[editor's note - Many of you may not be aware that our current Barbershop Harmony Society Executive Director/CEO, Ed Watson, is a native Pittsburgher and one time member of the Pittsburgh Chapter. Ed and I have been corresponding by e-mail and I asked him to submit an article for our bulletin. In response, Ed submitted the article which follows. Ed has indicated that he would like to visit the Pittsburgh Chapter on one of his trips to Pittsburgh.]

"Hello to the great foiks in the great city of Pittsburgh. Although I now live in Kenosha, and will soon be moving with the Society to Nashville, I was born and raised in Wilkinsburg, and lived there until 1976 when I joined the Navy. My wife Cathy is also a native of Pittsburgh, and most of our extended families still reside in the area, so we get back there once in a while. I hope to drop in and see you whenever I'm in town. Of course, I'd like it even better if you would meet me in Indianapolis at our International Convention this July. No matter, whenever we meet I hope to sing a tag and maybe catch up on what's new in Pittsburgh.

Way back in 1973, before I joined the United States Navy, but in my first year of marriage, I was living in a small apartment in Plum Boro, and happened to see a poster, in the window of a barbershop, for a guest night at the Pittsburgh East Suburban Chapter of the Society (SPEBSQSA). Well, being a singer myself, and enjoying immensely the movie "The Music Man," and probably being a little bored as I started my married life (out of college, no kids, no social life), I decided to check it out. The evening was memorable, with guest quartets and a great program, and within a few weeks I was hooked. Most of the guys were older than me, but they made a special effort to make me feel like one of them. I found guys who used to work with my Dad, guys who were willing to sing with me, and guys who gave me the time and attention that a new recruit needed to feel welcome. Herb Reardon, Frank Porco, Joe DeFillipo, Lou Sisk (Lou was Director then), Leo Sisk, Hap Hogan, Bill Sommers, and so many more.

We weren't the greatest chorus ever, but we had fun, sang well, formed a bowling league, went to contest, usually in Ohio (often, since I was not the richest guy in the world, I would sleep in someone's room and catch a ride with someone else). We just had one whale of a good time.

I got in a quartet, the name of which I have forgotten, with Jim Elder on bass, Dave McKinnon on tenor and Leo Iannacchione singing a mean baritone. Little did I know that one of Leo's rug-rats, Steve, would some day win International with Jokers Wild. He must have listened to us very well!

We had an afterglow after every rehearsal at Joe and Jennie's Tavern on Rodi Road. Joe was gone by then, but Jennie would often come into the side room, away from the bar, and listen to us sing. That singing, pizza, beer and fellowship is still dear to me today, and that was 30+ years ago. Then, at about 2 AM or so, Jennie would shoo us out into the parking lot where Lou would regale us with stories of international contests (where he shot the films), and what ever else was important in our hobby that week. Leo, a past international champ with the Town and Country Four, would lament to Lou about not being able to find another foursome like his old champs. And we'd sing a tag, or three. As I look back on those days now, I see that I was very fortunate to be around guys like those guys. What a start!

As I said, in 1976 I joined the Navy as an Aviation Officer Candidate, and after 30 years flying the F-14 Tomcat and being stationed all over the country, while still remaining and active barbershopper, I finally retired last September and was looking to settle down back in the Pittsburgh area. As fate would have it, I heard about this position and applied (twice). So instead of being retired in Pittsburgh, I'm now Executive Director/CEO of this great hobby, living in Kenosha, and getting set to take it to Nashville in 2007. Not bad for a Pittsburgh boy, eh?

I guess JAD is a great place for barbershop, since Darryl Flinn [previous Executive Director/CEO] also hails from that district. Next time I'll tell you about his quartet, The Limelighters." Anyway, thanks for your time and I hope to see you soon.

Since Ed mentioned them in his article, here is a 1958 photo of the Town & Country Four.