We formed to create the wonderful sounds that we loved hearing when we sang tags. All four of us have roots in music performance somehow. Mike and Scott are both music educators, Reggie is studying Music, and Chris is a Broadcast Production graduate, but has his minor in voice performance. In addition, we all have a strong love for music and the harmony created when singing the barbershop style.
We have worked with many people including: Gene Cockeroft, Harold Nantz, and David Byrd, but our main coach this year has been Tony DeRosa, famed baritone of Keepsake , and current International Champ Gold Medalist with the Sunshine's very own Platinum. Through diligent work, and some major butt-kicking by Tony, we put our best performance on the contest stage, and in the end won some California Gold. Thanks to each and everyone who helped by coaching us. We can never repay in kind what each of you gave us. You will all be eternally special to us. Thank-you!
Anaheim was particularly sweet after a year of struggles and hard work. The previous year in Atlanta, we competed with the then returning silver-medalists, Prime Cut, who became 1998 CBQC Champs. After Atlanta we agreed to try to stay together, despite the fact that Chris would be graduating and most certainly moving elsewhere. Practice became rather difficult, but we held together, and worked hard.
All the while, the Sunshine District continued supporting us. People cheered us on, gave us wonderful compliments, and spoke encouragement and words of wisdom. Through shows, benefit concert by the Cape Canaveral and Melbourne chapters (thanks so much guys), and many generous gifts, we were able to raise the money to completely pay for our trip. We couldn't have won the Gold without each and every person who was generous enough to contribute. Thanks everyone!
While distance has seperated the quartet so that we cannot sing off the CBQC trophy, we hope that we have left a lasting mark on the Barbershop Harmony Society through our work with Harmony Explosion and Youth all throughout Florida.
At the time we were desperately searching for a name that would fit us. I happened to look on the subway wall and behold... the words Subway "Station 59" caught my eye. Yes, the place of the quartet's conception also provided us with a name for ourselves.
Station 59's involvement with Harmony Explosion began at the very beginning of the quartet's conception. Our first was with the Miamians, a great chapter of men with a vision to promote music in young men. I must say that the Harmony Explosion is one of the most exciting and rewarding programs in which I have been involved. There is something about seeing the passion of young men who want to sing... and sing well. It was a pleasure to have young men get excited when we started singing for them. They heard the sounds and wanted to make them too. Upon our return many of the guys at the first camp had returned with their own quartet and wanted to share what they now had.
We saw the same results over and over; in Miami, in Tampa, and in Orlando. Talk about joy. You want to see Barbershop grow? This is an exciting way to do it that will enrich those young men. And I promise you will feel your reward when those guys get on stage and sing their hearts out! Station 59 would like to thank the Miami and Tampa chapters for allowing us to share in those experiences!
That prelim was our motivation, and the phrase became a reminder of the time and commentment we'd spent. We began saying the phrase to each other as a reminder to stay focused, work hard, and (most of all) to take care of ourselves and our voices. It was a reminder of our ultimate goal, one we knew was possible to achieve with discipline, hard work, and a little (LOT!) of help from coaching.
During the week of contest in Anaheim, we were aware that our time together was ending. It is the sad reality of the college quartet contest, young men growing up and moving away to new adventures in each their lives. But what most people don't know is that Chris had to catch a 9pm Saturday flight out of LAX to make it back in time for his 8am Sunday morning shift at an Orlando TV station. So when Station 59 took the stage before Saturday night finals, we knew there was no afterglow for us. We knew there was no more tag singing as a quartet. We knew "this" moment was our last together. It was our swan song. It was also our most memorable moment on stage together, that moment when life moves in slow motion and everything falls perfectly together. Those were the final chords that Station 59 would ever lock and ring together as a quartet.
While our time together was much too short, the music was sweet, the memories were priceless, and the pleasure was all ours. How could we have known when we started, we would be the first college quartet to bring gold to the Sunshine District? How could we have known the number of young men that we would influence through harmony explosion, some which would later follow our path through the collegiate contest? How could we have know we were making memories for a lifetime?
Station 59 wants to thank everyone who supported us during our time together. We felt your love and support! Sunshine, this Gold is for YOU! The honor was all ours.