Roger passed away peacefully at about 7:30 this evening [August 29] at Calvary Hospital. Roger slipped into unconsciousness early today, and never regained consciousness. When he passed, Rog was surrounded by his wife Nancy, son Kyle, brother Brian (and his wife), and, by his quartet mates from Reveille.

I know many of you have special memories of Rog and have shared lots of great and fun moments - I know these are the moments that Rog would want to be remembered by. He was a true barbershopper, a brilliant mind, and my best friend.

I will follow up with the particulars of the wake and funeral once they are finalized, but it is likely that there will be a funeral mass on Saturday.

Please keep Rog in your prayers....

Joe H

Joe De Felice:

It was just about a month ago that I visited the Big Apple Chorus in Manhattan at a regular rehearsal. It was made special by Rog in the midst of his temporary (who knew) revival, feeling and looking so good as he roamed about from stage to off stage, like he was chomping at the bit to get up and sing, even in his weakened state.

While not able to do that just yet (at the time) I did manage to stand with him as we sang the closer "Keep the whole world (America?) SINGING" and he did sing his beautiful tenor part whilst I carried the bass and listened to him. It is a memory I will carry forever.

Rog auditioned me for the BAC in early 1985 and I sang my Bass part on the exercises he put me through. Then he asked me to harmonize in another part and I woodshedded Tenor on "Let Me Call you Sweetheart" . Rog (for some reason) was impressed and said so. I replied that I loved to sing tenor, as it was a natural harmony part, and if that I would be OK if that's what he wanted. Roger replied.....

"Joe, Welcome to the BASS section of the BAC". Typical Rog.

At the time 4UNDA was still going HOT stuff and Rog was a comedic genius and remained so right to the end, even getting the shot at the end of the BAC contest performance in INDY. Recently I caught REVEILLE at the M-AD Harmony Brigade show. Rog could not make it that day, but had been singing whenever his health allowed. You will no doubt, hear from many novice quartet people who sang in a quartet with Rog, and you can believe them all for Rog loved doing that as well, and did so often while singing with his own Quartets.

Another GIANT is gone but, as with the others, will never be forgotten as long as his arrangements, memories and melodies linger on. Roger was far too young to leave us but what a packed life he enjoyed with family, friends, Faith and following. Well Done Oh good and faithful servant.... Heaven gets a little funnier and musical now with Rog joining the Heavenly Harmonizers.

With condolences to all his family and extended family of quartets and choruses (I think Rog coined the word CHORI..).

We will miss you good friend. See ya at the afterglow. Joe De Felice

p.s for other than Harmonetters I am including the pix from the HI quartets experience with Rog in April. They are priceless.

It wasn't too difficult being the family rebel as a teenager. If my Mom and Dad liked something, I would despise it. Naturally. Barbershop music? Puh-lease! Just throw it on the pile with the wide lapels and plaid doubleknit pants. Yuck!

Dad would take me to guest nights when I was in High School and College. But every time I'd listen to his small Chapter on Long Island, I was nonplussed. Barbershop music was great for him, not for me. Barbershop was OK for my kid Brother, though who joined the Society as a youngster. But I always thought he was just joining to suck up to dear old Dad. I was into Yes, Rush, Led Zep and The Beatles. (Now THERE'S a quartet!) If it didn't have a SCREAMING guitar solo or a Moog Synthesizer, don't even bother putting it on the turntable.

I had moved to Houston after college and was visiting my old stomping ground, Labor Day weekend 1983. After seeing a Broadway show matinee, I suggested to my girlfriend that it might be fun to visit my Dad's brand new Chapter, The Big Apple Chorus. As I sat in the audience, I was amazed! This was a POWERHOUSE of 140+ guys under the direction of Don Clause. BAC was preparing for what ended up to be its first MAD Championship and were SMOKING! The small church meeting room could barely fit them all and when they sang a big tag, I swear the entire place shook to its foundation. This was not the small chorus I had seen Dad sing with before. It got my mind to thinking...but not too hard.

