The Barbershop Harmony Society, legally and historically named the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (SPEBSQSA), is the first of several organizations to promote and preserve barbershop music as an art form. Founded by Owen C. Cash and Rupert I. Hall in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1938, the organization quickly grew, promoting barbershop harmony among men of all ages. As of 2014, just under 23,000 men in the United States and Canada were members of this organization whose focus is on a cappella music. The international headquarters was in Kenosha, Wisconsin for fifty years before moving to Nashville, Tennessee in 2007. In June 2018, the society announced it would allow women to join as full members.
Acoustix is a Dallas, Texas-based quartet that won the 1990 International Quartet Championship of SPEBSQSA. They have all, at different times, been members of the Dallas-based Vocal Majority chorus.
Platinum is a barbershop quartet, created in 1998 and the 2000 SPEBSQSA international quartet champions. They are famous for their long posts, particularly in their adaptation of the song Be Our Guest and in Clay Hine's arrangement of Auld Lang Syne, which is on Platinum's CD of the same name.
Gotcha! is an American barbershop quartet formed in 1996 by four members of the Masters of Harmony chorus.
Gas House Gang was a barbershop quartet that won the 1993 SPEBSQSA International Quartet Competition. They started singing as a group in 1987 in St. Louis Missouri. After winning the 1988 Central States District Competition in their first attempt, they began a steady climb up the International Competition ladder which culminated in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where they were awarded the 1993 International Quartet Championship.
Four Voices is a barbershop quartet based in Tennessee. After winning the SPEBSQSA Collegiate Barbershop Quartet Championship in 1996, Four Voices went on to become international champions in 2002.
Joker's Wild is a world champion barbershop quartet formed in 1990 by Dave Kindinger and Mark Green from Columbus, Ohio, and Steve Legters and Stephen Iannacchione from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Coached by Lance Heilmann, after winning the Johnny Appleseed District of the SPEBSQSA competition that fall, they went on to the SPEBSQSA's International contests, earning 10th place, 5th, 2nd, and finally the International Championship in Pittsburgh in 1994.
The Suntones were a barbershop quartet from Miami, Florida, USA, and the 1961 SPEBSQSA international champions. At the time it won gold, the quartet featured Gene Cokeroft as tenor, Bob Franklin as lead, Harlan Wilson as baritone, and Bill Cain as bass.
Bluegrass Student Union is the Louisville, Kentucky barbershop quartet that won the 1978 SPEBSQSA International competition. They distinguished themselves by performing at a high level of proficiency on stage and in the recording studio throughout their 33-year career, and were the second youngest quartet to have won the SPEBSQSA championship, as of that time. The quartet became known for continually improving their art, even after their win. They credited much of their success to their coaches, Mary Jo Hatton Thompson, Don Clause, Ron Riegler, Gene Stickler and Ed Weber, to their chorus Director, Jim Miller, and to their long-time arrangers, Ed Waesche and Walter Latzko.
Revival was a barbershop quartet that won the 1998 SPEBSQSA international competition, after placing 15th in 1996 and 9th in 1997.
Yesteryear is a barbershop quartet that – coached by Darryl Flinn, Lance Heilmann, Larry Ajer, Greg Lyne, and other big names in barbershop – won the 1997 SPEBSQSA international competition.
The Town and Country Four is a Barbershop quartet that won the 1963 SPEBSQSA international competitions with singers Leo Sisk (tenor), Larry Autenreith (lead), Jack Elder (bari), and Ralph Anderson (bass).
The Auto Towners is a Barbershop quartet that won the 1966 SPEBSQSA international competition.
The Regents is a Barbershop quartet that won the 1974 SPEBSQSA international competition. The quartet hailed from southeastern Pennsylvania. One of the singers was Ron Knickerbocker, a high school science teacher at the Downingtown Senior High School. The quartet won the championship after several years of being in the top five finalists.
Most Happy Fellows is the Barbershop quartet that won the 1977 SPEBSQSA international competition in Philadelphia.
Grandma's Boys is the barbershop quartet that won the 1979 SPEBSQSA International Contest.
The Boston Common is the barbershop quartet that won the 1980 SPEBSQSA international competition at Salt Lake City, Utah.
The New Tradition is the California Barbershop quartet that won the 1985 SPEBSQSA international competition. The name refers to an earlier quartet, the Grand Tradition, with the same lead and baritone. It is not to be confused with the New Tradition Chorus from Northbrook, Illinois.
The Interstate Rivals is the Barbershop quartet that won the 1987 SPEBSQSA international competition in Hartford, Connecticut. Formed in 1982, the Rivals won the Cardinal District championship that fall. The next summer at the international contest they placed tenth, followed by sixth, third, second-place finishes before winning in 1987. They sang and travelled widely, until they disbanded in August 1991. All four members went on to repeat gold medals with Keepsake, Gas House Gang, Marquis, Platinum and Old School. The members combine for a total of 11 gold medals between the four, all winning on just one voice part each.
Second Edition is the Barbershop quartet that won the 1989 SPEBSQSA international competition.
