Saturday, June 27, 1964, undoubtedly was the happiest day in the history of the Riverside, CA chapter. On that day the Riverside Citrus Belters chorus won 5th place bronze medals in its first International competition. And four chapter leaders, a group known as the Sidewinders, became the new International quartet champions. Some championship quartets, by necessity or by choice, have not always been strong members of the chapters to which they belonged. Not the Sidewinders. Tenor Jerry Fairchild had long been chorus director. Lead Joe Daniels had been president and was about to be named to that post again. Bass Jay Wright was three-term secretary. Bari Gene Boyd was past membership vice president, show chairman, and perennial committee member.

The Sidewinders immediately became popular ambassadors of the Society. They made two major network appearances two days after winning the gold medals. A crowd of 2,000 greeted them at their first engagement as champions in California. For the next eight years they sang from coast to coast and from Maine to Mexico. The Sidewinders stopped accepting engagements as of June 1969, but they emphasized they would continue to sing together from time to time "for our own amusement and amazement."

Awards
1964 - Barbershop Quartet Champions