Ken Gibson

Ken was introduced to the SPEBSQSA back in 1964 while singing tenor in a college quartet. He attended his first barbershop show that same year in Lansing, headlined by The Buffalo Bills… and immediately joined their chapter.  

He sang in a few chapter foursomes, became chorus director, and in 1973 Lansing won their first Pioneer District Chorus Championship. They were also the alternate representative to the International Chorus Contest twice. 

Ken joined The Vagabonds as their tenor in 1969, winning the Pioneer District contest that fall. The quartet went on to compete internationally, appearing seven consecutive years in the BHS Top Ten, while earning 5th, 3rd, and 2nd place medals in 1976. Years later, Ken sang both lead and baritone in Opening Night, the 1992 Pioneer District Champs who also competed at International.

In 1994/95, along with friends Russ Sealy, Bill Wickstrom & Bob Wisdom, he helped form our District’s Quartet Champions Association (QCA), serving as show chairman in the early years.

Around 2005, at the request of then Pioneer District President Al Bonney, Ken and his wife Vicki became clinicians for the first two A cappella Blast weekend retreats for the BHS Young Men in Harmony program, attended by dozens of students. In year three, they were joined by Jamie Carey.

Ken and Vicki worked together again in 2014, beside the Pollard family to establish The Voice youth chorus, by assisting with fundraising, travel, and promotional materials. The chorus competed at the BHS Mid-winter Convention, earning OUTSTANDING ratings for three years running. Many of those young men remain active members of BHS and specifically here in Pioneer. 

For the past few years, Ken has served in various roles assisting Chairman Mike Hansen with the annual Doran McTaggert Send-Off Show, which raises funds to assist Pioneer’s representatives to the International competition. 

Ken brought several men and women into the BHS, five of whom include his children and grandchildren. And because family and music are such a blessing to him, his favorite ensembles remain The Gibson Family Quartet where he sang for years with his wife and two daughters. And more recently, 3rd Generation Quartet singing with his three grandsons. All of them, including his son-in-law are members of Pioneer District’s Top Ten Chorus, City Lights.