THE MOST HAPPY FELLOWS
Bob Hodge (t), Larry Hassler (l),
Jack Lyon (br), Ken Hawkinson (bs),
Tacoma
The Most Happy Fellows won International in
1977 in Philadelphia, PA (1st)
Seven has to be the lucky number of the Most Happy Fellows, who were crowned international quartet champions in Philadelphia in 1977, one of only 18 quartets who won the gold the first time they medaled in international competition. This edition of the quartet was seven months old; baritone Jack Lyon had joined in January. In the three previous years, the “Haps” placed 21st, 14th, and 7th, all numbers divisible by 7. On the 7th day of the 7th month of the 77th year, they were the 7th contestant to appear in the finals – and won the gold. The plane that had brought them to Philadelphia was – what else – a Boeing 747.
The Haps’ popularity soared when they introduced their best known personalities at the 1980 AIC Show: Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz.
In 1989, Most Happy Fellows, the first international medalists from the Evergreen District, were inducted into the Evergreen District Hall of Fame. They have now officially retired.
REALTIME
Tim Broersma (t), John Newell (l),
Tom Metzger (bs), Mark Metzger (br),
Vancouver, BC
Competed at International in:
2004 in Louisville, KY
2005 in Salt Lake City, UT (1st)
Realtime won the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Quartet Championship in 2005. They finished seventh-place the previous year (the first ever top-ten finish for a western-Canadian quartet). Lead singer John Newell is the first Australian-born international champion. Baritone Mark Metzger and bass Tom Metzger are the first champions who are both Canadian-born and Canadian citizens. Tenor Tim Broersma is from Lynden, Washington.
THE CLOSE HARMONY TRADITION
Richard Merritt (t),
Chuck Benson (l),
Bob Mahony (br),
Warren Mitchell (bs)
Competed at the International Senior contest in:
1986 in Tucson, AZ (3rd)
1987 in Sarasota, FL (1st)
FATHERLY ADVICE
Dan Tanagrone (t),
Dick Bek (l),
Bill Thurman (br),
Burt Staffen (bs)
Competed in 1996’s International Seniors contest in Jacksonville, FL (1st)
OVER TIME
Jim Richards (t),
Jerry Harrison (l),
Mel Knight (br),
Bud Roberts (bs)
Competed in the 2000 International Seniors contest
in Tucson, AZ (1st)
ANTIQUE GOLD
Tom Bates (t),
George Wakeham (l),
Charlie Metzger (br),
George Metzger (bs)
Compete in the International Seniors contests in:
2004 in Biloxi, MS
2005 in Jacksonville, FL
2006 in Sacramento, CA (1st)
FRIENDLY ADVICE
Dan Tangarone (t),
Wes Sorstokke (l),
Bill Thurman (br),
Forrest LaMotte (bs)
Competed in the 2007 International Seniors contest in Alburquerque, NM (1st)