In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument
Home | Doo Wop | Barbershop | World | Contemporary | Christian | Vocal Jazz | Choral | Christmas | Instructional | Arrangements
Classical | Opera | Musicals | Personality | Young Singers | Disney | Videos | Songs | The Artists
Misfits History
Art Bielan, lead, Joe Murrin, tenor, and E.V. "Cy" Perkins, bari, formed three legs of a quartet on a train en route to the national SPEBSQSA convention in July 1941. They shanghaied Pete Buckley to sing bass. All were members of the Chicago No. 1 Chapter. Lacking a name and a costume, they exchanged coats and christened themselves the Misfits. They placed seventh. Tenor Joe "Moose" Murrin had sung in a quartet while in the Navy during World War I and he sang with the Chicago Police Octet for nine years. Art Bielan, lead, had sung with a number of quartets, including the Suberpa Four, the State Four, and the Forges Post quartet, the latter group being an American Legion foursome. Cy "You're Wrong" Perkins, who had sung baritone for a quarter century, was happy to point out other fellows' mistakes, thereby endearing himself to many barbershoppers. Pete "Butch" Buckley had previously contributed his resonant bass voice to the P&O Quartet and the Variety Four. The Misfits placed fifth at the national contest in 1942, and did not compete the following year due to the absence of Buckley, who spent nine months in Mississippi helping Uncle Sam build ships, but in 1944 the group finished in second place. To comply with regulations of the War Committee on Conventions, the preliminary round of competition in 1945 was held in four different cities: New York, Cleveland, Chicago, and Kansas City. The top fifteen quartets then competed in the final round at the Detroit Masonic Auditorium in June where the Misfits won top ranking. Awards |
Select a Category |
Want to Sing? - Find a Chorus Near You
List of Choruses by State | List of Choruses by City