From The Vault:

Volume 5 Number 1 – Winter 2025

A NOTE FROM YOUR DISTRICT HISTORIAN

Greetings friends of the Illinois District!

I hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday season with friends and family. Welcome to 2025 and the beginning of year number five for “From the Vault.” As I continue to dig into the archives, I am amazed at how much information we have and very grateful that this history has been preserved. And the collection continues to grow! It seems like I go home from every convention with more than I came with thanks to donations from individuals and chapters. I appreciate those donations and welcome them. (It also gives me something to tinker with during the summer months when I’m off from school!)

For this issue, we honor the great Gene McNish, recently named as this year’s QCA’s Music Man. We also congratulate the Common Ground quartet on their recent milestone anniversary of winning the district and celebrate the longevity of one of central Illinois’ most popular foursomes. We travel back to the 1960s to hear a rare recording of the Keytonics and learn about a special song that was arranged exclusively for Illinois barbershoppers. Finally, we spotlight a Chicagoland music educator who brought the joy of barbershopping to his students back in the 1970s. It’s another trip down memory lane that I hope you enjoy.

Rich Hansen

ILL Dist. Historian

Gene McNish

Barbershop Educator

(Taken from the QCA Archives)

There are few individuals who have contributed more to the Illinois District as well as Society than Gene McNish. A beloved barbershopper from central Illinois, Gene spent his life as a music educator and influenced thousands of barbershoppers over his 35 year association with the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Gene’s story starts in Springfield, IL where he was born on April 24, 1929. He attended Springfield High School and later served in the Korean War in the Corps of Engineers. Upon his return home, Gene got married and finished his education at Illinois Wesleyan and at the University of Illinois, receiving degrees in music education.

Music was in Gene’s blood. In his professional life, he served as an Elementary Supervisor for the Champaign, IL school district, taught music at Champaign Central High School, and was a music consultant for the Illinois State Board of Education until 1993. He directed church choirs, music festivals, taught private piano lessons, and judged school contests.

As a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, Gene directed the Champaign-Urbana Chapter in the 1960s (known back then as the Prairie Statesmen) as well as the Springfield Chapter in the early 2000s. In addition, he directed the Champaign Sweet Adelines Chorus. Gene sang with the 1962 International Quarter Finalist Quartet, The Notations as well as with other members of the Scholastics quartet in a group known as the Fine Ol’ Four (later known as the Good Times Harmony Four and the Funtones – 1989 District Seniors Quartet Champs).

Gene served the district as Area Counselor, as well as Division & Executive VP before becoming District President for 1993-94. He was named the 1995 Central Division Barbershopper of the Year and was also an “ABE” Award recipient. Today, the award presented to the small chorus champion at each convention bears his name.

Gene’s contribution to the Society extended beyond that of the district. He served as a certified judge in the Harmony Accuracy Category and organized Harmony Education Program (HEP) schools in the 1960s, traveling around the country as a member of the faculty. He was even featured in the Harmonizer magazine for one such school during the summer of 1965.

Gene passed away on March 21, 2002. His contributions to the Illinois District and Society are still being felt today in the lives of those he touched through his musical knowledge and skills. For his efforts, McNish was posthumously honored at the 2024 fall district convention, being named the recipient of the QCA’s Music Man Award.

The Notations, early 1960s

The Notations

Gene McNish, director of the Champaign-Urbana "Prairie Statesmen" Chorus, 1965

Gene joins members of the Scholastics as the "Fine Ol' Four"

Gene imparts his barbershop knowledge at one of the many IDAH sessions in the 1990s

Gene as director of the Springfield "Land of Lincoln" Chorus, 2001

QCA Spotlight

COMMON GROUND (1994)

(Adapted from an article written by Historical Committee member & Common Ground member, Tom Kentish)

Common Ground was formed shortly after the 1993 Calgary International where original lead George Harper had competed with bass Tom Kentish in a quartet called Backstage Pass. At the time, Tom and George lived three minutes away from each other in Crown Point, Indiana having won the Cardinal District in 1992 and qualified for New Orleans in 1992 but the quartet disbanded after Calgary.

Tenor Gregg Peters had finished a long and successful run with his quartet, placing in the Top-20 with the 1989 ILL District Champs Debut and baritone Jim Larson also making the semi-finals with Simply Grand from the Land O’ Lakes District.

Upon their first attempt, the quartet won the Illinois District championship in the fall of 1994 in Peoria. However, just a couple of months later, lead George Harper decided to leave the quartet for a combination of professional and personal reasons after doing several chapter shows in Illinois and one in the Cardinal District that fall.

It wasn’t long before the guys had found themselves a new lead. Jeff Lathom was singing with Reunited (with Dave Boo, Mark Keever and Rick Anthony) and he sang his first show with Common Ground at the annual harmony school IDAH (Illinois District Academy of Harmony). Jeff amazingly crammed and mastered about 12 songs in 3 weeks and nailed the show in front of a tough district audience to multiple standing ovations – the quartet knew they had something special!

