InCider Press, August 2004, page 6

for years he had gathered with his chorus, the San Antonio Chordsmen, at a club following their weekly chorus rehearsal. After singing many songs someone would finally suggest that they call it a night. However, without fail, as they were in the parking lot going toward their automobiles, someone would call out, "One more song." They would regroup and sing one final song before departing for the week.

After one of these parking lot songs Joe went home and wrote the words and music for the song entitled "One More Song." Since then barbershoppers around the world have been able to end any gathering by singing a song containing lyrics that express their exact feelings and the need to sing one more song before going home.

I considered it a special privilege to join with three other students during Joe Lile's class, Senior Quartet Experience, to surprise Joe by singing "One More Song" the day after Joe had told us about the song's origin. After some tuning and coaching we sang the song a second time, rang a few more chords, and received a nice ovation. Thanks, Joe, for all your great songs.

"One more song, let's sing one more song, Let the memories linger on and on . . . " What a perfect way to end an evening of barbershop singing - - to sing one more song. And that's exactly what had happened for years before composer, Joe Liles, put pen to paper and wrote "One More Song."

As Joe related to his class at Harmony College,

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had many opportunities to lock-in on chords with three other men during the remainder of the week.

My most memorable musical lock-in occurred on the last day of the college. I had enrolled late in the class called "How to be a great bass" and hence, had not had a chance to sing in front of the class and be critiqued by the instructor, Farris Collins, director of the Duke City Chorus in Albuquerque, New Mexico. During the final class meeting all four of the "How to be a great bass/baritone/lead/tenor" classes met jointly in a large tiered lecture hall.

After several quartets performed and received their critiques, I finally got enough nerve to get up and dash to the front of the room for an opportunity to sing before the gathered classes. Three other singers appeared and we sang a portion of "Heart Of My Heart." One of the instructors stopped us and the instructors for the three other voices quickly dashed to their respective singers to give them some suggestions. Mr. Collins stayed seated. I looked at him with expressions that said, "What about me?" He then came to me and merely said, "Bart, you're do

ing great. After the other three guys get some fine pointers, you'll sound even better. Keep up the good work." After the individual critique we again sang "Heart Of My Heart", this time locking-in on many of the chords. We were treated with thunderous applause.

I was locked in again, but this time to the thrill of being a barbershopper who had rung a few chords in front of a large gathering of very critical students and instructors. I certainly hope that the thrill of this second lock-in will stay with me for many years and inspire me to continue to grow in barbershop harmony singing.