At the break, a slender man from the chorus with a New York accent by the name of Roger Payne announced to us visitors that he would be happy to audition us if we were interested in becomming members of this ensemble. I got out of my chair immediately. My girlfriend asked what I was doing. I replied that I was going to audition. Since we lived in Houston, it was TOTALLY safe. I could pass the audition, but there was no way I could join. HA-HA! The jokes on them! At the same time, I'm proving to Dad and kid Bro that I really CAN do this...but only if I felt like it. After all, I stil have to maintain my nonplussed outward appearance of course.

I follow Roger downstairs to the church basement where he sat in front of a piano. A few intervals, scales, harmonizations and one Star Spangled Banner later, I was in...but was I? All along, I'm thinking to myself in a sing-songy way, "I live in Hou-ston, I can-not jo-oin, Haaa-Haaa Ha-Haaa-Haaa..." Yep I was feeling kinda cool just waiting for the ultimate punchline where Roger sees my address on the application form and I can tell him smugly, "Oh, so sorry. I live in Houston. I cannot POSSIBLY be in your group. Thanks but, no thanks!"

At that point, Roger sees my little bombshell and exclaims: "YEWSTIN?! YEWSTIN?! Listen to me. You gotta cawl Jawn Devine. Make shoowa you tell him Roga Payne sez the Tidelandiz need to PAY you to sing wit them! Got it?" I replied, "Tidelanders, what's THAT?" "They're AWWESOME! That's what they are!" Roger went on to explain about how the Tidelanders were another big chorus with a bunch of GREAT guys who have earned all these International medals! One of the best choruses in the world was in my own back yard and I didn't even know it until now! For the first time, I MIGHT have had an inkling of an interest in...Ba-bar-bar...sorry, I still couldn't say the word. When I got back home after a few weeks of prodding from Dad, I was ready to visit and subsequently join The Tidelanders. So truth be told, I wouldn't be a Barbershopper if it weren't for my Dad AND Roger Payne!

Last year SWD was fortunate enough to have Roger on the coaching staff for its August Top Gun School. At the closing session as I'm recognizing the coaches for their hard work, I told the story above. Roger smiled really big and said "I had no idea" almost sheepishly as I gave him a big hug of thanks. Just goes to show you, sometimes we touch each other's lives and make profound differences in them without the slightest awareness of it. I was lucky in this case. I got to thank Roger for helping me find a life enriched with harmony where I have made thousands of lifelong friends.

Just a thought. Contact that special person in your life that got you into this "hobby" of ours and thank him or her. If this person has passed onto the next plane, raise your glass to the heavens in a toast in this person's honor. We may not always agree on what songs to sing, what groups are the all-time greats or who won the last contest, but we can all agree that we're all better off because one day a while back, someone caused a spark somewhere in your soul that ignited into a flame of four-part harmony. Maybe we all should do this in Roger's memory. I know I will with a bunch of my VM Brothers Thursday night. Rest in peace and thanks again dear friend.

Mike

Michael I. Borts President - QCA (Quartet Champs Assn. of SWD) SWD Top Gun School Director SWD QUICC Director Standing Ovation Program Reviewer SWD Barbershopper of the Year 1999 Dallas Knights - Lead www.dallasknights.com The Vocal Majority

Ev Nau:

He was a Yankee fan, and I'm a Red Sox fan . . . that should have been enough for me to keep my distance. But . . .

I first saw this guy in Salt Lake City in 1980 with a quartet called 4 Under Par, and all he did was drop his pants. Big deal! He made the top ten, and I didn't even compete. Then I found out about the Yankee thing and knew that I should avoid him . . . I really tried not to laugh. We were already too much like the teams we cheered for: he was a winner, and I an also-ran.

Later, he appeared on many shows with my favorites, the Boston Common, and his antics in the quartet were such that the Common refused to follow them any more. Like any good Boston boys, they knew not to allow the Yankee influence to interfere. I applauded their decision while stifling a couple of laughs . . . or at least trying to. I learned from the Common never to try to one-up a master at his craft. That was shortly after Bucky Dent had destroyed yet another Red Sox' dream . . . I went back to distrusting the master of laughter, my personal arch-enemy - the Yankee fan.

