everyone, perhaps even themselves, and placed 3rd in the contest, a rarity for a first appearance. It was here they sang one of their favorite and most popular songs, Bye, Bye, Blues. Once used by Tulsa's Chord Busters in the 1941 competition, the Gaynotes carried on the tradition.

Tenor Harold Jones (32) was a sales engineer for Arduser & Company, an oil field refinery equipment firm. He also was active with the chorus as a board member. Lead Howard Rinkel (31) was the owner of Business Employment Service and also a Tulsa chapter board member. Bari John Loots (37) (pronounced "L-Oats") was an insurance agent for Massachusetts Mutual Life. John was a past president and current treasurer for the chapter. Bass Mo Rector (24) worked as a design draftsman for Born Engineering Company. He was also the music director for the Founder's Chorus.

The Gaynotes qualified for the 1958 Int'l and began to prepare for the Columbus contest in earnest. Practice played a major role. Although they had been performing once or twice a week over the last few years, the four months prior to the contest, they met almost every night. Their wives became their biggest critics and fans. They also had help from Nancy Bergman, a Sweet Adeline champion, top arranger and coach. They spent time analyzing the story of the song and learning how to sell it visually and vocally. They also used a tape recorder to find minor problems.

Society field representative Floyd Connett came through Tulsa and spent some time coaching the quartet. In an attempt to get Rinkel to create a fuller sound" he had the quartet stand a full six feet apart in a curved line. They rehearsed that way for four weeks and after moving back together but remaining in a half circle, they gained a fuller sound and more confidence. They had a new sound and a new stance - a stance that became a