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Retired
Spartanaires
aka Spartan-Aires
Comedy Quartet
Stu Palmer- Lead
Norm Dake- Tenor
Bill Alexander- Bari
Lew Glashower- Bass
Per Stuart's son Sandy Berry...
They were state comedy champions and were very active members of SPEBSQSA Chapter 4 (BHS Grand Rapids, MI). Those days of growing up around barbershop and the fellowship that we all shared are memories that will be forever with me. At my parent’s memorial service in September 2011 (Dad passed away in March and my Mom in September) there were a number of guests that shared memories of times they were invited to “hear the boys sing” and to attend the GL Invitational and the fun they had! Lew was there also and reminiscing on the good old days and that he is the only surviving member of the quartet. (Also Stu's brother) Richard “Dick” Palmer was a GL Barbershopper and member of the (Grand Rapids MI) Fun-addicts quartet.
Per Norm's son Cliff Dake (tenor for Chordiology)...
Does that old saying “The apples don’t fall far from the tree” stand true? My dad sang in a barbershop quartet starting in the late forties through the early sixties. Guess what part he sang? You guessed it: Tenor. His quartet sang for audiences throughout Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Back in the 50’s, state and county fairs were huge entertainment for families all over the country. Dad’s quartet (The Spartanaires) performed at many of these venues for over six years. They also sang on stage with quartets like the Buffalo Bills, and Confederates just to name a few. The one take away for me during those times was the fellowship within the quartet. As I remember it, the quartet and family members would get together for picnics and dinner outings. At every outing it would always end up with everyone singing barbershop. Little did I know at the time I would end up singing with Chordiology, enjoying the same fun and enjoyment that comes with singing barbershop. So does the apple fall far from the tree? I’ll let you be the judge.
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