Sounds Familiar

Vocal music for all occasions

Back Row from Left: Lew, Keith

 

Front Row from Left: Steve, Dave

About Us

Sounds Familiar — Started initially as a Valentine’s Day pick-up quartet in February 1999 for the chorus yearly fundraiser and has been together and active ever since.  The initial name for the group was “The Pony Express” with the initial members consisting of Earl Cornelius at Bari, Dave Cala at Tenor, Steve McPherson at Bass, and Bud Glassberg at Lead.  Later, Keith Leavell took over the Lead part in 2000.  When Earl’s health began to fail, Lew Gillespie was recruited to take over as the Baritone three weeks before Fall contest in 2001.  The end result was winning Novice Quartet champion that year and all four of them have been together having fun and singing ever since. While the participating members have changed some over the years, we have continued to strive to delivering quality singing in all our performances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lew — Lew started his barbershop career as Freshman in High School. In 1975, Lew joined the Muncie Chief's of Harmony; in 1977: the Union City Hub City Chorus, and in 1982, the Greater Indianapolis Chapter, i.e. now Circle City Sound, being an active member for 27 years.  Lew sings the Baritone part in the quartet, and has been a member of Sounds Familiar since 2001.  

Keith — Keith started his barbershop journey through community theater exposure to Music Man back in the late 70’s and early 80’s time frame.  That exposure led to him joining the Greater Indianapolis Chapter (i.e. now Circle City Sound) barbershop chorus in 1990 as a Bass singer.  The first chorus competition and a trip to Harmony College in 1991 led Keith to switch parts from Bass to Lead.  The switch proved to be a good one as The Brickyard Boys quartet formed shortly thereafter and stayed together singing and competing until retiring around 1998. Keith then joined Sounds Familiar as the Lead in 2001 and continues to remain active with Circle City Sound chorus as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve — Steve was raised with the constant background of music on the stereo. His mother who had perfect pitch always had show tunes playing. From an early age he enjoyed the sounds of vocal harmony from a variety of groups, be it The Mills Brothers, The Beach Boys or Barbershop quartets . He was active in high school in various choruses and then joined the Greater Indianapolis chapter in 1997. Steve sings Bass and was one of the founding members of Sounds Familiar in 1999 and looks forward to more fantastic fun times with his quartet brothers!

Dave — Dave started singing barbershop in 1990 with the Banks of the Wabash chorus in Terre Haute and also sang in the Forumm Quartet, a southern gospel quartet.  He moved back to Indianapolis in 1991 but did not get back into barbershop until he met Keith through involvement in the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. Dave joined the Greater Indianapolis Chapter shortly thereafter, resumed his barbershop career and became one of the founding members of Sounds Familiar. Dave sings the Tenor part in the quartet and enjoys the great journey with my fellow quartet members and brothers, Keith, Steve, and Lew.