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[[Image:1949Pic.jpg|right|border|Mid-States Four]]The '''Mid-States Four''' is the [[Barbershop Harmony Society]]'s 1949 [[International Quartet Champion]]. | [[Image:1949Pic.jpg|right|border|Mid-States Four]]The '''Mid-States Four''' is the [[Barbershop Harmony Society]]'s 1949 [[International Quartet Champion]]. | ||
== Quartet Members == | |||
Winning Members: | |||
*Tenor: Bob Rodriguez | |||
*Lead: Marty Mendro | |||
*Bari: Forrest Haynes | |||
*Bass: Art Gracey | |||
Replacement Members: | |||
*Bass: Phil Hansen (1982) | |||
*Tenor: Don Barnick (1999) | |||
== Contest Placements == | |||
=== International === | |||
*A previous tenor sang with them in 1945-46. | |||
{| class="contesttable" border="1" | |||
! 1945 || 1946 || 1947 || 1948 || 1949 | |||
|- | |||
| 6th || 6th || 3rd || 2nd || 1st | |||
|} | |||
=== District === | |||
Represented the [[Illinois District]]. | |||
{| class="contesttable" border="1" | |||
! 1946 | |||
|- | |||
| 1st | |||
|} | |||
== Recordings == | |||
== Extended History == | |||
A quartet was organized by four employees at the Bell & Howell Company. Marty Mendro, lead; Forrest Haynes, baritone; and Bob Corbett, bass. Haynes had been a member of a quartet that was one of the last to appear on the Keith road show circuit on stage and radio. | A quartet was organized by four employees at the Bell & Howell Company. Marty Mendro, lead; Forrest Haynes, baritone; and Bob Corbett, bass. Haynes had been a member of a quartet that was one of the last to appear on the Keith road show circuit on stage and radio. | ||
Mendro, a soloist in church choirs during his younger years, was introduced to barbershop harmony at Bell & Howell during World War II. The foursome became 6th place international finalists in 1945 and 1946 and were Illinois District champions in 1946. | Mendro, a soloist in church choirs during his younger years, was introduced to barbershop harmony at Bell & Howell during World War II. The foursome became 6th place international finalists in 1945 and 1946 and were [[Illinois District]] champions in 1946. | ||
When three of the quartet members left Bell & Howell, the group changed its name to the Mid-States Four. The president of the Mid States Insurance Company had taken an interest in the quartet and offered to sponsor them, providing uniforms and expenses in return for jobs done for his firm if they would use the corporate name. | When three of the quartet members left Bell & Howell, the group changed its name to the Mid-States Four. The president of the Mid States Insurance Company had taken an interest in the quartet and offered to sponsor them, providing uniforms and expenses in return for jobs done for his firm if they would use the corporate name. | ||
Art Gracey, formerly with the Fort Dearborn Four of Illinois, joined the quartet replacing Corbett, who was forced to give up singing with the group due to the pressure of business obligations. | Art Gracey, formerly with the [[Fort Dearborn Four]] of Illinois, joined the quartet replacing Corbett, who was forced to give up singing with the group due to the pressure of business obligations. | ||
The quartet finished third at the international contest in Milwaukee in 1947 with Bob Rodriguez singing tenor. Rodriguez, later known as Bob Mack, had studied voice in Chicago. | The quartet finished third at the international contest in Milwaukee in 1947 with Bob Rodriguez singing tenor. Rodriguez, later known as Bob Mack, had studied voice in Chicago. | ||
| Line 17: | Line 52: | ||
In 1950, during the Korean conflict, the Mid-States Four traveled more than 24,000 miles, doing a total of 33 shows for more than 52,000 United Nations troops. Their schedule took them to the front lines as well as to recreational areas and hospitals in Korea and Japan. | In 1950, during the Korean conflict, the Mid-States Four traveled more than 24,000 miles, doing a total of 33 shows for more than 52,000 United Nations troops. Their schedule took them to the front lines as well as to recreational areas and hospitals in Korea and Japan. | ||
They left the show circuit around 1966 but came out of retirement in 1982 with Phil Hansen replacing Art Gracey who had died. They performed in the Association of International Champions show at the 1983 international convention in Seattle. Hansen came from a singing family and was a veteran of several quartets, among them the Memories and Madness Quartet. | They left the show circuit around 1966 but came out of retirement in 1982 with Phil Hansen replacing Art Gracey who had died. They performed in the [[Association of International Champions]] show at the 1983 international convention in Seattle. Hansen came from a singing family and was a veteran of several quartets, among them the Memories and Madness Quartet. | ||
Tenor Bob Mack died in the spring of 1988. The quartet made a cameo appearance on the golden anniversary Association of International Champions show with Don Barnick of the 1979 Champion [[Grandma's Boys]] and 1992 Champion [[Keepsake]] filling in as tenor. | |||
== Individual Histories == | |||
== External Links == | == External Links == | ||
*[http://www.aicgold.com/History-ChampDetails.asp?WinningYear=1949 AIC page] | *[http://www.aicgold.com/History-ChampDetails.asp?WinningYear=1949 AIC page] | ||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid_States_Four Mid-States Four at Wikipedia.org] | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid_States_Four Mid-States Four at Wikipedia.org] | ||