Tom recalls Common Ground’s first show with Jeff was the Fort Dodge, Iowa Chapter show where, as Jeff remembers, they rented a big new Cadillac and drove the 6.5 hours to the two chapter shows. When the shows concluded and it was time to settle-up, the chapter contact inquired of Gregg and Jim, “Why didn’t you guys just fly in from O’Hare as I told your contact man?” Tom then got a look of death from his Baritone and Tenor. That was the last time Tom was ever a contact man for a quartet!

The quartet went on the Spring Prelims and achieved high scores in the 80’s, qualifying them for that summer’s international contest in Miami, FL. As Tom recalls, “We knew we had to do something special at our first International appearance. Jim and Greg had an idea for a parody of Gas House Gang’s ‘I’m in Love Again.’ At the time, the song had been horribly oversung by middle and lower level quartets until everyone was sick of hearing it, so we knew it was time for a parody version. Comedy is tough – so we enlisted the help of Lynn Hauldren (see FTV – Winter 2023 Issue) for his creative brilliance and he surpassed our wildest lyric dreams.” At Miami, the Love/Eyes parody got 85’s and 86’s from the Presentation Judges and ranked the quartet in the medal scores in that category. The group finished 12th at International that year.

At the end of July of ‘95 Tom left the quartet for a combination of professional and personal reasons. In 1996, Bass Doug Smith replaced Tom, and they competed at Salt Lake City placing 18th, and shortly after International the quartet disbanded, ending a short-lived, but very successful, quartet life.

But wait – there’s more! Fast forward to January of 2001: Common Ground reformed with their original bass Tom Kentish (who was still not allowed to be contact man!) and sang at 2001 Jacksonville Midwinter as they had sessions lined up with coaches Joe Connelly and Tony DeRosa. The group prepared for the Illinois District prelims where they qualified with a near 79% average with songs including “My Ideal” & “Hot-Cha-The Banjo’s Back In Town” (Semi-Finals) and “When The Roses Have Faded Away” & “Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You” (Finals). With a 79% average and qualifying for Nashville International, along with the New Tradition Chorus, it was going to be an exciting summer for the quartet – all four were members of the New Tradition Chorus, which would go on to finally win the Gold Medal in Nashville after 8 consecutive silver medals.

The quartet drew 7th and sang “Banjo’s Back in Town” and “Me and My Gal.” The guys averaged a 79.8, making Mic-Tester to the Top-20 round, missing the semi-finals by just a few points in a very tough contest. Following their performance, the guys mutually decided it was finally time to break up.

While not together very long, this outstanding group of singers did the Illinois District proud. We celebrate our 1994 (once and always) district champions – Common Ground!

The original foursome with lead George Harper (2nd from left)

Common Ground at IDAH with new lead Jeff Lathom

The guys served as judges for the Metro Division Novice Quartet Contest - June 7, 1995

Common Ground at one of their contest performances

Common Ground at the 1995 International Convention in Miami singing “I’ll Forget You”

Long-Lasting Harmony

Most barbershoppers that sing in a quartet only enjoy a few years with a group, even if the personnel changes over time. Lucky ones will spend ten years or more with the same group of guys. The luckiest may be a quartet called Harmony Guaranteed. A popular quartet from the Bloomington Sound of Illinois Chapter, this foursome has been singing together for over 30 years (34 to be exact as of 2025)!

Originally conceived in 1991, the members included tenor Jim Waldorf, lead John Davis, baritone Byron Blair, and bass Tom DeBord. All four were members of the Bloomington chapter. Waldorf (who would later go on to be district president and IDEA Trustee) was working for Dictaphone/Pitney Bowes while both Blair and DeBord were State Farm employees. (Another fun fact – Blair and DeBord joined the Society at the same time and actually have consecutive membership numbers!) Davis was a student at ISU at the time and would later go on to win district championships with Chronicle (2013) and Union Station (2015), and eventually direct the Arlingtones chorus. The group competed for the first time in 1992.

By 1993, Davis was unable to continue with the quartet, so the remaining three chose long-time SOI member Kurt Gummerman to step in, and that foursome has been singing together ever since. The group competed off and on throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, usually scoring in the Top 10.

The group has entertained thousands of people over their three decades together, whether it be for community luncheons, singing valentines, holiday concerts, local Christmas walks, annual chapter shows, or musical theater performances of the “Music Man.” A couple of highlights for the quartet took place back in the 1990s, when the quartet opened for Neil Sedaka at a State Farm employee event held at ISU. Another occurred when fellow Bloomington member Jim Stahly arranged for the quartet to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at Wrigley Field during a Cubs game shortly after the death of legendary announcer Harry Caray.

The quartet has been in such demand that one can imagine dates sometimes conflict with members’ schedules. Over the years, tenor Jim Waldorf has compiled a list of all the “substitute” barbershoppers that have stepped in and helped fulfill performance obligations. That list includes over 30 different members of the Sound of Illinois, affectionately referred to as “spare-i-tones.” (Which begs the age-old question, “How many guys are in your quartet?”)

