Some of Our History...
In early 1960, a group of stalwart men who loved to sing decided it was time to formally organize. They’d been pals who had been singing old-time barbershop tunes together for many years in the Officers' Club at Nellis Air Force Base, local taverns, and each others' homes.
So they contacted the then-parent organization of an expanding nationwide barbershop singing "fraternity" and started the paperwork to create a local chapter and chorus. That organization was the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Singing in America (SPEBSQSA, for short). The effort required a lot of "red tape" paperwork, but they finally became officially chartered by SPEBSQSA on December 27, 1960. That name was changed years later to the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS).
The fledgling chapter/chorus was called the Silver State Serenaders, which was later changed to the Las Vegas Chapter, in step with a nationwide effort to use as chapter monikers the name of the city in which new chapters were being created. Our then-chorus of about 25-30 gentlemen was also renamed the Gamble-Aires. All the rest, as they say, is fun-filled history and a lot of fond barbershop memories!
We are proud to acknowledge The Whittier Choralaires Chapter in Southern California as our sponsor. Whittier, back in 1960, boasted a very large chorus, had some BHS "clout" and expressed a heartfelt desire to pitch in and oversee the formation of our chapter. The Choralaires Chorus was a special guest on our debut show in 1962, and again on our 50th Anniversary show in 2010.
Coincidentally, in 1998, the Las Vegas Gamble-Aires Chapter/Chorus sponsored the BHS chartering of our nearby brothers in harmony — the Las Vegas Metro Chapter and its City of Lights Chorus.
The City of Lights performed in many different venues throughout the Las Vegas Valley, Moapa, Overton and St. George, Utah. They competed in Far Western District competitions and top honors were received in 2003 when they placed second in district competition against choruses from Arizona, Nevada, Southern Utah, California and Hawaii.
In 2012, after much discussion and weighing of pros and cons, the decision was made to merge the Las Vegas and Las Vegas Metro Chapters back into a single, larger organization and retain the original Las Vegas Chapter's charter with the Barbershop Harmony Society.
A new chorus name was chosen and as of January 1, 2013, we became the SILVER STATESMEN.
So they contacted the then-parent organization of an expanding nationwide barbershop singing "fraternity" and started the paperwork to create a local chapter and chorus. That organization was the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Singing in America (SPEBSQSA, for short). The effort required a lot of "red tape" paperwork, but they finally became officially chartered by SPEBSQSA on December 27, 1960. That name was changed years later to the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS).
The fledgling chapter/chorus was called the Silver State Serenaders, which was later changed to the Las Vegas Chapter, in step with a nationwide effort to use as chapter monikers the name of the city in which new chapters were being created. Our then-chorus of about 25-30 gentlemen was also renamed the Gamble-Aires. All the rest, as they say, is fun-filled history and a lot of fond barbershop memories!
We are proud to acknowledge The Whittier Choralaires Chapter in Southern California as our sponsor. Whittier, back in 1960, boasted a very large chorus, had some BHS "clout" and expressed a heartfelt desire to pitch in and oversee the formation of our chapter. The Choralaires Chorus was a special guest on our debut show in 1962, and again on our 50th Anniversary show in 2010.
Coincidentally, in 1998, the Las Vegas Gamble-Aires Chapter/Chorus sponsored the BHS chartering of our nearby brothers in harmony — the Las Vegas Metro Chapter and its City of Lights Chorus.
The City of Lights performed in many different venues throughout the Las Vegas Valley, Moapa, Overton and St. George, Utah. They competed in Far Western District competitions and top honors were received in 2003 when they placed second in district competition against choruses from Arizona, Nevada, Southern Utah, California and Hawaii.
In 2012, after much discussion and weighing of pros and cons, the decision was made to merge the Las Vegas and Las Vegas Metro Chapters back into a single, larger organization and retain the original Las Vegas Chapter's charter with the Barbershop Harmony Society.
A new chorus name was chosen and as of January 1, 2013, we became the SILVER STATESMEN.
Las Vegas Chapter/Gamble-Aires Chorus - 2012
Here is the last group of the Gamble-Aires prior to the merger on Jan 1, 2013. A finer group of fellows is not to be found.
Las Vegas Metro Chapter/City of Lights Chorus - 2012
Here is the City of Lights Chorus at the Far Western District competition in Mesa, AZ, in October 2012..... The chorus' last competition before the merger.
Here is their final contest set (2 songs), performed on stage.... (you may need to turn your volume up after the introduction)
Here is their final contest set (2 songs), performed on stage.... (you may need to turn your volume up after the introduction)