For this month's member biography, we feature our Assistant Director, Lou Vlahos. Lou is a native Pittsburgher and a twenty year member of the Greater Pittsburgh chapter.

Lou was born in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh on March 1,1928 of Greek parents, James and Fotoula Vlahos, who migrated to America in the early 1920's.

Lou attended Pittsburgh public schools; Holmes Elementary and Schenley High School. In a precursor to his singing "career" he sang in the mixed chorus while attending Schenley.

Upon graduating from Schenley High School, he was immediately drafted into the United States Army. While in the Army, Lou served two years in Tokyo, Japan in the legal department of the Kanto Military Government Headquarters.

Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Lou attended and graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh under the G.I. Bill of Rights.

He then worked for four years at the Gulf Oil Corporation as an expeditor in their Purchasing department.

In 1953, he was given the opportunity to work at a new TV station, WNES. In 1957 when Channel 11 (now WPXI) went on the air, Lou was hired in Studio Production. During his 35 years at Channel 11, he worked as a Cameraman, Floor Manager, Studio Supervisor and Producer-Director. During his time at Channel 11, Lou became friends with Bill (Chilly Billy) Cardille. You'll recall that Bill Cardille often refers to Lou as the mayor of Oakland. Lou retired from Channel 11 in 1992.

In 1985, while still working at Channel 11, Lou began questioning Leo Stefano about barbershopping." Leo suggested that Lou attend a rehearsal with him. As a result of attending that first rehearsal, Lou has continued singing and enjoying "barbershopping" for the past twenty years.

In other singing interests, Lou has sung with the Saint Nickolas Greek Orthodox Cathedral church choir for the past sixty years. He has also sung at Carnegie Music Hall in New York City with the National Veterans Chorus.

See Lou Vlahos... continued on page 3