Beau Jesters

The Beau Jesters are the Barbershop Harmony Society’s 1949 Southwestern District Champions. First organized in 1946 as the Sunset Quartet with Paul Mansfield on tenor, Don King on lead, Ernie Boring on baritone, and Wally Bradford on bass. The quartet began doing jingles on their own radio show on KIXL three afternoons a week. In the summer of 1948, they were hired by campaign manager, John Connelly, to assist Lyndon Johnson’s run for the US Senate. They were paid $100 a week and would sing for the crowd as LBJ flew in. After returning to Dallas in September of ‘48, they were given their own 30 minute radio show on WFAA on Saturday mornings from 9 to 9:30. The Beau Jesters were all big fans of groups such as the Mills Brothers, the Ink Spots, and the Golden Gate Quartet and would emulate hits of the day such as “Buttermilk Sky” and many more. When Paul Mansfield graduated and went off to attend the University of Texas at Austin, Bill Barnet replaced him as tenor. The Jesters started to gain popularity over the years and in 1949, they were named Southwestern District Champions. They were the youngest champs in the SWD. Shortly after winning the district, 35 year old Joe Huray replaced Bill as tenor. The quartet later qualified for the 1950 international contest but placed a disappointing 20th. The quartet split up after Wally and Don were drafted for the Korean War in 1951. In 1953, Ted Mack auditioned the Beau Jesters for his show in New York and they won. He also offered them a job in full-time show business. The quartet turned down the offer. They continued to sing with several different changes in personnel until calling it quits all together in 1958. In 1974, they were asked to sing at the Sunset High 25th anniversary reunion for old times sake. This got them out of retirement and with their kids all grown up, they could perform again. They all joined the Dallas Town North Chapter and were once again in high demand singing on shows with the Vocal Majority and many other groups. The quartet decided to retire for good in the spring of 1984 when Don’s Parkinson’s disease was starting affect his singing. They made their final appearance on stage in 1986.