OC Times in SPIN Magazine

Check out this article from SPIN Magazine on OC Times and their effect on the culture of barbershop quartet singing.

Look Inside >> February 2009

POLLS CLOSED: Music on MP3 Player

The 5th Wheel closed its voting booths and have the final tally on "What Style Of Music Is Performed On The MP3 Player?" The song was Surfer Girl by our current champions, OC Times. After 74 people voted, here are the results:

74% (55) -It's a barbershop quartet (if it sounds like a barbershop quartet...)

22% (19) -Something other than a barbershop quartet. (Alright, either 22% of the voters are idiots or they are a bunch of smart@$$es who want a job writing for The 5th Wheel. Sorry, we offer no benefits.)

FYI, 5% (4) voted for the Deagan Organ Chimes!?!?!?! The voters must have mistaken the clear high tones sung by tenor sensation Shawn York to be chimes. Wow, impressive!

POLLS CLOSED: Most Memorable Tag

Here are the results from the latest poll on "Most Memorable Tag Sung On The International Stage." Eighty-nine visitors voted. (However, the absentee votes have not yet been calculated. The 5th Wheel is based in Florida, what do you expect?)

1. 53% 2000 Platinum- Tony DeRosa's confident wink at Joe Connelly on Auld Lang Syne. (Tony, you are the man! You have been voted "Most Popular" on The 5th Wheel! Now that you're the BMOC, maybe you can get the captain of The 5th Wheel cheerleading squad to go out with you?)

2. 19% 1998 FRED- The "tagless" song in HOTlanta! (Shoot! The 5th Wheel had money riding on this pick. We thought for sure a quartet that loses all musical ability to sing just one tag would have creamed the competition. Sorry guys. You can now return to taking a bath with your Anaheim gold medals around your necks.)

3. 14% 2006 O.C Times- Devine's "Never say die" attempt on Save/Last Dance Tag. (Unfortunately for Sean there was no devine intervention to help him that day. Sean, buddy, pal, I'm sorry you had to be included on this list. However, rest assured that The 5th Wheel is your biggest fan and even though we pointed out a flaw in your performance, you are being associated in this poll with quartet champions, which you are my friend.)

4. 12% 1985 The New Tradition- Danny Jordan's long post as Chico Marx. (The 5th Wheel wants to point out that before Tony DeRosa and Tim Waurick came along, gold medalist Dan Jordan was first to have the reputation for being the long tag poster. Way to go "Leather-Lungs" Jordan!)

Photos courtesy of Dan Proctor and photographed by Lorin May. Dan Jordan picture from www.theperfectgentlemen.us

The 5th Wheel: Hide Your Teenage Daughters! The "YOUTS" are coming!

The 5th Wheel has been a huge supporter (athletic) of the youth movement in our Barbershop Harmony Society. If it weren't for the efforts from people such as Russ Squires (use to be a young lad, now he pretends to be), and Society Youth Staffer (sounds creepy!) James Estes, both advocates for bringing young singers into the Society, eventually we'd be having our afterglows at Forest Lawn (That reminds me, keep an eye out for a new post re MaxQ's latest CD project).
Fortunately, groups like OC Times, Westminster, zero8 and Northwest Vocal Project are springing up all over the world, showing kids there's more in life than just sex, Sportscenter and Xbox. I don't know where barbershop quartets rank with those other "social activities", but I can guarantee it's at LEAST... second.

On January 31st, 2009 the Society will be hosting the 2nd Annual Youth Barbershop Chorus Festival at the Mid-Winter Convention in Pasadena, CA. According to "Old Man" Squires, "Last year we created a deadline for entry and had five choruses by that date. Of course, being 'youth choruses' we ended up with another three entries, before six actually showed." Squires (Beautifully captured on film, at left) stated the first festival had over 200 boys participate! The Marcsmen of San Marcos, Texas won the competition.

As of last week, Grampa Squires informed The 5th Wheel that they already have fourteen choruses entered to be in the festival with possibly four or five more to join in the competition. They are estimating anywhere from 500-600 guys to be onstage! "It's frickin' UNREAL," says Squires Sr.

Squires also pointed out, "The reason that so many guys can afford to come, is the Harmony Foundation picks up the tab." The Harmony Foundation actually covers all hotel, convention registrations, and a few meals. All the kids have to do is pay their own transportation. "It's pretty amazing," says Papa Squires.

The 5th Wheel wants to encourage you to get off your hind end and attend the Mid-Winter Conventon this year. In year's past, without question the Mid-Winter weekends haven't compared to the quality and fun of the summer International Conventions. However, the singing level of the Senior's Quartet Competition has steadily increased. Plus, with the addition and growth of the Youth Chorus Festival, it doesn't take a dummy to see that the Mid-Winter is turning out to be THE convention NOT to miss. Oh... did I forget to mention that the Mid-Winter will also have the Top Five International Quartets from the Nashville Convention singing as well?

WARNING: With over 500 young men all gathered in one place, there's bound to be a lot of tag singing, pick-up games (Such as basketball, hackey sack, girls) and late-night streaking! (The first time in history there's been a night with more than one full moon.)

The 5th Wheel MP3's

Check out the right side column of The 5th Wheel and you'll see an MP3 player. It plays music of your choosing in 30 second soundbites. If there's a song you like, you can purchase it through Amazon.com. Just click on the word "Buy." This is very similar to iTunes, only you don't have to install any programs.

There are songs from the 2008 Barbershop Harmony Society International Convention included on the MP3 Player! We didn't have time to add every performance, but I did add some favorites. Enjoy!