Golden Memories SWD Chapters
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The Vocal Majority by Mark Lampe |
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The Vocal Majority, 1973 - Ray Anthony, Director
| Back in the early '70's, after a discussion of merging
the Big D and Town North chapters into one chorus was defeated by chapter
vote, a group of barbershoppers in and around the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex
decided to form a chapter for the sole purpose of winning barbershop competitions.
Spear-headed by founder, first president, and former marketing director
Bob Arnold, and under the watchful eye of Society representative Lloyd
Steinkamp, twelve men gathered on the cold night of December 2, 1971. Several
others who attended the first meeting were Bill Thornton, Al Kvanli, Charlie
White, Charlie Lyman, and Jim Clancy. The sounds of the new group were
very promising despite the small size. They petitioned to charter May of
1972, and thus thejourney began.
They called themselves "The Vocal Majority" and chose their approach to this hobby to be one of serious intensity. The real story of the VM is not only their meteoric rise to success, but the Herculean effort it takes to stay at the top. It was Charlie White who developed the original audition process in February of 1972 which tested for basic musical and harmony skills, and although slightly modified, is basically still the same audition process used today. Charlie was also asked to be the interim director of the chorus. In April of 1972, Ray Anthony agreed to be the chorus' official director. Having already directed four |
district chorus championships and having lead the San Antonio
Chordsmen to their International Chorus Championship in 1960, Ray was eminenfly
qualified to lead this determined group of singers. Songs that were synonymous
with the early VM were, It's A Blue World, If I Ruled The World, Didn't
We, and contest numbers, At The Jazz Band Ball, I Wish I Had A Girl, LcLughing
On The Outside, Crying On The Inside, Who'll Take My Place (When I'm Gone?,
and one number that's been in the active chorus repertoire since the very
first meeting. .
The Lord's Prayer. Excellent quartetting led to a better chorus. The VM was fortunate enough to have as its first section leaders the newly crowned International Champion Quartet, The Dealer's Choice". They were responsible for the initial sound of the VM, which they brought back with them from Harmony College in 1972. Their story appears elsewhere in this book but suffice it to say that their efforts have been deeply appreciated. Another great quartet, "The Side Street Ramblers" International Champion Quartet (1983) also gave tirelessly of their time in the VM's quest for excellence. Current section leaders, 1990 gold medalists Acoustix, along with Greg Clancy, are continuously trying help the VM reach a new plateau and have been intimately involved in the endless task of perfecting the craft and technique of the chorus. |
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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