AICGold

2008 AIC Show

2007 AIC Show Best Ever

By Jay Giallombardo - Director of Music - AIC Chorus - Denver 2007 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Congratulations on one of the finest AIC shows ever. We all heard nothing but glowing comments on the fun, entertainment, and great singing of the AIC chorus of the show.

Music Man Medley was a hit. Kudos to a great effort by the chorus and "special" performers, quartets and soloists that did an outstanding job, particularly Jim Henry, in his role as Harold Hill, and for his coaching of the Rock Island performers and acting as advisor to me.

Thanks to Tim Waurick for the outstanding learning tools which were certainly a motivation to get these pieces "under our belts". Thanks to the administration, Harlan Wilson and President Don Bagley, for their unwavering support in facilitating the AIC show effort. Thanks to the special Dave Kindinger - AIC events guy as well

The AIC quartets, once again, were the real heroes with outstanding performances from every quartet. Our goal was to increase the entertainment value of the show. And, we did just that. It was joy to watch each quartet performance as they knocked the audience out with great singing and superb entertainment. Kudos all around.

Classic Collection, in their 25th anniversary year, was outstanding. Their return was marked with nostalgia and warm feelings for a great champ that had a long and memorable history. It was wonderful to see them back together for this special occasion.

"That's What Dreams Are For" was sung with particular quality and emotion as we welcomed the youthful, Vocal Spectrum into our midst. Although we have done this piece many times before, the AIC chorus brought a special freshness and understanding of the power of this piece in its long-standing tradition and ability to move, not only the audience, but us!

Finally, "All Nations Rise" was well-received, (some say a "triumph"), and a joy for me, personally, to have the chorus perform this new work. I wish to thank each of you for your kind words of praise and your efforts to learn the piece. The audience rewarded our debut performance and the entire show with an instant standing ovation. It was truly a cathartic moment as the curtain came down. Back stage I enjoyed the warm embrace of your heartfelt words, hugs and handshakes; I saw many with tears in their eyes, moved by the total experience. What a great organization and "brotherhood" we have and can enjoy in our lives.

In addition to and great arrangements and the top notch singing by the chorus we must also thank new AIC sound man Kenny Piercy who worked thru some rather challenging demands. The audience was able to concentrate on the performance and not be distracted by the lights or sound.  An added touch was the entertaining choreography provided by Geri Geis.  Yes, the AIC chorus actually learned moves after arriving on site and did them very well - maybe a first for the chorus?

Rock Island (Jim Henry as Harold Hill and Joe Clay)	Iowa Stubborn (Jim Bagby and Bob Dowma)	Ya Got Trouble (with Jim Henry as Harold Hill)	Wendy Wilson DeCrow on Dream of Now
Sincere (Gotcha!) (with lead Chris Vaughn wearing the actual hat Al Shea of The Buffalo Bills wore on Broadway 50 years ago in The Music Man)		Pick A Little Talk A Little/Good Night Ladies (Beck, Dalke, Littlefield, Guydon & Beef)
It's You (Vocal Spectrum)		Grecian Urns provided by FRED
The aftermath - Oh, the humanity
Seventy Six Trombones - Jim Henry (with 12 piece band)
Realtime Get Happy Loch Lomond Heart of My Heart (dedicated to their wives) Come Back To Me		Power Play Battle of Jericho You Know Better Than I (from Joseph, King of Dreams) Side By Side When There’s Love At Home
Happiness Emporium Tribute to Great Quartets             Lida Rose (Buffalo Bills)             Glow Worm (Mills Bros)             We Three (Ink Spots)             Blue World (Four Freshmen)             You, You, You (Ames Bros)             Tumbling Tumbleweeds (Sons Of The Pioneers)             Moments To Remember (Four Lads)		FRED Wonderful World parody That’s Amore' Coney Island Washboard Roundelay Where Does The Time Go (Barry Manalow)
Classic Collection (their 39th year together) Moonlight Becomes You Money, Money, Money Jezebel		Musical Island Boys (2006 College quartet champs) Once Upon A Time
Gotcha! and Classic Collection - Won’t Believe in IF anymore
Gotcha! Jefferson Lord Play That Barbershop Chord There Goes My Heart (Lloyd Steinkamp arr.) Victory Road		Vocal Spectrum Rampart Street/Swing Low On The Street Where You Live Small Fry Let’s Live It Up
That’s What Dreams Are For - Vocal Spectrum get their AIC Coats from Realtime

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Report & Photos by Grady Kerr

Annual AIC Show Spectacular 2006

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

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