Sidewinders (5)

The Sidewinders is the Barbershop Harmony Society's 1964 International Quartet Champion. First formed in late 1961 from four members of the Riverside, CA Cirtus Belters Chorus. The group consisted of chorus director, Jerry Fairchild, on tenor, chapter president, Joe Daniels, on lead, former membership VP, Gene Boyd, on bari, and chapter secretary, Jay Wright, on bass. The quartet won the 1962 Far Wester District Championship and placed 5th in their first international. Following that contest, they released their first record album entitled, “Here’s Barbershop And Then Some.” It featured many of their popular show songs such as “Dangerous Dan McGrew” and “Brother Bill.” In the fall of 1962, they won the Far Western District Championship. In 1963 the Sidewinders jumped up to 3rd place bronze medalist. They won it all in 1964 in San Antonio, TX. Right after winning the gold, the quartet was gathered up and flown to New York City to sing on the Ed Sullivan Show and the Meredith Wilson Show. In late 1964, they released their second album which was self-entitled. It featured a few of Jay Wright’s arrangements including one of the Sidewinders’ most popular songs, “My Coloring Book,” which featured Gene Boyd as the soloist. Gene moved away due to a job transfer in 1966 and was replaced by Russ Hosier of the Cirtus Belters Chorus as bari. They released their third and final album with Russ which was entitled, “Sunrise-Sunset.” The Sidewinders first retired in 1969 but continued to sing for their own pleasure. The original foursome came out of retirement a few times between 1972 and 1987. Joe Daniels passed in 1987 and John Sasine replaced him as lead in 1990. The Sidewinders called it quits for good in 1993. Since then, the other three winning members have passed on. Jerry Fairchild died in 2014, Jay Wright in 2016, and Gene Boyd in 2017. Russ Hosier and John Sasine both survive and went on to achieve big quartet goals on their own. Russ won the 1983 FWD championship as the baritone of Special Request and John went on to win his gold medal in 1996 as the lead of Nightlife. Before their passings, Jerry and Joe both went on to sing for many years in the popular show quartet, RSVP, and Jay Wright earned three medals with the Far Westerners.