Still later, I found myself teaching at Harmony College with this Yankee fan and obvious New Yorker, and finding myself drawn in to some great conversations with a guy heretofore known only to me as a comedian. New York Yankee fans are like that . . . very tricky . . . I had to watch my step, or I would have been convinced the guy really was a genius. But, New York geniuses? Please . . . he was a Yankee fan!! How could be possibly be any good? But, strangely enough, I always wanted to be around him more and more each time we met.

Once, I found myself on a judging panel in Dixie with Steve Delehanty (another Yankee fan . . . hmmmmmmm), Dave LaBar? , Bill Biffle, Shannon Elswick and the penultimate Yankee fan . . . what a hoot as we upstaged the emcee as he attempted to deliver his punch lines. Every one of his jokes was one we had all heard before! So, we blurted the punch lines out in unison as the audience howled. I hoped no one noticed that I was consorting with not one, but TWO Yankee fans. What a contest! What a way to learn that both these Yankee fans were really okay . . . and one of them could really deliver when it counted. I almost forgot about the curse of the Bambino. (Almost)

The Yankee fan's latest quartet, Reveille, should have been a wake-up call in more ways than one. He had me in stitches a couple of times as they invented new ways each year to introduce the alphabet to the audience . . . one letter at a time. Now, perhaps our Yankee fan will sing in another quartet called Taps, one that will allow him to rest in peace, for his day is done . . . much too soon. Funny how he lived his life as a consistent winner, but left us far too early like the Red Sox do so often in the stretch.

Despite his Yankee-fandom and my Red Sox (rhymes with flops) addiction, we always found a way to keep the conversation lively. Now, I am left to carry on a rivalry with no rival. Just like a Yankee fan to deprive a Boston guy of a chance to win . . . and I am the poorer for it. Ours was a relationship built on east-coast jabs and not-so-subtle gags. In short, it was great. I'll never forget hearing him ask others what the secret to comedy was . . . and then watching folks try to deliver long, erudite definitions, only to have him say, "Yeah, but is it funny?" Classic.

Rest in Peace, Roger . . . and Godspeed to those of us who will see and hear him every time we sing one of his arrangements. I'll bet the next time I see him, he'll be wearing pin stripes just to rub my nose in it a little more. I sure hope so, for I will miss those moments very much.

Yankee fans are like that . . .

Ev Nau

Wendy:

I am so incredibly saddened to have just come home from quartet rehearsal - where we were actually sharing memories of a special trip we made to see Roger in NYC this past April when his cancer resurfaced - to find an email letting us know he had passed. We knew he was very ill and it was just a matter of time but it still hurts so much - he was a wonderful man and a good friend. Thank you Reveille for being by his side . this must be such a difficult time for all of you and Roger's family. Much love and prayers to you all.

Following is an email I sent to my chorus just after we saw Roger in NY. I thought this may be a good time and place to share it as well.

With a very heavy heart,

I wanted to share something I had the privilege of experiencing this week with Exhilaration and Synchronicity.

Some of you know Roger Payne. He is a coach and dear friend that both quartets share . and he is going through brain cancer. It's not the good kind . I guess there really just isn't a good kind. He's on his third regimen of chemo and the two quartets decided impromptu last week to take a drive to NYC, where he lives and is getting his treatments, and surprise him.

My sister lied through her teeth to set the whole thing up but the end result was awesome. Here we were . eight of us . in an incredible Jewish deli in downtown Manhattan just waiting for him to finish his infusion and walk through the door. His face was priceless. The emotion was palpable among all of us. And there we sat for 2.5 hours laughing and singing and helping our brother to forget how he felt and to remind him how much we loved him.

After he left the two quartets stood in a circle in the middle of the deli, held hands, sang Irish Blessing and cried. We are all so blessed to have music and these wonderful friendships in our lives.

