Comment by Cash led to formation of St. Louis Chapter

O.C. Cash, one of the co-founders of SPEBSQSA, was an outgoing man, who had a flare for humor and for public relations. These traits served the Society well in its early days. It was, we are told, his good humor and public relations talents which led to the formation of the St. Louis Chapter.

Following the first meeting of our Society on April 6, 1938, news media all over the country picked up on the story of the new barbershop harmony organization. According to Society luminary, Deac Martin, after the third meeting of that first chapter, a reporter asked Cash if other barbershop harmony chapters were being formed.

Cash replied that his friend Everett Baker of St. Louis was organizing a chapter there. Cash's reply, however, was untrue. Baker's name came to his mind because they had sung together on occasion.

On June 2, 1938, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported that E.G. Baker, who was vice president of the Frisco Railroad in St. Louis, was organizing a St. Louis Chapter. Baker immediately began receiving phone calls. He called Cash and exclaimed, "What have you done?"

Despite the fact that he and Cash had not previously discussed the matter, Baker authorized his secretary to take the names of interested callers. He proceeded to set up the first meeting of the St. Louis Chapter, which soon had 100 members.

Source: Notes provided by David Wright to his class on the history of barbershop harmony at Harmony College

-- from Macon, GA Sharptalk - Fred Hinesly, editor

HR

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