Sweet Adelines International 75th Jubilee Commemorative Album

Excerpt from “About the Crowns” by Joni Bescos in The Pitch Pipe , January 2007 1947: Decaturettes were named the World Champion Women’s Barbershop Quartet. There were no crowns, pins, or certificates. 1948: Johnson Sisters were presented with a silver pin and named Queens of Harmony, probably inspired by the Miss America Pageant and a popular television show, Queen for a Day . 1951: Quarternotes, were given crowns of fresh flowers by the hostess chapter in Santa Monica, California (USA). (Ten years later, they were given “real” crowns.) 1952: The Pitch Pipers were presented with crowns made of seashells at the contest in St. Petersburg, Florida (USA). They lasted a bit longer than the flowers, but didn’t survive the championship year. 1953: Big Four received the first durable crowns. “They were rhinestones mounted on cloth material, and they were quite beautiful,” said Big Four replacement tenor, Mary Waters. 1954: Pearl crowns, handmade by members of the hostess chapter were presented to the Mississippi Misses. 1955: Nota-Belles were given rhinestone tiaras by the hostess chapter, Grand Rapids (Michigan, USA). The quartet also received roses, capes, and scepters. 1962: At the first convention held in Canada, the crowns awarded to the Sea-Adelines were emblazoned with a gold maple leaf. 1979: The 1978 Queens of Harmony, Tetrachords, asked to see the crowns ahead of time, so they could practice placing them on the heads of the new champions. “The crowns were so tiny,” said Nancee Rheinhold (bass), “they looked like they were made for little girls.” The quartet contacted members of the Coronet Club, and a contingent of crown-wearing women made their way to a carnival supply store in St. Louis and purchased “queen-sized” crowns. From that point on, the Coronet Club assumed responsibility for obtaining the crowns each year. 1995: The crowns won by Weekend Edition were gold to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. Deb Peters, baritone of Melo-Edge (1983 Queens of Harmony) made use of her crown by keeping her pitch pipe up there on stage.

SPOTLIGHT: CORONET CLUB

Ambiance, 1986 Queens of Harmony, wearing their new crowns. They amazed audiences with their singing style and music arrangements.

Never let anyone ever convince you that the crowns are corny! Wherever we performed, women of all ages and young starry-eyed girls were mesmerized by the crowns, and often we let them try them on. —Karen Breidert (2004 Queens of Harmony, “the BUZZ”; 1985 Queens of Harmony, Jubilation)

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