Annual AIC Show Spectacular
Once again the champs presented
their big annual show during the International
Barbershop Convention (this year in Indy, July 6).
Still the best showcase of barbershop quartet
talent in the world, those attending got
more than their money’s worth.
Under the direction of
Clay Hine
with the help of emcee Drayton Justus the AIC Chorus
opened with a tribute to the Confederates with some of
their family members in the audience as special guests.
The chorus sang “Save Your Confederate Money Boys”
followed by a recording and video presentation of the
Confederates (1956) singing “
Mobile
” (Where’s that?
. . .
Alabama
!!). The chorus followed that with a heartfelt rendition
of “Down Where The South Begins”.
The coat song,
“That’s What Dreams
Are For” as they presented Realtime
with their
official blazers. Always an emotional event, especially
for the outgoing champs.
Ain’t tradition great?
“Overture”, a tribute to the 25-year champs
closed the chorus part of the first half.
For the first time in years, Chicago News (1981) took the stage and performed a special
customized version of “We Ain’t As Old As We Once
Was”. Thanks
to a glitch with the monitors the quartet had some
difficulty hearing the track so they were disappointed
with the end results, but those of us who loved them -
we heard nothing but champions on that stage.
Like real troopers they worked thru the
song and then nailed “Frivolous Sal” and closed with
their greatest “hit” “I Want A Girl”. They made
it a point to thank replacement bari
Joe Sullivan for his contribution to the quartet over
the years.
The
Suntones (1961) took the stage and performed their
trend setting “West Side Story Medley”. It was a
tribute to their favorite arranger, Walter Latzko,
inducted into the Society Hall of Fame that week. They
received a well deserved standing ovation.
Happiness
Emporium (1975) performed “I Don’t Need Your
Rockin Chair”, and a very sincere tribute to the men
who served during the Vietnam War with “50 Thousand
Names”. They closed their segment with their gospel
flavor “Still Feelin’ Fine".
Acoustix
(1990) filled the stage with their tribute to the late
Ed Waesche. They performed one of the five songs he
arranged for them for their contest sets in
San Francisco
: “Irish Lullaby”.
The audience appreciated and applauded several of
the songs in their “Simon & Garfunkel Medley”.
FRED
(1999) is one of the few groups that can follow AX, they
did a parody (surprise!) with “See How They Look
Tonight” poking fun at all the “OLD” champions of
recent years. Comparing themselves to the “young/good
looking” Realtime prompted a walk-on appearance by the
current champs. FRED rehearsed their dazzling Vegas
Medley for the SAI Int’l and got a standing ovation
from the crowd.
Current Collegiate Quartet Champs, Men In Black, came on next and closed out the first half with
“I
Got Your Horse Right Here” and “Rainbow
Connection” one of Ed Waesche’s last arrangements
sent to them shortly before his death.
Four
Voices (2002) opened the second half celebrating the
10th anniversary of their college win with their hit,
“If I Only Had A Brain”. “I Love That Barbershop
Style” was followed by
Clay Hine’s arrangement of “Charleston”.
Current Sweet Adeline Queens, The Buzz (2005), were next. They showed their appreciation of being
one of the few
Queens
invited to sing on the AIC show by performing “Gee,
It’s Good To Be Here”.
The audience was impressed with their performance
of “How Much Do I Love You/How Deep Is The Ocean”
and enjoyed their hit “Goodbye Song”.
Power
Play (2003) sang “Time After Time” and
“Sing
It A Cappella”. They got a standing ovation after they
did an amazing song from the animated film Joseph:
The King Of Dreams titled “You Know Better Than
I”.
Gotcha!
(2004) followed with “On Victory Road”, and “More
I Can Not Wish You” (ala Puerling/Singers
Unlimited).
They finished with a classic, "Mister Bass Man"
(tribute to all basses - ala 4 Renegades).
Realtime
(2005) revived their popular “Rat Pack” set with
“Can’t Take That Away From Me”, “Birth Of The
Blues”, “Come Fly With Me” for their first AIC
Show.
The grand
finale was certainly Grand
with the Kings
and Queens Chorus.
Joining the champs were 31 past
Sweet Adeline champions and 27 Harmony Incorporated quartet
champion members. There were three champion
couples on stage: Gary and Ruth Ann Parker, Don and
Carol Ann Bagley and Gene and Iris Cokecoft.
Directed by Clay Hine
and Renee Craig they sang 8 part arrangements of
“Back
Home Again In Indiana” and, saluting Hoosier Hoagy
Carmichael, “Stardust”.
Another great show with the greatest
singing groups anywhere.
Congrats to all involved especially Show Producer
Harlan Wilson, Emcee Drayton Justus
and Stage Manager Tim Brooks.
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Report & Photos by Grady Kerr
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