Golden Memories SWD Chapters
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Louisiana Showboat Chorus |
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| In the 1980's, for whatever reasons prevailed, the Baton Rouge Chapter, SPEBSQSA, folded. For the next few years there was no organized barbershop singing here. Some members transferred to New Orleans, some to Lafayette, etc., others just did without singing. In 1991 some former members started talking - "lefs get together again"! Ron Seher, Dave Gleason (deceased), Mitch Overmiller, Mitch Reeves, Paul Melancon, Ed and Joel Bourgeois and Weldon Averette started to make plans for a new group. Paul Melancon would direct and Ron Seher acted as chairman. They drew up guidelines to operate by. They wanted to attract good singers. Everybody had to audition in order to be accepted. With a small notice in the Baton Rouge newspaper, they started collecting members. By 1994 there was talk about joining SPEBSQSA once more. We got our license in October 1994 and chartered in early 1995 with Mitch Reeves. | The chorus was invited to test the mikes in Lafayette last summer at the division contest. The judges agreed to score us, off the record, and we did well. This helped to raise our interest level and helped to get our license. We already had a fine quartet - High Cotton. They were Division champs in '93 and '94. A second quartet has just registered as Best Bet with Mitch Overmiller (T), Don Grush (L), Bill Rozzelle (br) and Jim Musso (Bs). We're proud to also claim Ed Bourgeois as a certitied judge. We were asked to be part of several Sweet Adeline shows. Our Louisiana Showboat Chorus has done the Star Spangled Banner several times before Louisiana State University (LSU) games. Veteran fans at LSU say we have done the greatest job ever before the games. Our latest was a standing ovation lasting several minutes. We have sung for churches, civic groups and other LSU groups. We are growing steadily in number (27 in the fall of '94) and rapidly in quality!! |
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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