1984 St. Louis - Ah yes I remember it well. My first international competition. What a memorable experience. Woodshedding with some of the greats: Happiness Emporium, Bluegrass Student Union, The Knudsen Brothers! Wow! I can't believe that it's been 26 years! I just turned 17! Oh to turn the clock back!
Tim was just dull??? The first baritone to have to fill over Oxley...sorry, that's not dull. They were not a comedy quartet, and Frye boy has one good set of pipes. Wallace was all over the board, while Smotz held down the fluff. This group was Jeff and Tim covering the noise that Wallace produced.
AH! The lead singer makes my ears bleed, lol. I can see why Jeff left this group for the Acoustix...as to why he left them for Max-Q i don't know. Both are awesome in my eyes. But the lead in this group...yikes, lol.
To be fair, Jeff's head & shoulders above the rest in more than one way. These were pretty average guys who went on to other careers, but Jeff's top rung all around, so no surprise he went so much further.
BTW, hearing them live at the time was darned exciting and so much fun. They're a bit straight laced here. Not Wally's best singing, but he was generally a wild card. Tim was just dull...
Damn dude, chill. Forgive me for having an opinion, lol. I never said I was as good or better than these guys. When I hear the lead, it sounds like a guy straining notes out of his mouth (much like the lead I believe it is in the Acoustix). It just sounds too forced. If you don't like my opinion, to bad. Get over it and don't complain or tell me i'm wrong or that it's bull crap. IT'S MY OPINION! Now please amuse me by telling me that my opinion is wrong, lol. I love when people do that :)
i would have to agree about the lead from this group. i saw these guys on the AIC show and he sounded just like he does hear. as for rick middaugh(lead from acoustix), he IMO sounds more dark than forced. hes got a great lower range that makes him super effective as bari for glory days to lock those 1-5's w/ joel. As for the raps, there are even some older groups that sounded much better, such as Grandma's boys. Bluegrass Student Union, Suntones, Oriole 4, n a few others.
You became my new best friend when you mentioned Bluegrass Student Union, lol. As for the lead of Acoustix, I guess you're right. I just know in one or two of the few songs i've heard from them, he sounded like this guy in the vid. But upon hearing some more songs, I see where you're right. It's amazing how one man can make me not like a group, even if the rest of them sound awesome, lol.
Don't get me wrong, I think Jeff Oxley is the ballz. But they actually won GOLD with this set??? Maybe Youtube makes it sound just ridiculously bad and I am out of line, but this stinks. (compared to 90's and today's quartets)
O my goodness!! Thank you so much for posting this hahhaha. The only time I got to see this was when the Fantasy Quartet sang it, Jeff is insane! ha so cool
that is hilarious. dave went from singing tenor to singing bass now. he's in a group called the news. they are really good. they came and sang on our show last weekend. i visited daves chapter this past thrusday and then i had the pleasure of hanging out with his quartet at applebees afterwards.
the funny thing is that they were the Junior Varsity Quartet at BGSU they sure showed up the Varsity Quartet. lol
WeightlessAnchor 3 months ago
again I say not my favorite lead, but I love Mr. touchdown and the way the quartet sings it!
ChrisisBass13 11 months ago
1984 St. Louis - Ah yes I remember it well. My first international competition. What a memorable experience. Woodshedding with some of the greats: Happiness Emporium, Bluegrass Student Union, The Knudsen Brothers! Wow! I can't believe that it's been 26 years! I just turned 17! Oh to turn the clock back!
alkaloidal 1 year ago
TOO DARN BAD the sounds is NOT synced WITH the music....
