Post by RER on Oct 27, 2006 13:09:13 GMT -5
Ross Barbour (Don & Ross Were Brothers)
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Born: 12/31/1928 Graduated Columbus Indiana High School 1946 (See LOG)
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Ross Barbour and Brother Don where raised in Columbus Indiana. They were the original founders of the singing group called The Four Freshman. The group has been popular since the 1950s. The Four Freshman group of today is not the orginal group.
They were inducted in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.
The following is part of the information about the group written by Jay Warner.
Quote:
The Four Freshman
(Inducted In Hall of Fame 2001)
"The Four Freshmen were the most innovative and imitated jazz vocal quartet ever to grace vinyl. Innovative because of their unique concept of singing “open” harmony, moving the third and fifth notes of a chord an octave higher or lower, or using ninths and elevenths while dropping root notes of a chord.
Emulated because every type of artist heart something fresh and exciting in their sound not only jazz groups, but acts as diverse as THE HARPTONES in the 50's, THE BEACH BOYS of the 60's, and THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER in the 70's heard a redefinition of harmony that stirred their own imaginations. That doesn’t count THE HI-LOS, THE HILLTOPPERS, THE LETTERMEN, SPANKY AND OUR GANG, and THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS.
The group started out as Hal’s Harmonizers, with brothers Don and Ross Barbour, Hal Kratzsch, and Marvin Pruitt. All four members were students in 1947 at the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music, a division of Butler University in Indianapolis. Hal convinced his music theory classmates that forming a barbershop quartet would be a great source of income.
Hal, from Warsaw, Indiana, sang and played bass as well as trumpet and mellophone. Don and Ross were raised in Columbus, Indiana; Don sang second tenor and played guitar while his younger brother Ross sang baritone and played trumpet.
The top voice was Marvin’s. Decked out in Gay ‘90s apparel (armbands, exaggerated false moustaches, and waiters’ aprons) the quartet began singing “Sweet Adeline” at fairs and conventions until they became bored with the confinement of barbershop chords. Not wanting to give up the income base they became a second group, the Toppers."
End Quote
Go here to read the whole story:
www.vghf.com/inductees/the_four_freshman.html
__________________________________________________
Born: 12/31/1928 Graduated Columbus Indiana High School 1946 (See LOG)
__________________________________________________
Ross Barbour and Brother Don where raised in Columbus Indiana. They were the original founders of the singing group called The Four Freshman. The group has been popular since the 1950s. The Four Freshman group of today is not the orginal group.
They were inducted in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.
The following is part of the information about the group written by Jay Warner.
Quote:
The Four Freshman
(Inducted In Hall of Fame 2001)
"The Four Freshmen were the most innovative and imitated jazz vocal quartet ever to grace vinyl. Innovative because of their unique concept of singing “open” harmony, moving the third and fifth notes of a chord an octave higher or lower, or using ninths and elevenths while dropping root notes of a chord.
Emulated because every type of artist heart something fresh and exciting in their sound not only jazz groups, but acts as diverse as THE HARPTONES in the 50's, THE BEACH BOYS of the 60's, and THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER in the 70's heard a redefinition of harmony that stirred their own imaginations. That doesn’t count THE HI-LOS, THE HILLTOPPERS, THE LETTERMEN, SPANKY AND OUR GANG, and THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS.
The group started out as Hal’s Harmonizers, with brothers Don and Ross Barbour, Hal Kratzsch, and Marvin Pruitt. All four members were students in 1947 at the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music, a division of Butler University in Indianapolis. Hal convinced his music theory classmates that forming a barbershop quartet would be a great source of income.
Hal, from Warsaw, Indiana, sang and played bass as well as trumpet and mellophone. Don and Ross were raised in Columbus, Indiana; Don sang second tenor and played guitar while his younger brother Ross sang baritone and played trumpet.
The top voice was Marvin’s. Decked out in Gay ‘90s apparel (armbands, exaggerated false moustaches, and waiters’ aprons) the quartet began singing “Sweet Adeline” at fairs and conventions until they became bored with the confinement of barbershop chords. Not wanting to give up the income base they became a second group, the Toppers."
End Quote
Go here to read the whole story:
www.vghf.com/inductees/the_four_freshman.html
