| Year | Contest City | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
| 1998 | Atlanta | Revival (FWD) | Michigan Jake (CAR) | BSQ (M-AD) | FRED (DIX) | Bank Street (RMD) |
| 1997 | Indianapolis | Yesteryear (JAD) | FRED (DIX) | Standing Room Only (FWD) | Bank Street (SWD) | BSQ (MAD) |
| 1996 | Salt Lake City | Nightlife (FWD) | Yesteryear (JAD) | Standing Room Only (FWD) | FRED (DIX) | BSQ (MAD) |
| 1995 | Miami Beach | Marquis (JAD) | Yesteryear (JAD) | Nightlife (FWD) | Standing Room Only (FWD) | Backbeat (SUN) |
| 1994 | Pittsburgh | Joker's Wild (JAD) | Nightlife (FWD) | Yesteryear (JAD) | Marquis (JAD) | Standing Room Only (FWD) |
| 1993 | Calgary | Gas House Gang (CSD) | Joker's Wild (JAD) | The Naturals (JAD) | Nightlife (FWD) | Special Feature (FWD) |
| 1992 | New Orleans | Keepsake (SUN) | Gas House Gang (CSD) | The Naturals (JAD) | 139th St. Quartet (FWD) | Joker's Wild (JAD) |
| 1991 | Louisville | The Ritz (JAD) | Keepsake (SUN) | Gas House Gang (CSD) | The Naturals (JAD) | 139th St. Quartet (FWD) |
| 1990 | San Francisco | Acoustix (SWD) | 139th St. Quartet (FWD) | The Naturals (JAD) | The Ritz (JAD) | Bank Street (RMD) |
| 1989 | Kansas City | Second Edition (CAR) | Bank Street (RMD) | 139th St. Quartet (FWD) | Sidekicks (SUN) | Chordiac Arrest (ILL) |
| 1988 | San Antonio | Chiefs of Staff (ILL) | Second Edition (CAR) | Chicago Chord of Trade (ILL) | Bank Street (RMD) | Chordiac Arrest (ILL) |
| 1987 | Hartford | Interstate Rivals (CAR) | Second Edition (CAR) | Chiefs of Staff (ILL) | 139th St. Quartet (FWD) | Chicago Chord of Trade (ILL) |
| 1986 | Salt Lake City | Rural Route 4 (CSD) | Interstate Rivals (CAR) | Vaudeville (MAD) | Cincinnati Kids (JAD) | Chiefs of Staff (ILL) |
| 1985 | Minneapolis | New Tradition (FWD) | Vaudeville (MAD) | Interstate Rivals (CAR) | Harrington Brothers (CAR) | Rural Route 4 (CSD) |
| 1984 | St.Louis | Rapscallions (JAD) | Center Stage (PIO) | Vaudeville (MAD) | Harrington Brothers (CAR) | Cincinnati Kids (JAD) |
| 1983 | Seattle | Side Street Ramblers (SWD) | Center Stage (PIO) | Vaudeville (MAD) | Grand Tradition (FWD) | Roaring 20's (JAD) |
| 1982 | Pittsburgh | Classic Collection (RMD) | Center Stage (PIO) | Side Street Ramblers (SWD) | Grand Tradition (FWD) | Vaudeville (MAD) |
| 1981 | Detroit | Chicago News (ILL) | Classic Collection (RMD) | Side Street Ramblers (SWD) | Center Stage (PIO) | Roaring 20's (JAD) |
| 1980 | Salt Lake City | Boston Common (NED) | Chicago News (ILL) | Roaring 20's (JAD) | Grand Tradition (FWD) | Classic Collection (RMD) |
| 1979 | Minneapolis | Grandma's Boys (ILL) | Boston Common (NED) | B & O Connection (MAD) | Roaring 20's (JAD) | 139th St. Quartet (FWD) |
| 1978 | Cincinnati | Bluegrass Student Union (CAR) | Grandma's Boys (ILL) | Boston Common (NED) | Roaring 20's (JAD) | Nova Chords (MAD) |
| 1977 | Philadelphia | Most Happy Fellows (EVG) | 139th St. Quartet (FWD) | Vagabonds (PIO) | Boston Common (NED) | Roaring 20's (JAD) |
| 1976 | San Francisco | Innsiders (SWD) | Vagabonds (PIO) | Nova Chords (MAD) | Bluegrass Student Union (CAR) | Roaring 20's (JAD) |
| 1975 | Indianapolis | Happiness Emporium (LOL) | Innsiders (SWD) | Grandma's Boys (ILL) | Boston Common (NED) | Vagabonds (PIO) |
| 1974 | Kansas City | Regents (MAD) | Pacificaires (FWD) | Boston Common (NED) | Innsiders (SWD) | Soundtracks (ILL) |
| 1973 | Portland | Dealer's Choice (SWD) | Pacificaires (FWD) | Regents (MAD) | Boston Common (NED) | Far Westerners (FWD) |
| 1972 | Atlanta | Golden Staters (FWD) | Pacificaires (FWD) | Regents (MAD) | Far Westerners (FWD) | Boston Common (NED) |
| 1971 | New Orleans | Gentlemens Agreement (PIO) | Sundowners (ILL) | Golden Staters (FWD) | Pacificaires (FWD) | Far Westerners (FWD) |
| 1970 | Atlantic City | Oriole Four (MAD) | Sundowners (ILL) | Pacificaires (FWD) | Gentlemens Agreement (PIO) | Easternaires (MAD) |