I put some photos of our NYC trip on our website if anyone is interested. http://www.exhilarationquartet.com/photos_friends.htm

Love,

Wendy

Deeply saddened as I am by Roger's passing, I treasure the difference he made in my life andthe lives of countless others that he touched. Roger lives on in all the lives that he touched.Others have addressed the many fine attributes and skills that Roger shared with the world,but somehow the listings don't do him justice. For all his talents, it was the sheer humanityof the man that made the biggest difference.Long live Roger Payne!

Rob Hopkins

As a Grand Inquistor Kibber, Roger and I often disagreed. I once accused him of being the Greatest Threat to the Preservation of Barbershop Harmony in the Century. But our conversations, on-line and off-line, were rationale and gentlemanly.He was a very nice gentleman, and I will miss him very much.

Grant Carson

Along with the rest of the barbershop world I was deeply saddened at the news of Roger's passing. Not only was he a brilliant writer of hysterical lyrics, a terrific arranger, and judge, to any who were fortunate enough to spend any time with him he was a truly great friend. I first met Roger in the late 70's when he hosted the 139th Street Quartet on his chapter show in New York. One could not help but appreciate his quick wit and intelligent humor. Then in 1987 he came to Los Angeles to develop a musical drama (Babbitt) that utilized a men's and a woman's quartet to serve as somewhat of a Greek chorus to comment on and further the plot. If successful the play would be performed at the Mark Taper Forum in the LA Music Center for two months. Roger asked 139th Street and a SA quartet named Sundance to spend every night fo six weeks to lean the music and perform it for the producers of the show. The only catch was that at least for the tryout faze HE was to sing tenor with us. Well fortunately the producers loved the outcome and we got the experience of performing off broadway in a musical debut. As far as I know this play has never been performed since. It will surprise no one when I say that Roger kept every rehearsal lively and fun. What more can you say about a guy who somehow left everyone he touched smiling.I will miss him for a very long time.

Jim Kline

–———

Dear Jimmy:

It is with extreme sorrow and a broken heart that find myself reading your news of Roger's loss to us.My family and I first met Roger back in the Four Under Par days as well as his robust interest in putting a smile on this sometimesserious hobby of ours.

Roger always had an upbeat and positive spin for whatever the occasion was. I can barely get these words out on this post, sincemy heart and eyes are filling with giant tears.Roger Payne, a sweet and gentle man with a loving and gracious heart. A few years ago, Roger convinced me to attend The Big Apple show in the month of June. Even though it was merely a few short weeks until the upcoming International, I went to see Roger, our friends with The Big Apple and one of my new favorite quartets of that day...Michigan Jake.Drew wasn't the tenor that afternoon, but Mark's brother was. Mark's brother had a church commitment and couldn't attend the afterglow along with the Michigan Jake quartet. So, there I sat with Michigan Jake and we watched as all the other performers sang again for the afterglow.I secretly went up to my friend Roger and asked him if he could 'woodshed' a few songs with Michigan Jake. With a smile and atwinkle in his eye, he did just that. No one skipped a beat.Later on, many of us stood in a circle at the afterglow singing Boston Common songs among others.Roger, I loved you...my dear, dear friend. I miss you truly.

lovingly,

Roz Frizzell

Hey Netters,

With a heavy heart, and a lot of emotion yet to come on these next three days, I mourn the loss of my brother barbershopper Roger Payne. As of this writing, I do have a lot of stories to share, But the one that will always follow me was September 11th 2001...

As some of know that I am a NYC Police Officer who was involved in the attacks here in NYC. A few days later, I was by Ground Zero feeling down and my cell phone rang, It was Roger!! For the next 15 minutes Rog cheered me up said a few jokes and told me to "hang in there brother!". I felt a lot better. I will always remember that!!! Later in the year, Roger, Brian Horwaith and couple of Big Apple Chorus members sang "This Is The Monment" at the same Ground Zero pit for a worldwide audience......

