Photo property of the Dan Jordan Archives. Used with limited permission.
The Sidewinders
The Sidewinders, 1962 Far Western District Quartet Champions were officers and directors of the mighty Riverside ‘Citrus Belters’, and are considered by some to be the greatest barbershop quartet ever.
On his Sunday night show in 1964, Ed Sullivan introduced the 'brand new International Champs, the Sidewinders,' who quickly broke into a rousing 'For Me and My Gal.'
Tenor Jerry Fairchild, Lead Joe Daniels, Bass Jay Wright and Baritone Gene Boyd had placed 5th and 3rd before winning it all in San Antonio in July of 1964. Their sound is so clean, crisp and upbeat it's hard to wipe the smile off your face.
In the following 4 decades quartets have tried to recreate the classic arrangements by The Sidewinders including: Roll Out Of Bed With A Smile, True Love, Bye Bye Blues, Sailin' Down The Chesapeake Bay, Little Captain Of My Heart, and the most requested baritone solo of all time – My Coloring Book
One of the Sidewinders most memorable experiences was at the FWD convention in San Francisco, October of 1962
We had placed 2nd at District in 1961: 2nd (to the Gala Lads) at prelims in the spring of 1962 and won 5th place medals at international in Kansas City in July of 1962. We were the odds-on favorites to win the District in San Francisco in October of 1962.
It so happened that Tony Bennett's recording of "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" was at the top of the charts in the summer and fall of 1962. We thought it would be most appropriate if we could leave a personalized message with the FWD as to how much it would mean to us to win the championship in San Francisco and how we would truly "leave our Hearts" there.
Jay arranged it specifically for that night. We had never sung it before anyone. We were in no way prepared for the incredible audience response when we sang it for our acceptance song, after having been crowned 1962 FWD Champions. (I'm sure most of the audience didn't even hear "Happy little sun will shine for me" at the end of the tag.) The intensity and duration of the applause was something we had never encountered.
Most of you reading this will not have had the privilege and honor of standing on the stage as a FWD contestant. Fewer still will have had the audience and judges affirm that you were, indeed THE BEST. That, believe me, is a priceless experience. It is beyond my ability to express it in mere words.
The Sidewinders will be forever grateful to the Society and the Far Western District for having given us the opportunity to count among our memories that wonderful night in San Francisco in October of 1962.
Photo property of the Dan Jordan Archives. Used with limited permission.