| 1969 | St.Louis | Mark IV (SWD) | Golden Staters (FWD) | Sundowners (ILL) | Oriole Four (MAD) | Avant Garde (ILL) |
| 1968 | Cincinnati | Western Continentals (FWD) | Mark IV (SWD) | Golden Staters (FWD) | Sundowners (ILL) | Avant Garde (ILL) |
| 1967 | Los Angeles | Four Statesmen (NED) | Western Continentals (FWD) | Mark IV (SWD) | Sundowners (ILL) | Golden Staters (FWD) |
| 1966 | Chicago | AutoTowners (PIO) | Four Rascals (NED) | Four Statesmen (NED) | Golden Staters (FWD) | Sundowners (ILL) |
| 1965 | Boston | Four Renegades (ILL) | Four Rascals (NED) | Imposters (ILL) | AutoTowners (PIO) | Four Statesmen (NED) |
| 1964 | San Antonio | Sidewinders (FWD) | Four Renegades (ILL) | Nighthawks (ONT) | Four Rascals (NED) | Imposters (ILL) |
| 1963 | Toronto | Town & Country Four (JAD) | Nighthawks (ONT) | Sidewinders (FWD) | Four Renegades (ILL) | Four Rascals (NED) |
| 1962 | Kansas City | Gala Lads (FWD) | Town & Country Four (JAD) | Four Renegades (ILL) | Nighthawks (ONT) | Sidewinders (FWD) |
| 1961 | Philadephia | Suntones (SUN) | Town & Country Four (JAD) | Nighthawks (ONT) | Baytown Four (FWD) | Saints (FWD) |
| 1960 | Dallas | Evans Quartet (FWD) | Town & Country Four (JAD) | Colonials (JAD) | Baytown Four (FWD) | Saints (FWD) |
| 1959 | Chicago | Four Pitchikers (CSD) | Evans Quartet (FWD) | Town & Country Four (JAD) | Easternaires (MAD) | Short Cuts (SUN) |
| 1958 | Columbus | Gaynotes (SWD) | Four Pitchikers (CSD) | Hometown Quartet (MAD) | West Coasters (FWD) | Evans Quartet (FWD) |
| 1957 | Los Angeles | Lads of Enchantment (SWD) | West Coasters (FWD) | Gaynotes (SWD) | Four Pitchikers (CSD) | Playtonics (MAD) |
| 1956 | Minneapolis | Confederates (DIX) | Playtonics (MAD) | Lads of Enchantment (SWD) | Four Pitchikers (CSD) | Easternaires (MAD) |
| 1955 | Miami | Four Hearsemen (SWD) | Confederates (DIX) | Four-Tissimos (ILL) | Air Fours (ILL) | Toronto Rhythmaires (ONT) |
| 1954 | Washington, DC | Orphans (CSD) | Four Hearsemen (SWD) | Toronto Rhythmaires (ONT) | Lytle Bros. (JAD) | Statesmen (FWD) |
| 1953 | Detroit | Vikings (ILL) | Four Chorders (ONT) | Sing-Copates (LOL) | Antlers (DIX) | Statesmen (FWD) |
| 1952 | Kansas City | Four Teens (CSD) | Vikings (ILL) | Four Chorders (ONT) | San Diego Serenaders (FWD) | Keystone Quads (JAD) |
| 1951 | Toledo | Schmitt Bros. (LOL) | Keystone Quads (JAD) | Clef Dwellers (MICH) | Four Chorders (ONT) | Antlers (DIX) |
| 1950 | Omaha | Buffalo Bills (CENT/W NY) | Clef Dwellers (MICH) | Antlers (MICH) | Four Chorders (ONT) | Note Blenders (MICH) |
| 1949 | Buffalo | Mid-States Four (ILL) | Clef Dwellers (MICH) | Antlers (MICH) | Songmasters (MICH) | Varsity Four (IND-KY) |
| 1948 | Oklahoma City | Pittsburghers (JAD) | Mid-States Four (ILL) | Clef Dwellers (MICH) | Westinghouse Quartet (JAD) | 4 Shades of Harmony (IND-KY) |
| 1947 | Milwaukee | Doctors of Harmony (IND-KY) | Lions Club Serenaders (CSD) | Mid-States Four (ILL) | Chordoliers (ILL) | Westinghouse Quartet (JAD) |
| 1946 | Cleveland | Garden State Quartet (MAD) | KC Serenaders (CSD) | Doctors of Harmony (IND-KY) | Chordoliers (ILL) | Hi-Los (LOL) |
| 1945 | Detroit | Misfits (ILL) | Westinghouse Quartet (JAD) | Continentals (MICH) | Lamplighters (JAD) | Doctors of Harmony (IND-KY) |
| 1944 | Detroit | Harmony Halls (MICH) | Misfits (ILL) | Westinghouse Quartet (JAD) | Gipps-Amberlin Four (ILL) | Garden State Quartet (MAD) |
| 1943 | Chicago | Four Harmonizers | KC Barber Polecats | Mainstreeters | Aristocrats | Harmony Halls |
| 1942 | Grand Rapids | Elastic Four | KC Barber Polecats | Philips 66 Barflies | Harmony Kings | Misfits |
| 1941 | St. Louiis | Chord Busters | KC Barber Polecats | Philips 66 Barflies | Harmony Kings | Capitol City Four |
| 1940 | New York City | Flat Foot Four | Bartlesville Barflies | Four Barbers | KC Police Quartet | NY Police Quartet |
| 1939 | Tulsa | Bartlesville Barflies | Capitol City Four | Shell Quartet | Flat Foot Four | Topeka's State Journal Qt. |