4 Ever 4
4 Ever 4 is a girls quartet from Round Valley High School in Eager, AZ. The group got together under the direction of Mr. Byron Bolen, who is the director of the nationally recognized "Ambassadors" Show Choir. The girls in the Show Choir audition each year for a possible chance at being selected as a member of the girls quartet. Jodi Bingham (Tenor), Ashlee Martin (Lead), and Lindsey Haws (Bass), are the original members from 2002 with Kyra Wilkins (Baritone) being added in the fall of 2003.
4 Ever 4 have achieved a strong regional reputation in the state of Arizona and have begun to be a popular request for shows and community events, and have even been the opening act for Jericho Road, a contemporary Christian quartet. This summer they traveled to South Carolina to compete in the Rising Star competition sponsored by the Sweet Adelines International organization, and finished an impressive tenth place in a field of twenty quartets from all over the country.
Keep your eyes and ears open for this group because these beautiful young ladies are only seventeen years old, and have just started their senior year.
Over Time Quartet
In April of 1999, Over Time registered as an official SPEBSQSA quartet. Shortly after that they entered their first Division contest and won the Seniors Division. This was followed by an Evergreen District Seniors Championship in Spokane, Washington. Then, on January 29, 2000, in Tucson, Arizona, the quartet was named the 2000 International Seniors Champions.
None of the quartet consider themselves "old"... their accumulated age is 260 years ... and counting! This includes 168 years of SPEBSQSA membership. They have a rich and varied background in barbershop experience and in their personal lives.
Tenor Gary Raze joined Over Time in August, 2000, after the original tenor left the quartet. Gary is the youngest member at 59, and is famous for his antics in the popular comedy quartet, McKenzie Touring Company (featured at last year's Remember Radio Barbershop program). He is also well known for his funny television commercials for the northwest's Les Schwab Tire Company. Gary lives in Elmira, Oregon, with his wife, LeeAnn. They are both educators and have a son and daughter, and two grandchildren.
Bass "Bud" Roberts has won the Evergreen District quartet championship three times: in 1974 with The Bright Side; in 1977 with Four Cheers; and in 1983 with Pacific Pride. At 62, Bud had a lifelong love of music, performing musical theatre and numerous jingles on radio and TV, in addition to his barbershop accomplishments. Quite newly-married (1995), he and his bride, Suzanne, share eight children and nine grandchildren between them. Bud is a Civil Engineer working for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Suzanne owns the Portland HomeInstead Senior Care franchise.
Lead Jerry Harrison is 70 and joined the Society in 1961. He has two Evergreen District quartet championships under his belt: in 1966 with The Bay Shore Four; and the 1982 Cascade Connection. Jerry, a prolific song writer, comes from a gospel music background, and has written many songs currently sung by SPEBSQSA and SAI quartets and choruses. Jerry owns his own Group Insurance Company, Jerry Harrison, Inc. in Eugene, Oregon. He and his wife, Paula, have been married for 50 years and have two daughters and three grandchildren.
Mel Knight, a 70-year -old baritone, has been a member of the Society for 43 years. He won the Evergreen District quartet championship with the Cascade Connection in 1982 and directed the Eugene, Oregon chorus to district championships in 1982 and 1983. He is a Music Judge, arranger and coach and was the Society's Director of Music Education from 1988 - 94. Mel is in the Evergreen District Hall of Fame. He and Pat have been married since 1956, and have three children and four grandchildren.
The quartet is thrilled to have won the International Seniors Championship, and look forward to singing together for many years in the future.
Our Narrator
Steve has been involved in music, action and art for most of his life and has appeared in many Northland Pioneer College theatrical productions. Memorable performances include Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof, Marrin' Sam in Li'l Abner and Oliver Warbucks in Annie. He also appeared as Al Jolson's agent, Louis Epstein, in our 2003 show and as the Announcer in last year's production of Remember Radio.
He has been an active member of the Arts Alliance of the White Mountains and currently serves as the organization's president. He is a watercolor artist specializing in portraying the modern day cowboy. One of his paintings appears on the front cover of this year's program.
Steve has been employed by the White Mountain Independent in advertising sales for over 21 years. He resides in Linden with his wife, JoAnn.