Four Freshmen Society Wisconsin
A JazzTimes Readers Poll
"Vocal Group of the Year"!

Where can I hear them?
Where can I obtain CD's, etc.?
Are the original members still performing?
What songs have the Freshmen sung?

Q. Where can I hear them?

A. Check the homepage of this Web site for information about any scheduled appearances in the Wisconsin area. When additional bookings are announced, we'll publicize it there and also send out word via e-mail (and U.S. mail to FFS members living in Wisconsin). To be added to the notification list, e-mail me

For their current appearance schedule, go here and click on the "Tour" option.

To listen to them on the Web, click here.

Radio stations with the "Music of Your Life" format play early Four Freshmen music in their music mix. Some of those stations also broadcast on the Internet. For the "Music of Your Life" station in Madison, go to AM 1550 for WTUX or click on WTUX AM 1500 For "Music of Your Life" stations elsewhere, click on Music of Your Life

Gary Alderman also hosts a jazz show, "Journeys Into Jazz," on WORT-FM from 2-4 p.m. Wednesdays at 89.9 FM. Gary plays Four Freshmen numbers from time to time on this Madison, Wis. listener-sponsored radio station.

Q. Where can I obtain Four Freshmen LP's and CD's?

A. Four Freshmen Society members are eligible to purchase a variety of CD/s, tapes, videos, books, and other items through the Society's Four Freshmen Music Mart. The current list of offerings -- some of which are privately-produced and not commercially-available -- is contained in each issue of Fresh News. Direct orders to Bob Lininger, PO Box 11475, Pittsburgh, PA 15238-9998. Direct questions to him at 412/781-5267 (voice) and 412/781-5268 (fax).

If you attend the annual Four Freshmen Society convention, you'll find loads of used and new CDs, LPs, tapes, videos, and other items available in the convention's Music Mart.?

Most Barnes & Noble and Borders bookstores with a recording section, and selected music stores, carry both new and reissued CDs. The most recent CD is "Live in the New Millennium."

Online sources include the Freshmen's record label Pat's Gold and Mosaic Records

Used LPs, CDs and tapes are hard to find because these items tend to sell quickly.

The following FFS members are interested in helping others who may need to buy or sell Freshmen LPs, 45s, memorabilia, etc. Send a note or call. If you?re looking to buy an album or more, enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope to expedite communication.

David Barnes, 1490 Autumn Ridge Circle, Reston, VA 20194-1561, 703/732-8764

Don Boland, 665 Woodward Rd., North Providence, RI 02904-3146, 401/724-8822

Jim Creedon, 496 Trenton Ave., Utica, NY 13502-1606, 315/735-1100

Ted Driscol, 44710 Stang Rd., Elyria, OH 44035, 440/984-2802, 440/988-3836 (fax)

Tom Kroboth, 18715 Furrow Rd., Monument, CO 80132, 719/481-2371

Mark Linder, 114 E. Decatur St., Greenville, SC 29617, 864/271-1018 (after 6 p.m. ET)

Ed Monborne, 105 Grandview Rd., Ebensburg, PA 15931, 814/472-8108

Christian Rank, 42046 Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI 48170, 734/455-7065

Ann Smith, 713 Nottingham Dr., Richardson, TX 75080-6006, 972/690-1643

Another source is non-FFS member (but FF fan) Gary Alderman, who operates as G's Jazz at P.O. Box 259164, Madison, WI 53725-9164, 608/274-3527 or 608/277-1999 (fax). You also can contact him via e-mail. He has an extensive catalog of rare and out of print jazz recordings (but not CDs) and memorabilia for sale to collectors. He promotes having "20,000 jazz, rare, out of print LPs for sale at set prices" -- and they're searchable. He also conducts auctions.

Q. Are the original members still performing?

A. Two of the original members -- Bob Flanigan and Ross Barbour -- are still alive, and both are retired. Bob lives in Nevada and Ross in California. Both attend the annual Four Freshmen Society convention and Four Freshmen Reunion, and make themselves available to any fan wishing to talk with them.

Don Barbour -- Ross's brother -- sang with the group until September 1960 and died in a car crash Oct. 5, 1961. Hal Kratzsch, who left the group in May 1953, died of cancer Nov. 18, 1970.

The current members of the group -- the 22nd configuration of the original group and direct musical descendants -- are Bob Ferreira, Brian Eichenberger, Vince Johnson and Curtis Calderon.

Greg Stegeman, who Curtis replaced in September 2001, was the last member of the group to have been in the group with an original Freshmen (Bob Flanigan). Greg was an active Freshmen from 1989-2001, while Bob sang with the group until April 1991.

Only one Freshmen -- Ross Barbour -- has written a book about his experiences as a Freshmen. Most stores no longer stock it -- "Now You Know!" -- but you can special order it through bookstores. FFS members also can purchase it from the FFS Music Mart.

Take a look at a lot of photos of the Freshmen over the years by clicking here and scrolling down to "The Four Freshmen Photo Album." This a special treat for the serious fan!

Q. What songs have the Freshmen sung?

A. A complete discography is available on the Web at the Four Freshmen Society. Once there, scroll down the page to find the link "The complete Four Freshmen disography"