1976 - FWD Champions

CD - "The 139th Street Quartet Collection"

Perhaps one of the most well-known quartets never to win International is the 139th Street Quartet. These guys were active as a quartet for over 23 years (1975 - 1997). They traveled the world singing unique barbershop arrangements and setting a standard for how a quartet can be an ambassador through song. Winning seven medals, they were a perpetual force at International contests with a record tying total of 19 appearances. They qualified to compete at International a record 21 times (1976-1996). They have quite a list of accomplishments. 139th Street Quartet were the 1976 Far Western District Champions. They placed 2nd in the 1977 and 1990 Internationals only missing the gold by a 53 and 20 points respectively. They focused on songs from Tin Pan Alley and the '20s and often challenged the contest rules of the time. Some of their; include: "The Bowery Medley", "Don't Put a Tax on The Beautiful Girls", "1927", "Jean", "Lulu's Back in Town", "My Mother's Eyes", "Kid's Song / Coney Island / Inch Worm", "Crazy Words", "The Best Times I Ever Had", "Money Makes the World Go 'Round", "I Wish I was 18 Again", "Wild Wild Women", "Can You Tame Wild Women?", "You Tell Her, I Stutter Too Much", "The Quartette from Rigoletto" The 139th Street Quartet was very influential in other non-contest areas of the hobby. They encouraged the early growth of many affiliates, traveling to Sweden and England many times to promote the beginning of both affiliates (SNOBS and BABS). They were the first American quartet to sing in Russia, sparking interest there. They brought The Quiet Don Quartet to the San Francisco convention in 1990. Pete Neushul and Jim Kline were the founders of the Collegiate Quartet Contest in 1992 The quartet often appeared on nationwide television with singing and acting roles on Night Court, Nurses and Cheers. They also sang backup for two of Neil Diamond's Christmas albums, earning them platinum records. They won the FWD International prelims a record 12 times. The 15-year gap between their first and last medals remains a record, including a 13-year gap between silvers. Ironically, Jim Kline would win his third silver medal while singing with Gotcha! in 2003, 13 years after 139th Street Quartet's last silver.