Fond Memories

When I was in high school, I had the good fortune to be in a barbershop quartet. Barbershops in high schools were rare at that time and we always cleaned up in the state music contests. We called our group the Schoolhouse Four and we were able to book engagements and make a little cash. We even performed at the high school staff's Christmas dinner.

One day, the principal called us in his office and he said that we weren't allowed to keep any money we made from our singing because we were a school sponsored group. We were flabbergasted. He then said, "Of course, if you have any expenses such as mileage or upkeep on the car, you can be reimbursed for that. Obviously he had been ordered to tell us that but he gave us a way out of the situation. We were always able to claim mileage, expenses for music books, outfits, etc.

From left: Edwin Fenstermacher, me, John Harsough, and Scott King.