NASHVILLE--The electrifying young quartet OC Times are the new kings of barbershop. They were crowned the gold champions during the Barbershop Harmony Society’s international quartet contest at the Sommet Center. Three rounds of intense quartet competitions took place during the Society’s 70^th Annual International Convention.

OC Times’ members hail from Southern California and Reno, Nevada. Last year, they won the silver quartet medal, and in 2006, the bronze. Tenor Shawn York, lead Sean Devine, bass Cory Hunt and baritone Patrick Claypool are three-time international chorus champions with the Masters of Harmony, having won their third gold medals as well. The four talented vocalists were also 2007 chorus champions with Westminster Chorus. Claypool is the only Orange County native; York lives in south Corona, Calif., Devine, a former California resident, now lives in Nashville, and Hunt is from Reno.

Rounding out the top positions are:

Silver Medalist: Crossroads, whose members include Fred Farrell, Michael Slamka, Brandon Guyton, and Jim Henry.

Bronze Medalist, third place: State Line Grocery, whose members are Dylan Oxford, Tim Brooks, Mark Lamback, and Drew McMillin.

Bronze Medalist, fourth place: Redline, whose members are Rick Spencer, Chris Vaughn, Tim McCormic, and Kevin Stinson.

Bronze Medalist, fifth place: Old School, whose members include Rick Taylor, Joe Connelly, Jack Pinto, and Joseph Krones.

###

About barbershop-style a cappella music: Barbershop harmony is a uniquely American musical art form. It is known for its four-part harmony and the “expanded sound” created by its unique chord structure. Sharing roots with gospel and jazz, it is part of the continuum of American music.

About the Barbershop Harmony Society: Founded in 1938 in Tulsa, Okla., the Barbershop Harmony Society is the largest all-male singing organization in the world. There are eight official foreign affiliates of the Society, but barbershop harmony is sung in more than 40 countries including Japan, Russia and China.

List of International Quartet Champions by year with HTML link embedded which takes you to a Wikipedia page on each quartet

• 2008 — OC Times
• 2007 — Max Q
• 2006 — Vocal Spectrum
• 2005 — Realtime
• 2004 — Gotcha!
• 2003 — Power Play
• 2002 — Four Voices
• 2001 — Michigan Jake
• 2000 — PLATINUM
• 1999 — FRED
• 1998 — Revival
• 1997 — Yesteryear
• 1996 — Nightlife
• 1995 — Marquis
• 1994 — Joker's Wild
• 1993 — Gas House Gang
• 1992 — Keepsake
• 1991 — The Ritz
• 1990 — Acoustix
• 1989 — Second Edition
• 1988 — Chiefs of Staff
• 1987 — Interstate Rivals
• 1986 — Rural Route 4
• 1985 — The New Tradition
• 1984 — The Rapscallions
• 1983 — Side Street Ramblers
• 1982 — Classic Collection
• 1981 — Chicago News
• 1980 — Boston Common
• 1979 — Grandma's Boys
• 1978 — Bluegrass Student Union
• 1977 — Most Happy Fellows
• 1976 — Innsiders
• 1975 — Happiness Emporium
• 1974 — Regents
• 1973 — Dealer's Choice
• 1972 — Golden Staters
• 1971 — Gentlemen's Agreement
• 1970 — Oriole Four
• 1969 — Mark IV
• 1968 — Western Continentals
• 1967 — Four Statesmen
• 1966 — Auto Towners
• 1965 — Four Renegades
• 1964 — Sidewinders
• 1963 — Town and Country Four
• 1962 — Gala Lads
• 1961 — The Suntones
• 1960 — Evans Quartet
• 1959 — Four Pitchikers
• 1958 — Gay Notes
• 1957 — Lads of Enchantment
• 1956 — Confederates
• 1955 — Four Hearsemen
• 1954 — Orphans
• 1953 — Vikings
• 1952 — Four Teens
• 1951 — Schmitt Brothers
• 1950 — Buffalo Bills
• 1949 — Mid States Four
• 1948 — Pittsburghers
• 1947 — Doctors of Harmony
• 1946 — Garden State Quartet
• 1945 — Misfits
• 1944 — Harmony Halls
• 1943 — Four Harmonizers
• 1942 — Elastic Four
• 1941 — Chord Busters
• 1940 — Flat Foot Four
• 1939 — Bartlesville Barflies