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Difference between revisions of "Innsiders"
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Mike Cox joined the society in 1962 and worked as supervisor for an LTV subsidiary at NASA's Johnson Space Center. He had directed church choirs and was well known as a "cut up" and added a humorous touch to the quartet. | Mike Cox joined the society in 1962 and worked as supervisor for an LTV subsidiary at NASA's Johnson Space Center. He had directed church choirs and was well known as a "cut up" and added a humorous touch to the quartet. | ||
John Devine was a charter member (1962) of the Port Arthur chapter before moving to Houston in 1967. He worked as a purchasing agent for Texaco. Named music director of the Tidelanders chorus in 1970, | John Devine was a charter member (1962) of the Port Arthur chapter before moving to Houston in 1967. He worked as a purchasing agent for Texaco. Named music director of the Tidelanders chorus in 1970, Devine immediately led them to a fourth place finish in Atlanta. | ||
Guy McShan, a sales engineer for General Electric, joined while in high school in 1950. As a Dallas chapter member | Guy McShan, a sales engineer for General Electric, joined while in high school in 1950. As a Dallas chapter member McShan sang in several quartets one of which was the Doo Dads, 1965 Southwestern District quartet champions. He had also been a member of the Grand Prairie and Port Arthur chapters before moving to Houston. | ||
Dr. Tom Pearson was an orthodontist who joined the Houston chapter in 1967. Pearson had served as show chairman, assistant director, and chapter president. In 1969 | Dr. Tom Pearson was an orthodontist who joined the Houston chapter in 1967. Pearson had served as show chairman, assistant director, and chapter president. In 1969 Dearson won the district quartet championship with The Debonaires. Dearson was an accomplished pilot and often flew the quartet to out of town performances. | ||
The Innsiders qualified for the Atlanta International and placed 15th in 1972. That same year at district they moved up a notch and came in second behind the [[Dealer's Choice]]. With their sights set on the next prelims, a quirk of fate stepped in. | The Innsiders qualified for the Atlanta International and placed 15th in 1972. That same year at district they moved up a notch and came in second behind the [[Dealer's Choice]]. With their sights set on the next prelims, a quirk of fate stepped in. | ||
McShan won a sales contest at work and a trip for two to Spain. Trouble was, it was during the prelims weekend. Shirley McShan got 51 percent of the vote and the McShans headed off to Spain leaving the three Innsiders behind at Prelims as spectators (at International, the OK 4 placed sixth and the DC won it all). | |||
This turned out to be a stroke of luck. Not going to International enabled them to afford the time and expense of attending the week-long Harmony College that summer of 1973 in Birmingham. The DC had done this the year before and it worked very well for them. DC lead, Bill Thornton encouraged the Innsiders to make the trip and they were glad they did. | This turned out to be a stroke of luck. Not going to International enabled them to afford the time and expense of attending the week-long Harmony College that summer of 1973 in Birmingham. The DC had done this the year before and it worked very well for them. DC lead, Bill Thornton encouraged the Innsiders to make the trip and they were glad they did. | ||
At Harmony College they were coached by the best the society had to offer: Mac Huff, Billy Ball, Burt Staffen, Harry Williamson, Jack Hines and Harlan Wilson. They also met and worked with Don Clause for the first time. This week of intense work changed the quartet. They began singing better with more control and creating a "bigger" sound. | At Harmony College they were coached by the best the society had to offer: Mac Huff, Billy Ball, Burt Staffen, Harry Williamson, Jack Hines and Harlan Wilson. They also met and worked with Don Clause for the first time. This week of intense work changed the quartet. They began singing better with more control and creating a "bigger" sound. | ||
This new approach of working harder and smarter was evident that fall when the Innsiders took the Southwestern District quartet championship by a 219 point margin in Oklahoma City. It also could be the reason why they made such an incredible jump from 15th place in the 1972 International to fourth in 1974 at Kansas City. | This new approach of working harder and smarter was evident that fall when the Innsiders took the Southwestern District quartet championship by a 219 point margin in Oklahoma City. It also could be the reason why they made such an incredible jump from 15th place in the 1972 International to fourth in 1974 at Kansas City. | ||
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Over the next year they concentrated their efforts and worked even harder. In addition to each individual having a daily vocal workout, the quartet rehearsed three times a week. Each was scheduled in detail. They spent the first 30 minutes singing scales followed by vowel sound matching and lots of unison and duet singing. During run-throughs of the contest sets the wives would help coach the stage presence making it a complete "team effort". They considered the ability to work well together their "innside strength". | Over the next year they concentrated their efforts and worked even harder. In addition to each individual having a daily vocal workout, the quartet rehearsed three times a week. Each was scheduled in detail. They spent the first 30 minutes singing scales followed by vowel sound matching and lots of unison and duet singing. During run-throughs of the contest sets the wives would help coach the stage presence making it a complete "team effort". They considered the ability to work well together their "innside strength". | ||
Armed with new songs and arrangements by Einar Peterson and Ed Waesche they began rehearsing EVERYDAY and even worked on a high school stage for every rehearsal three weeks prior to the big contest. In San Francisco they found a small church auditorium to work in away from the crowds. They knew the job they had to do and decided to forgo the "conventioning" in order to win the contest. | Armed with new songs and arrangements by Einar Peterson and Ed Waesche they began rehearsing EVERYDAY and even worked on a high school stage for every rehearsal three weeks prior to the big contest. In San Francisco they found a small church auditorium to work in away from the crowds. They knew the job they had to do and decided to forgo the "conventioning" in order to win the contest. | ||
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Their last show was in Berlin following the Salt Lake City convention in 1986 where they performed during a week long tour of Germany. The championship version last sang together for a Houston chapter installation banquet in the late 90’s. | Their last show was in Berlin following the Salt Lake City convention in 1986 where they performed during a week long tour of Germany. The championship version last sang together for a Houston chapter installation banquet in the late 90’s. | ||
Pearson went on to sing in quartets and won another district quartet championship with the Inns 'N' Outts in 1985. He won the Senior Quartet gold in 2005 with [[Texoma Sound]]. | |||
Devine has directed the Tidelanders to a total of four district championship but is now retired from waving his arms. His quartet, The Main Event, won the district quartet championship in 1988. | |||
McShan has moved to Bryan, TX sang with the Bryan/College Station chapter along with his old friend Dennis Driscoll. He was also a member of the Inns 'N' Outts when they won the top district prize in 1985. McShan was also an active member of the Fort Worth Texas Millionaires directed by his son Phil. | |||
Cox has been active in chapter and quartet activities in Beaverton, Oregon but has moved back to Texas in recent years. | |||
[[File:Innsiders brochure.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Brochure highlighting the Innsiders]] | [[File:Innsiders brochure.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Brochure highlighting the Innsiders]] | ||