BinG! Chronology

1963

First German barbershop quartet is founded in Münster. Name: Sour Krauts , Lead: Kurt Gerhardt (Photo: The "Sour Krauts" on the stage again at BinGs 10th anniversary concert in Münster, 20th October 2001).

1966

On 18th August 1966 the "Sour Krauts" appear in the ZDF broadcast "Und Ihr Steckenpferd?" with Peter Frankenfeld.

1982

The legendary American quartet "Boston Common" appears on "Matinee der Liedersänger" (WDR) a great success, the recording is still popular today in barbershop circles.

The first German dissertation on barbershop singing appears. Author: Klaus Siebenmorgen

1984

The first German barbershop ladies´ chorus - Barbershop Blend - comes into existence, founded by Liz Döhring.

1987

The first German men´s chorus - "Erster Kölner Barbershop Chor"is founded by Kurt Gerhardt.

1988

The "Ruhrpott Company" (members include. Manfred Adams and Hans Frambach) is the first German quartet to have the opportunity to appear in SPEBSQSA´s "Golden Anniversary Show" at American convention.

The first edition of the "Barbershop News" appears.

1991

BinG! - Barbershop in Germany e.V. is founded.

1993

The first German barbershop contest takes place in the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne. Eleven quartets and six choruses take part: Der Erste Kölner Barbershop Chor, Barbershop Blend, Barbershop Bubbles, Jazzica, Ladies First und Singsation. The first German champion chorus is Ladies First (Dortmund) directed by Manfred Adams. The first German quartet champions are Viertakt from Cologne, with Norbert Hammes (bass), Andreas Marquenie (baritone), Leo Freitag (lead) and Hans-Jürgen Wieneke (tenor).

1995

Take Four, from Kiel, qualifies for the SPEBSQSA -Convention in Miami and is the first German quartet to take part in an American contest. (photo)

1999

A BinG! chorus - Ladies First, from Dortmund - follows in the footsteps of the Kiel quartet four years earlier, and is the first German chorus to stand on the stage at the Sweet Adelines Convention in Atlanta. (photo)

2000

The "List" goes online. German barbershoppers can exchange views online via the newsgroup barbershop.de.

For the first time the German Music Council includes barbershop arrangements in the selection list for German chorus competitions.

2001

A jubilee year: not only BinG! but also Ladies First, Femmes Vocales and Take Four celebrate "round number" anniversaries.