This Sunday, myself and Charlie Crocco of the BAC will play the music and arrangments of Roger Payne, along with music from the archives Sunday Night September 3rd, 2006 From 7:00-11:00P.M. EST..Hey we may run into overtime, But who cares!!! Its for ROG!!!...

Vinny [Haynes Host]: Sunday Night Showcase Lead: Big Apple Chorus

I was totally bummed to hear of the passing of Roger Payne.I became hooked on barbershop early. My dad had qt practices at our house and I'd hide under the piano to listen. Then I joined [SAI in] 1984 and became VERY interested in those that had sung earlier. I became very familiar with many of the oldtime greats. I went to thehome of a SAI tenor who joined in 1958, a year after I was born!! I'd go to Carlotta's, bond with her, read her old Pitch Pipe magazines andlisten to records/tapes. I almost fell over laughing while listening to "4 Under Par". LOVED their humor. I remember listening to therecent webcasts and hearing someone mention 4 Under Par and Reveille's connectionCream always rises to to the top in my book.

Sadly posted Amy Hernandez Fresburg,CA

One of my personal favorite Roger coaching moments happened the very first time Exhilaration coached with him. We were working on the ballad "Oh, How I Miss You Tonight" (and boy do we miss you, Rog!) and we were at a very dramatic part of the song and he turned to me and said, "You know that magnificent part where you jump the octave and make that big swipe down?" And feeling all proud of myself at what I thought was a compliment I said, "yes", which he followed up with "Could you make it a little less magnificent?" with that mischievous look on his face. Oh, I laughed so hard.

Exhilaration was lucky enough to have so many great moments with him. (Our first and favorite X-Man!) He was instrumental in our success and we'll never be able to sing another note without thinking of him.

Shanno Bass, Exhilaration 2005 Harmony, Inc. International Quartet Champions

I did not know Roger well. But I remember him for three things. I was onbusiness in New York and posted a note to Harmonet asking where I could go to visit barbershop chapters. Roger responded. He gave me directions to getto the Big Apple rehearsal. And he connected me with one of his quartetmembers to take me to a rehearsal in Brooklyn. Twice in one week. I was onlyhoping for one.In Brooklyn I saw his theatrical ability. Roger had the chorus doing " [Please Mr] []Columbus Turn the Ship Around", complete with props. Since then, I saw his quartet of "pirates", and I love his arrangement of "Mr Grinch". (In all honesty, I'm not sure if it was Roger or Joe who was the director in Brooklyn. Sorry, Joe, if I misrepresented things. My remembery is not all there all the time.) Roger warmly welcomed someone he didn't know from Adam, and gave this personan experience he will never forget.I pray he is welcomed into heaven.

Sincerely, John W. Hosie III

I've heard his name before, but I never really knew who he was, until Istarted reading some of the e-mails about him. How old was he, and what tookhis life?

Keepin' it Harmony, Adam Johnson South Carolina

Adam - Rog was a way too young 53 years old. He died from brain cancer - he was diagnosed with a stage 4 glioblastoma 3 years ago. He fought valiantly over that time - his quartet Reveille went to International 3 times during that process, achieving semi-finalist status in Salt Lake City. Although our contest result wasn't as high in Indy, it was our biggest victory - we got Rog onthe International stage one last time...

Joe Hunter

Actually, more a 4 Under Par story...It's 1983, and I'd just started my first directing position with the Ridgewood, NJ 'Cavaliers of Harmony.'Our first event together was aCabaret, and the headliners were 4UP - my son RJ didn't care for Barbershop until he saw these guys come out dressed for an evening inCamelot - unreal. RJ really liked the 4UP.Fast forward to the release of their album. I bought RJ (10 @ the time) a copy, and he played it 20 times in a row the same day.FanaticThe NEXT day, I come home to Mair, who tells me RJ has painted a reproduction of the guy's album cover. Wow, really? Why, yes...hedid - go look in his room.She neglected to mention it was a full-sized reproduction on his bedroom wall.RJ really liked the 4 Under Par. (So did we.)Haiku:"Fried Calf's Liver" reigns!"Alabaster Plaster" holds Mem'ries of Roger.