Chicago News Quartet

1981 SPEBSQSA International Champions!

The CHICAGO NEWS experienced a meteoric rise in International Barbershop annals -- from finalists to second-place medalists to the coveted International Champion gold medals in only three years! This feat was not due to luck, for these were seasoned performers in prominent quartets before forming the CHICAGO NEWS.

The NEWS have had the pleasure of singing hundreds of shows from coast to coast in the U.S., Canada and in Europe. They've been heard and seen on the nation's radio and T.V. stations, including the Phil Donahue Show. Along the way they have shared the stage with such famous singing groups as the HILOS, the Kingston Trio, the Four Freshmen, the King Singers and the Singers Unlimited before hanging up their pitchpipe in 1985.

The idea of a possible redux grew several years ago when they came out of retirement at the request of a Florida chapter to do a show honoring the NEWS, immediately followed by another show at the famous Chicago Theater for the Chicagoland Association of Barbershop Chapters.

SO HERE THEY ARE!

Meet the Members of Chicago News

Tenor, Ray Henders, a veteran of 46 years in barbershopping, sang with several excellent quartets -- The Midnight Oilers, the fifth place medalist Soundtracks and more recently, Chicago Natural Gas. Lead, "Butch" Koch, began with the Jokers Wild in 1972 and became an international Quarterfinalist with the Landmarks, who disbanded just before the NEWS were formed in 1979.
Baritone, Joe Sullivan, has replaced the original bari, Greg Wright. Joe brings with him over 46 years of quartet experience. He was the original lead of the International Champion Four Renegades and sang bari in two well-known quartets -- The Avant (International 5th place medalists) and the Tin Pan Allies (International Finalists). Also active in the administrative side of barbershopping, Joe is Immediate Past President of the Illinois District.
(email: joesully@net-link.net) Bass, Tom Felgen, who began his stage "career" in a couple of Our Gang comedy movies, started his barbershop quartet in 1946 while in seventh grade, with classmate Bob Newhart as their "opening standup comedy act" at many schools throughout Chicago. Tom continued quarteting through high school and college before forming the famous International champion Four Renegades with Joe Sullivan, "Buzz" Haeger and Jim Foley.
(email: bassmantom@aol.com)

There you have it. Four talented and experience guys who love to sing 'em and ring 'em and entertain and thrill you with a wonderful mix of old and new songs in the CHICAGO NEWS style!

How to contact the quartet:

Contact:	Joe Sullivan Street City, State ZIP
E-mail:	joesully@net-link.net
Home Phone:	(ac) 000-0000
Work Phone:	(ac) 000-0000

Chicago News Schedule

04/8/00

Sat

Dunn County Chapter Show (Colfax, WI High School, 8:00 p.m.)

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	Tenor, Ray Henders, a veteran of 46 years in barbershopping, sang with several excellent quartets -- The Midnight Oilers, the fifth place medalist Soundtracks and more recently, Chicago Natural Gas.		Lead, "Butch" Koch, began with the Jokers Wild in 1972 and became an international Quarterfinalist with the Landmarks, who disbanded just before the NEWS were formed in 1979.
	Baritone, Joe Sullivan, has replaced the original bari, Greg Wright. Joe brings with him over 46 years of quartet experience. He was the original lead of the International Champion Four Renegades and sang bari in two well-known quartets -- The Avant (International 5th place medalists) and the Tin Pan Allies (International Finalists). Also active in the administrative side of barbershopping, Joe is Immediate Past President of the Illinois District. (email: joesully@net-link.net)		Bass, Tom Felgen, who began his stage "career" in a couple of Our Gang comedy movies, started his barbershop quartet in 1946 while in seventh grade, with classmate Bob Newhart as their "opening standup comedy act" at many schools throughout Chicago. Tom continued quarteting through high school and college before forming the famous International champion Four Renegades with Joe Sullivan, "Buzz" Haeger and Jim Foley. (email: bassmantom@aol.com)