Masters of Harmony

Five years ago, I wrote a profile of a new brother, quiet, unassuming, self-effacing Gary Stone. Now he�s the Barbershopper of the Year 2014 and a household word! How did he get from lowly lead singer to the top of our annual banquet distinctions in such a short time? Grit and determination, plus a creative energy that pervades everything he does.

Scuba diver, private pilot, ukulele freak, dance instructor and certified family man all fits in nicely with his own business, Gold Standard Productions, a video and media company.

What has he done for the Masters of Harmony? Start with four years on the board of directors as VP for Public Relations while honing the crafts of his real avocation (and profession) under master-producer Doug Maddox. Who orchestrated those great post-show pictures (crafted with loving care by one of our other creative brothers, Jeff Wilson)? Who developed the step-by-step choreo teaching videos (with help from Patrick Claypool and Alan Gordon)? Who wrote those commercial jingles for American Pastime to sing at the spring show two years ago? Who researched and implemented the actual magic for Larry Johnson in �Magic to Do� at last year�s show? Looking for a dance outlet, Gary qualified for the front row. And he sings an occasional solo.

Now it has become: Should we have black lights on our white gloves during Ragtime? Should we change our costumes mid-show? Can we use this or that picture on our brochures, what is our theme, what is the order of performance, and what do we do with our quartet guests? Ask Gary.

Gary also does duty for the Barbershop Harmony Society, directing cameras at the international conventions in three of the last four years, and at Midwinter.

What�s in Gary�s future? Continuing to put variety into the MOH�s show programs and creating innovative themes to justify the great marketing work being done by one of Gary�s successors on the board, John Loftus, are just two ways to carry on the great production work started by Doug Maddox.

In short, Gary Stone has proven to be worthy to be Barbershopper of the Year.