| Golden Memories | SWD International Quartet Champions |
| and cut their oflly recording. They sang very
well but the material being used was a "soft plastic" (shellac was a war
casualty) therefore they only got to record each song with one take and
with no playback. They finished in time for Bob to make his one o'clock
train for the west coast. The studio results were acceptable, however,
and the entire project (three 78 rpms) was produced for about $1,500. They
sold them for $6.75 (including postage). They joke that the three record
set is worth almost that much today.
Bobbie returned home within the year and the Chord Busters continued with replacements such as Bob McCullough Sr. and Delbert Jackson. The official end came in 1957 when Tom was transferred to Houston. Greer suffered a stoke in 1973 at 60. It paralyzed his left side and affected his speech. Although his speech recovered well, he never was the same. They also lost track of Holbrook. Out of the blue, Holbrook resurfaced in 1982 and suggested a reunion. The original four were invited to sing the weekend of the November 6th Tulsa annual show and reunited after 36 years. The local press covered the event. They first met at a "headquarters hotel" and began singing (rehearsing) for the agreed afterglow appearance. They also gathered for a special dinner with family and friends and some VIP's like George McCaslin, John Loots, Mrs. Corrinne Cash and daughter Betty Anne. The day of the show, they met again and prepared for their much anticipated appearance. Tom laughingly remembers: "Once in a while we would hit a chord in balance with good blend, but thirty-six years took its toll on our memories, however, we enjoyed our singing together IMMENSELY." They sang their last song together on the afterglow and received a heartfelt standing ovation. Afterwards, they returned to hotel - sang some more - and sometime after 3am, retired to their separate rooms. Just six months later, on May 25, 1983, news came that Bob Holbrook had died of cancer at the age of 68 in Las Vegas. If he had known of his illness, he hadn't told anyone. |
The Chord Busters in their dapper outfits, 1941
With Delbert Jackson gone (May 28, 1982) at the age of 66, and Bob Mccullough
passing on February 17, 1983 at 69, death had claimed three of the six
Chord Busters all within a years time. Bobbie Greer was lost October 28,
1985 at 72 and Doc Enmeler passed away on December 29, 1993 at the age
of 9l.
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How It All Began Chapters Chapter Histories International Quartet Champions Choruses Administration
Contests and Conventions Registered Quartets Publications Recognitions In Conclusion