Jim Waldorf attributes the longevity of the quartet to a shared vision of the guys. As he recalls, “We all wanted to sing and perform simply for the joy of singing and performing.” The second reason Waldorf believes the quartet has lasted as long as it has is due to the close friendship that exists between the members. The quartet’s motto, derived from bass Tom DeBord (whose father also sang in a quartet), was “never won a contest, never lost an audience.”

Each year at the fall convention, the district announces the winner of the Ed Wilson Service Award. The award is given to a quartet that has continued support of their local community as well as the Illinois District. Harmony Guaranteed won the award twice, once in 2012 and ten years later in 2022.

Congratulations to the members of Harmony Guaranteed for their sustained commitment to ringing chords, entertaining audiences, and supporting the Illinois District!

An early version of Harmony Guaranteed. Clockwise from the top - Blair, DeBord, Davis, Waldorf

Harmony Guaranteed sings for a Cubs game at Wrigley Field with fellow SOI member Jim Stahly, late 1990s

Harmony Guaranteed in their "element." From L to R - Jim Waldorf, Kurt Gummerman, Tom DeBord, and Byron Blair

Harmony Guaranteed performing as the quartet in a local performance of "The Music Man", early 2000s

Harmony Guaranteed in competition, 2006

The guys sing for one of their numerous annual Christmas gigs

"My Illinois"

This issue’s featured artifact is a special piece of sheet music. As an homage to the Land of Lincoln, the song, “My Illinois” was commissioned in 1965 by then District President Frank Vechiola in cooperation with Rudy Hart, director of the Hartsmen.

The Hartsmen was a unique male singing group from the Midwest, and included Illinois District members Bob Meredith (baritone of the Timbre Kings ’59 District Champs) and Joe Sullivan (lead of the Four Renegades – ’57 District Champs). Under the skillful direction of Rudy Hart, the group operated out of Michigan City, Indiana and appeared in concert throughout the Midwest, East, and Canada throughout the 1960s.

The origin of “My Illinois” dates back to a 1905 song by songwriter Joe Howard. Howard was known for writing a number of musical shows which played in Chicago, some in the Princess Theater on South Clark Street, during the period from 1902 to about 1912.

The song appeared as a special insert in the Spring 1965 edition of the district newsletter, “Attacks & Releases.” Chapters were encouraged to learn the song for shows and at district events. Unfortunately, there is no known recording of the song. Perhaps your chapter would enjoy learning the tag? Or even the whole song?

The Hartsmen as they appeared in the mid-1960s. Singing with them are Illinois District members Bob Meredith (1st row, far left) and Joe Sullivan (2nd row, 2nd from right)

Harmony at Hinsdale

(Taken from an article by Robert Hockenborough for the Spring 1971 edition of “Attacks & Releases”)

There was barbershopping aplenty among young boys in the western Chicago area suburb of Hinsdale back in the 1960s-70s thanks to John Tantillo. Tantillo, a music educator at Hinsdale Junior High School, was also a barbershopper and assistant director of the “Q” Suburban Chapter.

Tantillo was looking for a means to keep young voices singing rather than dropping out. As he stated, “I was concerned with the problems of the changing male voice and the lack of material, skills, and understanding to help this voice through this very difficult period.” Through his connection with the “Q” Suburban Chapter, Tantillo brought back several songs to teach the boys. What started out as occasional meetings in 1958 had grown to a full time program of over 130 eighth grade boys by the early 1970s. Tantillo even hand picked a special group from within the chorus (known as the “Spartones”) to perform at the grade schools in an effort to encourage other boys to keep singing.

Tantillo’s boys chorus was a frequent guest at “Q” Suburban Chapter meetings and even performed on their shows. In early 1971, Tantillo took the boys to the University of Illinois where he delivered a lecture on barbershop harmony and the changing voice before an audience of some 75 future music educators. The boys supplied the music for the lecture helping Tantillo make his points very dramatically. Their efforts were noted in the spring 1971 issue of the district newsletter, Attacks & Releases.

At a time when barbershopping was known and practiced mostly by adults, John Tantillo brought the joy and excitement of ringing chords to boys when it counted most – in the chorus room of a school.

Hinsdale music teacher John Tantillo (right) discusses barbershop harmony with U of I music instructor Dr. Carroll Gonzo (left)

The Hinsdale boys pass the time by singing barbershop on the bus ride to Champaign

A moment of rest and contemplation in the University of Illinois music hall shortly before the program began

John Tantillo delivers a lecture at the University of Illinois with his boys to demonstrate barbershop harmony

Keytonics (1961)

This issue features a recording from a short-lived, but popular district quartet active in the early 1960s – The Keytonics. Representing the Southwest Suburban Chapter, the members included tenor Clair DeFrew, lead Bob Menter, baritone Bob Howard, and bass Les Dixon. The quartet reached as high as 6th in 1961 but disbanded shortly thereafter. DeFrew and Menter went on later to capture the district championship with The Varieties in 1963. Menter became another district champion in 1969 with Chords Unlimited. The group’s recording of “Redhead” comes from a rare 45 rpm record in the district archives. Enjoy!