Died On This Date (August 20, 2012) Ross Barbour / The Four Freshmen
themusicsover Ross Barbour
December 31, 1928 – August 20, 2011
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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