Crossroads
Crossroads is the Barbershop Harmony Society's 2009 International Quartet Champion.
Quartet Members
Winning Members:
- Tenor: Fred Farrell
- Lead: Mike Slamka
- Bari: Brandon Guyton
- Bass: Jim Henry
Contest Placement
International
District (CSD)
- 2008 - 1st
Recordings
| Crossroads (2009) |
|---|
| You Don't, You Won't |
| Mobile |
| Crying |
| Georgia Mae |
| Mean To Me |
| Better Than I |
| Back In Business |
| Country Dances |
| Roll Jordan Roll |
| Daddy's Little Girl |
| 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) |
| Little Patch of Heaven |
| bonus track |
| That Lucky Old Sun Recording (2011) |
|---|
| Jumpin' Jive |
| Let Yourself Go |
| Via Dolorosa |
| Sweet Adeline |
| Too Close for Comfort |
| Hey There |
| Bread & Gravy |
| First Day in Heaven |
| Blue Bayou (Blew by You) |
| That Lucky Old Sun |
| Can't Buy Me Love |
| All People That on Earth do Dwell |
| Guard Me, Oh Lord |
| The Simple Life (2014) |
|---|
| Give Me the Simple Life |
| My Grandfather's Clock |
| Hold On |
| Children, Go Where I Send Thee |
| Gigi |
| A Word On My Ear (I'm Tone Deaf) |
| For Once In My Life |
| Rock My Soul (In the Bosom of Abraham) |
| Someone Like You |
| Blow, Gabriel, Blow |
| I Need Thee Every Hour |
| How Can I Keep From Singing (2019?) |
|---|
| Just One of Those Things |
| Butter Outta Cream |
| This Heart of Mine |
| A Wonderful Time Up There |
| St. Lewis Blues |
| The Devil Ain't Lazy |
| Not Like This |
| Get On Board |
| They Could Not |
| Hello Young Lovers |
| How Can I Keep From Singing |
| You're My Best Friend |
Extended History
Our new champs are men who have won the gold medals once before. They won in convincing fashion in Anaheim, California July 4th week during the 71st International Convention and Contests of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Their total score average was 93.7% and they finished 213 points above the second place quartet.
Fred Farrell (tenor) sang with Second Edition during their gold medal win in 1989. This win makes Fred one of the 18 multiple champs with the longest span between wins (20 years). Mike Slamka (lead) won his first gold with Power Play in 2003. Baritone Brandon Guyton won his first with Four Voices in 2002. Dr. Jim Henry (bass) won his first championship with Gas House Gang in 1993. He also holds a historic distinction by also directing his chorus, The Ambassadors of Harmony, to a Chorus Championship in the same year as they also won in Anaheim.
Crossroads considers their family to be an important part of the quartet. They boast 15 kids and one grandkid between them. Following the win they ALL spent the next day at Disneyland (all 24 of 'em).
They plan to spend the next year performing and continuing their quest for vocal musical perfection.
Individual Histories
Jim Henry holds degrees in vocal music education, music theory and music composition, including a Ph.D. in music composition from Washington University. He is currently the Director of Choral Studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he conducts the University Singers and Vocal Point and teaches choral methods, choral arranging, and choral conducting. In addition to his duties at UM-St. Louis, Jim is the musical and artistic director of the Ambassadors of Harmony, a 160-voice men's a cappella chorus that performs barbershop, jazz, and light classical music. The Ambassadors of Harmony have produced three recordings, and were recently named the best male barbershop chorus in the world at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s 2004 International Competition.
Jim was also a founding member, arranger, and bass singer with the legendary Gas House Gang, the very popular 1993 International Quartet Champions. The Gas House Gang has entertained audiences in all fifty states and fifteen countries, and in venues from the Grand Ole Opry to Carnegie Hall. They have been featured on NBC’s “Today Show,” NPR's “At the Creation,” and two PBS specials: “Voices in Harmony” and “The Egg.” The Gas House Gang has produced five recordings. Jim and his wife Geda live in St. Charles, Missouri, with their 2 young children; Gea Rose and Isaiah. Lydia their oldest daughter is recently married.
Brandon Guyton sings baritone, and is perhaps best known as a gold medallist with Four Voices, the 2002 Champions of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Four Voices was a highly innovative and exciting college quartet that first got their start as part of the acclaimed Voices of Lee, A premier mixed vocal troupe from Lee University. Four Voices produced two recordings, performed in 44 states and 4 countries and performed in venues such as Lincoln Center and have shared the stage with a long list of artists including Bill Gaither and the Swingle Singers. Brandon and his wife Noemi live in Cleveland, Tennessee and have 3 children: Chandler, Taylor, and Isabella.
Mike Slamka sings the lead part, and he made his mark as the lead of Power Play, an extremely popular all-family quartet that became International Barbershop Harmony Society Champions in 2003. In addition to Mike on lead, Power Play featured father Jack on bass, brother Mark on baritone, and cousin Don on Tenor. Their genuine love for one another and their family appeal, along with the uncanny ring in their sound made Power Play an audience favorite. Power Play produced three recordings, has performed all over the country and has been featured on the Jane Pauley show as well as guest performers on The Grand Ole Opry. Mike and his wife Traci live in St.Clair, Michigan with their 3 daughters: Michaela, Mackenzi, and Madison.
Fred Farrell sings tenor, and was a member of the 1989 International Quartet Champion Second Edition. Known for their great sound and musical artistry, Second Edition is considered to be one of the most influential Barbershop quartets of the past 25 years. Second Edition produced two recordings, performed in 38 states and 6 countries sharing the stage with artists such as Michael Feinstein, Dizzy Gillespie, Rosemary Clooney, Marylin McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., with feature spots on ABC’s Nightly News, and Wolf Trap Theatre’s 50th anniversary gala concert which was broadcast on PBS. Fred and Kim live in Ft. Myers, Florida with their 5 kids: Olivia, Caroline, Quinn, Molly, and Lilly.
External Sites