” a quartet must have perfect harmony.

Thursday Night, May 28 Practice

We were visited by a student from Ohio University in Athens. Unfortunately, I didn't get her name. (if she reads this, please send me your name). She was representing Southeast Ohio Magazine, the only student-run regional magazine (per the web site). She collected some information about the chorus and made a short video of both the chorus singing, and then a quartet singing. It will be interesting to see the results of her work. I'll post any information/feedback she provides on this blog.



Practice went well, with 8 guys in attendance.
Here's a couple of the guys getting ready to sing. Looks like Dan is ready. Gene is almost ready, and Mark Poyet (the guy in the middle) has, as usual, lost his music.


It was Mark Hatfield's Birthday(atually Friday, May 29). Since he is the youngster of the Chorus we thought we'd get an appropriately decorated cake! Happy 30th Birthday, Mark!