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Four
Pitchikers
1959 International Quartet Champions
Larry
Hedgpeth (Tenor); Keith Keltner (Lead);
Wendell
Keith Young (Baritone); Joe Delzell
(Bass)
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Our 50th anniversary champs were
simply small town boys who made it big. They went from
the farms in old Missouri to the top of the music world
and had a lot of fun along the way.
This year we celebrate our 1959
Gold Medalists, The Four Pitchikers.
The boys began singing together in
high school in the heart of the Ozarks and a town of
less than 200 people, Nixa, Missouri. They originally
named themselves The Teen Tuners. The quartet
consisted of Larry Hedgpeth, tenor; Keith
Keltner, lead; Keith Young, baritone and
Johnny Marriot on bass.
The year was 1950 and the boys
visited the Springfield - Heart of the Ozarks
chapter up the road. They were immediately “bitten by
the barbershop bug”. The Teen Tuners joined up and
even competed at district for a few years while still in
high school.
After high school Johnny took a job
out of town while the other three attended Drury
College in Springfield and began looking for a new
bass. Even by this time all were experienced musicians,
singing and playing several instruments.
Brand new to barbershop, future
Society Hall of Famer, SK Grundy was looking for
a quartet to try out his new arrangements. He really
liked the sound of the three Teen Tuners but they needed
a bass. In May of 1955 he persuaded an experience
quartet man, Joe Delzell, to join.
Grundy provided custom
arrangements, helped them get organize and coached them
as well. He so involved in the quartet they considered
him the fifth man.
This new combination became The
Four Pitchikers. They only had 25 miles distance
between them so rehearsing twice a week was the norm.
They worked hard and few had any doubt they would be
successful.
With an active show and rehearsal
schedule, great coaching from Grundy and innovative
arrangements, they began their climb up their contest
ladder.
They placed 8th at
regional, second at district and soon qualified for
their first International quartet contest. It was in
Minneapolis in June ‘56 they placed FOURTH.
Thanks to their hard work and the perfectionist, SK
Grundy they would never place lower.
They won the Central States
District quartet championship that October and the
next International repeated as fourth place medalists in
Los Angeles ‘57, they moved up to Second in
Columbus 1958.
The 1959 convention was held in the
Chicago Civic Opera House with an overflow crowd of 5000
fans cheering them on.
They performed their six best songs including
“Alexander’s Ragtime Band”, “That Tumble Down Shack In
Athlone” and “Lora-Belle Lee”. Among the 39 other
quartets were five future champs (Gala
Lads - Oriole 4 – Evans Quartet - Town & Country Four –
Suntones).
When the smoke cleared, The Four
Pitchikers won their International gold medals by only
64 points. But it was enough to make all those hours of
hard work worth the time and effort. They had great
support from their chapter, district and family. All
four were married by now and the wives were and
important part of their quartet.
In fact Keith and Wanda Keltner
were wed just prior to the International Convention.
During their acceptance speech, Keith told the audience
of 5,000, “I’ve only been a BRIDE for seven
days”. He only realized what he had said later that
night.
At the time of their winning, Larry
was 24 and a building contractor, Keith Keltner was 23
and running his family’s tire an oil company, Keith
Young was a 24 year old carpenter and Joe was 42 and a
government office employee.
The return home was special. They
were celebrated with a “Pitchikers Night” during the
next Springfield chapter meeting with about 200 family
and friends including a very proud coach and mentor, SK
Grundy.
The group performed in 42 states,
Mexico and Canada. They literally canvassed the four
corners of the nation as they performed three out of
every four weekends, on average, with an approximate 50
appearances a year.
For many years they were “regulars”
on the nationally broadcast Ozark Jubilee
television series. The Pitchikers had special spots on
the show each weekend and did all the vocal background
music for stars appearing on the show. Once they were
even introduced on the Jubilee by Gene Autry. He
introduced them as “Four Pitch Pickers”.
They even got to meet and sing for Irving Berlin.
During their career they shared the stage with The
Jordanaires. Rex Allen, Sr., Eddie Arnold, Pat Boone,
Walter Brennan, Ray Charles Singers, Perry Como, Jimmy
Dean, Everly Brothers, Red Foley, Tennessee Ernie Ford,
Pete Fountain, Al Hirt, Waylon Jennings, Brenda Lee,
Lennon Sisters, Ted Lewis, Willie Nelson, Osmond
Brothers, Debbie Reynolds, John Ritter, Tex Ritter, Doc
Severinsen, Diana Shore, Mel Tillis, Lawrence Welk, and
Andy Williams.
The Pitchikers enjoyed a special
LIVE TV appearance on the Perry Como Show. They
sang two songs with Como as the performance was
broadcast across the nation from New York City.
In 1961 Hedgpeth took a
construction job in Alaska so, in June, Keith’s brother,
Ken Keltner filled in for Larry so the group
could honor its performance commitments.
They sang over eight and a half
years and performed extensively. They sang their last
performance together was in December of 1963.
All remained active in the chapter
and Joe Delzell served as a chapter vice president and
went on to learn the baritone horn, tuba and trumpet
would play with the renowned Springfield Symphony.
Two members have passed on. Larry
Hedgepeth died March 9, 1999 at the age of 63 and we
lost Joe Delzell on September 1, 2004. He was 87. His
son is active in the Kansas City chapter.
The Four Pitchikers were “always
available” and never too busy or too good to sing with
anyone. They were ever-willing, hard working, clean cut,
morally fine and true barbershoppers at heart.
These farm boys grew up to become
fine entertainers and shared their love of harmonizing
with a nation.
We salute Larry Hedgepeth, Keith
Keltner, Keith Young and Joe Delzell. Champions all!
written and researched by Grady Kerr
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