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Posts Tagged ‘Bob Flanigan’

Died On This Date (August 20, 2012) Ross Barbour / The Four Freshmen

Posted by themusicsover on August 20, 2011

Ross Barbour
December 31, 1928 – August 20, 2011

Ross Barbour at right

Ross Barbour is perhaps best remembered as a founding member of American vocal group, the Four Freshmen.  Formed in 1948 while they actually were freshmen at Butler University, the group went on to release numerous hit records and perform in front of sold-out audiences the world over.  They would be cited as direct influences on the likes of the Manhattan Transfer, the Lettermen, and most notably, Brian Wilson who often gave credit to the group’s vocal harmonies for guiding his vision of the Beach Boys sound.  Barbour retired from the Four Freshmen in 1979 and passed away from lung cancer on August 20, 2011.  He was 82.  Fellow co-founder Bob Flanigan died just three months earlier.

Thanks to Scott Miller for the assist.

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Died On This Date (May 15, 2011) Bob Flanigan / Lead Singer Of The Four Freshmen

Posted by themusicsover on May 15, 2011

Bob Flanigan
August 22, 1926 – May 15, 2011

Bob Flanigan was the founder and lead singer of influential jazz vocal group, the Four Freshmen.  Formed in 1948 while they were still students at Butler University, the group went on to release numerous hit records and perform in front of sold-out audiences the world over.  They would be cited as direct influences on the likes of the Manhattan Transfer, the Lettermen, and most notably, Brian Wilson who often gave credit to the group’s vocal harmonies for guiding his vision of the Beach Boys sound.  It was Flanigan’s distinctive high pitch that could be heard above the others on most of the group’s recordings.  He was also an accomplished trombonist and bass guitarist, in fact all the original members played instruments,  which separated them from other vocal groups of the era.  Upon retiring in 1992, Flanigan retained the rights to the group’s name and was involved in selecting new members.  Bob Flanigan was 84 when he died of congestive heart failure on May 15, 2011.  Co-founder, Ross Barbour passed away just three months later.

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