Golden Memories SWD Chapters
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LAWTON, OK
Southwest Pride by Troy Hamilton |
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The Lawtonaires - Larry Campbell, Director
| The phrase "Things are better the second time around" is
true for the Lawton, Oklahoma Barbershop Chorus. In 1952, the chorus was
first organized. However, this group's time was to be short-lived. They
unhappily disbanded in 1956.
In the spring of 1964, Bob Booth got together a group of men to restart a local barbershop chorus. Singers from Lawton and Fort Sill (the local army base) were encouraged to attend. Meetings were scheduled on Mondays at the USO Building in downtown Lawton. Under the direction of Bill Crow, the chorus elected officers and kept rehearsing. They received their license and put on a License Chapter Night -Parade of Quartets performance on November 21, 1964. This first performance featured the new chorus and included such quartets as the "Escorts" and "Doo-Dads". Our first slate of officers (1964) was: President - Bob Booth Vice Pres. - Orvis Rigsby Vice Pres.- Andy Anderson Secretary - Monroe Wortham Treasurer - O.E. VanMeter The Charter Night show was held on May 29, |
1965. It included the Lawtonaires Chorus with a new
director - Jim Bagby. Guest quartets included the 3rd place Southwestern
District "Soonairs" and the 1958 International champions "Gay Notes". This
performance also included the chorus' first quartet, the "Galavants".
In the late 1960's the Lawton Chorus made a special effort to recruit young singers. By 1972, there was a teenage chorus of about 20 young men. From this "sub-chorus", about 10 eventuallyjoined the Lawtonaires. There was even a quartet of young singers "The Noise Boys" who advanced as far as 4th place in the SWD contest of 1974. In June 1973 the Duncan, Oklahoma Chapter was chartered. (They were sponsored by the OK City Chapter) Mter 10 years (1983) they merged with the Lawton Chapter. Since then the Chapter has done two performances of their annual show - one night in Duncan and one in Lawton. The chorus presents an annual Parade of Harmony in the Spring - usually the first weekend of March. In 1980 the format of the annual show began to change from a concert style to more of a "musical" show format. For the 1980 show the chorus presented a melodrama entitled "How the Barbershop was Saved: or the "Downfall of Dudley |
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Contents |
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How It All Began Chapters Chapter Histories International Quartet Champions ChorusesAdministration
Contests and Conventions Registered Quartets Publications Recognitions In Conclusion