| Golden Memories | SWD International Quartet Champions |
| dentists in Tulsa, Greer worked several professions
(Allied Steel, The Choteha Powder Plant, Photography, Broadcast Radio,
Insurance), Holbrook also worked for the powder plant as well as the City
of Tulsa, and Tom would go on to retire after 44 years at Texaco.
The name, Chord Busters was chosen and they began rehearsing in earnest. They caught the attention of many Tulsa chapter members and were encouraged to enter the upcoming Oklahoma State quartet contest where they could win and win an all expense trip to the national contest held in conjunction with the New York's World Fair. The Chord Busters worked up some songs and entered the state competition. In the contest they had to follow a group of policemen from Oklahoma City called the Flat Foot Four. That group would not only win this contest, but go on to win the 1940 national contest in New York. The "Busters" selected a number by Geoffrey O'Hara entifled A Little Close Harmony for one of their numbers (the intro of which is now the society's opener, The Old Songs). The arrangement and full song is non-barbershop and they were abruptly disqualified from the contest. This would be the only contest in which they would not place first. Soon after the contest they lost tenor Virgil Dow to love (choosing hugs over harmony). It wasn't long after that as members of the Tulsans, Tom, Bob, |
and Bobbie were working as ushers for
a symphony concert at Skelly Stadium. Once the concert got underway, they
ran into tenor Norman Enmeier in the men's room. He had also competed in
a quartet at the state contest but his group broke up soon afterwards.
Having four parts, they began singing.
The sound was exciting and there was a seasoned, natural blend from the very first chord. Not deterred by the symphony goers telling them to quiet down, the Chord Busters were reborn. Tulsa chapter members were also impressed by the new sound and many helped. They were encouraged by Cash, Granger, O.P. Erickson, Puny Blevens, Hank Wright, Bob Chase as well as the Barflies and even the Flat Foot Four. One of the keys to their early success was the input of Wade Hamilton. Wade was the staff musician of radio station KTUL and organist for the Ritz Theater. His talent included being able to arrange for male voices taking advantage of individual qualities and ranges. His arrangement of I'U Take You Home Again, Kathleen was their most requested song. At the time, most quartets didn't use ANY arrangements. They just sang it, feeling for each chord, not necessarily singing it the same way twice. These custom arrangements set the Chord Busters apart early. Wade was also a "slave driver". The quartet |
The final announcement, St. Louis, Mo, 1941. The
Chord Busters are on the first row far right. On the back row
left (with the cowboy hats) are the Rice Brothers,
and the Phillips 66 Barflies
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Contents |
Page |
How It All Began Chapters Chapter Histories International Quartet Champions ChorusesAdministration
Contests and Conventions Registered Quartets Publications RecognitionsIn Conclusion