Doc,
as he is known throughout the world of Barbershop music is truly the Guru
of our music. After being discharged from the Navy as a Radioman in 1945 ,
serving in the North Atlantic, he returned home & joined the New Haven
Chapter, which had just been Chartered the year before. He sang for two
years with them then left to attend school and become an Optometrist
which he still practices. In 1955 he returned to the New Haven Chapter
& sang with the ,"Elm Chords". They competed in Miami in
1955 & L A in 1957. When Doc moved to Meriden he joined the Meriden
Chapter. Then in 1963 he formed the Four Statesmen Quartet. The Statesmen
became well known throughout the Barbershop world. They traveled
throughout the country as well as Asia & Europe, doing radio &
television shows. One of them being the long running & well known Mike
Douglas Show.
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They sang with the
Boston Pops as well as doing a USO tour. The Four Statesmen traveled the
Maritimes as well as England where they were very instrumental in
spreading Barbershop singing throughout that country.
In 1967 in the city of Los Angles the Four Statesmen won
the International Competition becoming the best quartet in the world.
Their music remains popular to this day & is available on CD &
tape. The group dissolved in 1978
In l979 Doc joined the comedy quartet, ‘‘The Note
Wits’’ & for 18 more years he took his voice throughout the world.
In 1986 he became a member of the, " George Baggish Memorial Quartet
who won the first International Seniors Championship in Tucson, Arizona.
Then together with Joe Ciriello, our VP of Programming they formed the
Connecticut Yankee Chorus. To add to all his accomplishments Doc was
elected its first president.
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