Historical Perspective for the

Kokomo Men of Note

"When 30,000 American men sing in barbershop harmony, there must be a reason. They gather together in churches and auditoriums across the nation to sing without pay, for the joy of singing. In true barbershop tradition, they sing with strong enthusiasm, for theirs is the last remaining all-male stronghold of freedom of expression, the barbershop quartet.

They organize. They set up only one requirement for membership: enjoyment of mutual good feeling that comes from the camaraderie of singing in close harmony. And as a result, they attract the finest male voices in the chapter's community.

Members may be doctors, lawyers and store managers, retired railroad men, insurance brokers, bankers, farmers and roofing salesmen. Representing all ages and backgrounds, they share just one interest, barbershop harmony, but they share it with gusto.

And if their chapter of SPEBSQSA is a new one, just formed in Kokomo, they plan their charter show. They title it, 'Parade of Barbershop Harmony' and schedule it for next Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in Havens Auditorium"

The above excerpts are from an article written by Phyllis Hobson in the Kokomo Tribune dated Sunday, February 5, 1967. She goes on to say that the charter show is planned to introduce to Kokomo, the new barbershop chorus and a local quartet, the Kokomoaners, and that they would have as guests, the "best representatives of barbershopping the state has to offer." The Kokomoaners quartet was made up of Ray Briggs, (Haynes Stellite Company) tenor, George Hayes (Kokomo Camera Shop) lead, Ted Conner (Mutual of Iowa Insurance) baritone and Bill Howes, (U.S. Airforce - Bunker Hill AFB) bass.

Phillip Price, head of the music department at Northwestern High School directed the chorus and Cliff Willis of radio station WIOU was the MC for that first show.

So, how did it all get started?

One day during Christmas vacation in 1965, Bill Terry of the Logansport chapter and two of the O'Brien brothers from the Lafayette chapter paid a visit to Ray Briggs to see if he would be interested in starting a barbershop chapter in Kokomo. They had heard the Kokomoaners quartet sing and thought the time was ripe to start a new chapter in Kokomo. (A chapter had existed in Kokomo in the early forties, but had been defunct for several years.) Ray thought the idea was worth pursuing and the wheels were set in motion. With a great deal of support from the International Society Headquarters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Kokomo Tribune and radio Station WIOU, Ray put together a nucleus of men who liked to sing and organized the Kokomo Chapter, SPEBSQSA, which stands for Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc.

The officers selected (note: they weren't "elected") were Ray Briggs, president, Bill Shipley, vice president, Bob Larrick, Secretary and Glen Neiwoehner, treasurer.

By the time their "Charter Show" was scheduled, they had 44 members on board. The chapter has had many ups and downs over the last 36 years and has 28 members at the present time.

The Kokomoaners quartet had been formed by Briggs to entertain members of Kokomo Community Concerts at their annual membership drive kick-off dinner in the spring of 1965. Briggs was not aware of the SPEBSQSA at that time, but had been active in several barbershop quartets in high school, college, military service and in the work force before moving to Kokomo.

Ray is the only remaining charter member, but there are several men who joined the next year or two after chartering and are the mainstays of the chapter at the present time.

Back to Top

For problems or questions regarding this web contact the Webmaster.