Celebrating the 60’s: Its Music and Its Moments
The 1960’s were a tumultuous decade marked by numerous significant political events: the first television debates for the Presidency; the threat of nuclear annihilation during the Cuban missile crisis; the rise of the civil rights movement lead by Dr. Martin Luther King; ground-breaking bipartisan civil rights legislation; the birth of MediCare; the space race and Neil Armstrong’s becoming the first human to walk on the moon; the start of the Viet Nam war; the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Robert F. Kennedy.
On a lighter note, the decade was marked by numerous cultural and technical innovations that still influence our lives today: Zip Codes were introduced into the US; automobile seat-belts were installed as standard equipment by the now defunct Studebaker-Packard Corporation; Coca Cola introduced Sprite in the U.S.; Dr. Who was first broadcast in Britain; Ford introduced the Mustang; Star Trek and Days of our Lives debuted on NBC Television; Rolling Stone Magazine was founded; Christian Barnard performed the first heart transplant; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. was incorporated.
Numerous groundbreaking musicians began or continued their careers during the 1960’s, and, amazingly, much of their music is still being enjoyed today. The outstanding musicians of the sixties are far too many to list, so we won’t risk leaving out some of your favorite artists – but we will perform some of their music.
Celebrating the 60’s Show Music
Celebrating the Sixties will feature music from, and in some cases, to celebrate events of the Sixties.
King of the Road………………………………………Roger Miller, Arr. Scott Kitzmiller
Under the Boardwalk… ………………..Artie Resnick and Kenny Young, Arr. SPEBSQSA, Inc.
Aura Lee/Love Me Tender Medley……………………Words: W. W. Fosdick, Music: George Poulton/Words and Music: Elvis Presley and Vera Matson, Arr. Tom Gentry
Sweet Caroline…………………………………………Neil Diamond, Arr. Gene Cokeroft
The Lion Sleeps Tonight………….George Weiss, Luigi Creatore and Hugo Peretti, Arr. Scott Turnbull
Yesterday………………………John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Arr. Tom Gentry
When I’m Sixty-Four…………John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Arr. Tom Gentry
What a Wonderful World……George Weiss and Bob Thiele, Arr. Russ Foris
Love Me….…………………………….Mike Stoller and Kerry Leiber, Arr. Aaron Dale
Kokomo……………..John Phillips, Terry Melcher, Mile Love, and Scott McKenzie, Arr. Don Reckenbeil
What’ll I Do,…………………………………Irving Berlin, Arr. Ed Waesche and Renee Craig
Where Will You Be / Down By the Riverside Medley.……………(spiritual, Arr. Jerry McCollum)
California Dreaming………………….John Phillips and Michelle Phillips, Arr. Joe Johnson
Armed Forces Medley 2023……………………….……….Arr. Steve Delehanty
Coast Guard – Semper Paratus………………….………Capt. Francis S. Van Boskerck
Space Force – Semper Supra………………………James Teachenor II and Sean Nelson
Air Force…………………………….……………………………Robert Crawford
Navy – Anchors Aweigh…………..Words: George Lottman, Music Lt. Charles Zimmerman
The Marine’s Hymn………………………….Words: Henry Davis, Music: Jacques Offenbach
The Army Goes Rolling Along………..Words: Harold Arberg, Music: Brig. Gen. Edmund Grubeer
By the Light of the Silvery Moon…………………Words: Ed Madden, Music: Gus Edwards, Arr. Val Hicks
Bare Necessities…………………………………………..Terry Gilkyson, Arr, Tom Gentry
Guest Quartet: Sophisticated Gentlemen
The Special Guest Quartet for the October 2024 Barbershop Harmony show is Sophisticated Gentlemen who will present a selection of their own music. Sophisticated Gentlemen Quartet was the 2023 Rocky Mountain District Senior Quartet Champion and fourth place finisher at the February 2024 International Senior Quartet Competition in New York City.
Members of Sophisticated Gentlemen are long-time Barbershoppers who currently reside in Albuquerque and are members of the Duke City Sound Barbershop Chorus.
Baritone Doug Kastman has sung in numerous choruses throughout the Rocky Mountain District, but he now resides in the greater Albuquerque area. Doug is a three-time Rocky Mountain District Quartet Champion winning with Denver City Limits (1991), Crazy Rhythm (1999), and Mojo (2006).
Bass Farris Collins started singing Barbershop in college. Farris is a three-time Rocky Mountain District Quartet Champion singing Bass with Duke City Quartet (1983), Bank Street (1984), and Distinction (2000). He sang Bass with internationally ranked Bank Street for almost 20 years. He was a perennial coach and teacher of How To Be A Great Bass at the Society’s Harmony College. Farris is the Director and a founding member of the Duke City Sound.
Lead Shawn Modragon has sung Lead in three Rocky Mountain District Quartet Champions: Distinction (2000), the Summit (2007), and Blue Steele (2015). He is a certified Performance Judge in the Barbershop Harmony Society since 2013. He has served on the RMD board as VP Music and Performance and is currently the RMD VP of Marketing. Shawn is best known in New Mexico as DJ Chaz Malibu on the morning shift of KABG BIG 98.5 where he has been a local radio personality for over 40 years!
Tenor Tony Sparks first competed in a barbershop quartet as a ninth grader. He eventually sang for nearly twenty years with the internationally ranked medalist quartet, Bank Street, the 1984 RMD Quartet Champions. Tony has directed three men’s choruses, and currently directs a young women’s chorus called On Q. He was Certified as a BHS Music Judge in 2010, and he is currently Administrative President of the Rocky Mountain District of the BHS and the Associate Director of the Duke City Sound.
Links to Sophisticated Gentlemen
One Show in Los Alamos (Friday Night) and One in Santa Fe (Saturday Afternoon)
If you are unable to attend the 7:00 PM Los Alamos Show on Friday night or you happen to be in Santa Fe on Saturday afternoon, you can attend the 2:00 PM matinee at St. John’s United Methodist Church.
The United Church in Los Alamos is located at 2525 Canyon Drive, and St. John’s United Methodist Church in Santa Fe is located at 1200 Old Pecos Trail.