SingcerelyStudios 1 year ago
Tim was just dull??? The first baritone to have to fill over Oxley...sorry, that's not dull. They were not a comedy quartet, and Frye boy has one good set of pipes. Wallace was all over the board, while Smotz held down the fluff. This group was Jeff and Tim covering the noise that Wallace produced.
booofer 2 years ago
AH! The lead singer makes my ears bleed, lol. I can see why Jeff left this group for the Acoustix...as to why he left them for Max-Q i don't know. Both are awesome in my eyes. But the lead in this group...yikes, lol.
matrix86 3 years ago
To be fair, Jeff's head & shoulders above the rest in more than one way. These were pretty average guys who went on to other careers, but Jeff's top rung all around, so no surprise he went so much further.
BTW, hearing them live at the time was darned exciting and so much fun. They're a bit straight laced here. Not Wally's best singing, but he was generally a wild card. Tim was just dull...
Trillidotia 3 years ago
Comment removed
codelittlefield 2 years ago
Damn dude, chill. Forgive me for having an opinion, lol. I never said I was as good or better than these guys. When I hear the lead, it sounds like a guy straining notes out of his mouth (much like the lead I believe it is in the Acoustix). It just sounds too forced. If you don't like my opinion, to bad. Get over it and don't complain or tell me i'm wrong or that it's bull crap. IT'S MY OPINION! Now please amuse me by telling me that my opinion is wrong, lol. I love when people do that :)
matrix86 2 years ago
i would have to agree about the lead from this group. i saw these guys on the AIC show and he sounded just like he does hear. as for rick middaugh(lead from acoustix), he IMO sounds more dark than forced. hes got a great lower range that makes him super effective as bari for glory days to lock those 1-5's w/ joel. As for the raps, there are even some older groups that sounded much better, such as Grandma's boys. Bluegrass Student Union, Suntones, Oriole 4, n a few others.
badman620 2 years ago
You became my new best friend when you mentioned Bluegrass Student Union, lol. As for the lead of Acoustix, I guess you're right. I just know in one or two of the few songs i've heard from them, he sounded like this guy in the vid. But upon hearing some more songs, I see where you're right. It's amazing how one man can make me not like a group, even if the rest of them sound awesome, lol.
matrix86 2 years ago
the lead sounds so tight...yikes. he hits his notes, but his posts are not good. lol
2446rules 3 years ago
Keep in mind arrangements available at the time, and all the redone arrangements available now.
markovichf 3 years ago
Don't get me wrong, I think Jeff Oxley is the ballz. But they actually won GOLD with this set??? Maybe Youtube makes it sound just ridiculously bad and I am out of line, but this stinks. (compared to 90's and today's quartets)
largefella 3 years ago
Just remember, it'a all relative. Barbershop from the 50's and 60's sucks, 70's suck etc.
The Raps were the first group to produce a "Big brash sound". They started the new wave bacl in 1984.
booofer 3 years ago
@largefella yeah, this is '84, so it's not even close to as good.
ES942 1 year ago
Yes, the tenor is David Smotzer.
Indybbshop 3 years ago
O my goodness!! Thank you so much for posting this hahhaha. The only time I got to see this was when the Fantasy Quartet sang it, Jeff is insane! ha so cool
Ivanite 3 years ago
that is hilarious. dave went from singing tenor to singing bass now. he's in a group called the news. they are really good. they came and sang on our show last weekend. i visited daves chapter this past thrusday and then i had the pleasure of hanging out with his quartet at applebees afterwards.
super00fly 3 years ago
So cool to see this footage. Thanks for putting it up here! This reminds me of the stuff that Grandma's Boys did with their collegiate set in '79!
BarbershopMusicFan 3 years ago
1984 - Saint Louis, yes. . . .
mixquartet 4 years ago
Oh my gosh I was there for this!!
Boomtown58 4 years ago
Jeff looks so young in this haha.
LeWoVoc 4 years ago
L-R Dave Smotzer, Dave Wallace, Jeff Oxley, Tim Frye.
What's cool is I was in St Louis the year they won.
booofer 4 years ago
You tube upload screwed up the sync, I will attempt to fix and post again.
mixquartet 4 years ago
Thanks! (I think tenor is David Smotzer)
portmon 4 years ago