Our History

The first meeting of the Akron Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA) was held on March 9, 1939 at the Akron City Club. A quartet contest was sponsored on April 7 at the Akron Armory with a first prize of $250. The prize money was applied to the expenses of the winning quartet at the annual convention held in Tulsa that year. There is no record of who the first winner was.

In July of 1945, the Akron Chapter was formally presented a charter by International SPEBSQSA Vice-president Jim Knipe. Nelson Peter was the first president of the Akron chapter. The first chorus director was Earle Gardner.

Some of the first chapter quartets included: The Akronaires, The Rubber City Four and The Atomic Four.

Akron's first annual show was held on May 21, 1948. Twenty-five men performed on stage with the chorus. Ed Duplaga was the General Chairman. Some of the quartets performing were: the Rubber City Four, The Tiger Town Four, The Atomic Four, The Tom Cats, The Funmakers, The Pitch Pipers as well as the Massillon Chorus.

In the years since that first show, the Akron Chapter has continued a tradition of providing top quality shows for local Barbershop fans. These shows have included these International Champions along the way: The Pittsburghers, Buffalo Bills, The Schmitt Brothers, Mid States Four, Four Pitchikers, Suntones, Gala Lads, Four Renegades, Auto Towners, Four Statesmen, Western Continentals, Mark IV, Oriole Four, Gentlemen's Agreement, Golden Staters, Dealer's Choice, Innsiders, Bluegrass Student Union, Boston Common, Grandma's Boys, Chicago News, Classic Collection, Most Happy Fellows, The Ritz, Rural Route Four, Second Edition, Keepsake, Chiefs of Staff, Marquis, Revival, Yesteryear, Acoustix, Gas House Gang, Joker's Wild, Nightlife, Fred, Platinum, Michigan Jake, Four Voices, Power Play, Gotcha! and many other medal winners too numerous to mention.