GQ

Quartet Biography

GQ

Year Won: 2011 in Rochester, MN

Songs Sung:
  • Shine On Me
  • Anytime
  • My Foolish Heart
  • The Night Has a Thousand Eyes

Tenor, Keith Olson. Keith has sung barbershop tenor for over 20 years. After eight years of active membership in the Great Northern Union chorus, Keith sang with a number of quartets including two LOL district silver medalist quartets, Apex and Bandwagon and the 2008 LOL district champion, X-factor. The tallest member of the quartet, Keith is a dentist in Montevideo, MN where he lives with his wife and two children. In his spare time, Keith doubles as a super hero called Memory Man in his local church helping young children memorize Bible verses.

Lead, Heath Walker. Heath has been singing barbershop since 2005 when he moved to Minneapolis from Montana. He started singing with the GNU chorus as tenor and lead, singing at 3 international competitions, snagging a second place medal in 2011. GQ is only Heath's second quartet - he sang baritone with Snap for a little over two years and finished 5th at the 2008 LOL District. Heath and his wife Jamie recently welcomed their boy, Corbin, to the family and have moved back to Montana. That can make rehearsing difficult!

Baritone, Brent Graham. Brent has been a Barbershopper since 1978, getting his start in the Far Western District. Brent directed the Santa Barbara, CA, chapter for 11 years, the Eugene, OR chapter for 3 years, and was the Master Director of City of Lakes Sweet Adeline chorus for 8 years. As a quartetter, Brent has sung with 10 quartets prior to GQ, including Excalibur (7th place International), Quest (2004 LOL District Champs), X-factor (2008 LOL District champs). Brent has arranged over 120 songs in the Barbershop style, and coaches a wide variety of choruses and quartets in the Midwest. Brent has been married to Barb since 1986, and between the two, have two sons, Justin and Scott, and three cats, Harly, Cletus and Stella.

Bass, Steve McDonald. Steve has been singing barbershop since he graduated nursing school in 1990. His first exposure to barbershop was listening to his father sing in a quartet called the Woodwins. Steve has sung in previous successful quartets winning LOL District competitions PrimeTime (1994) and After Midnight (2005). Steve has had experience on the international stage with both groups and the Great Northern Union chorus. The emotional experience of sharing his music is what Steve enjoys best about singing barbershop harmony.

Member Biographies

Tenor
Olson, Keith

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Keith has sung barbershop tenor for over 20 years. After eight years of active membership in the Great Northern Union chorus, Keith sang with a number of quartets including two LOL district silver medalist quartets, Apex and Bandwagon and the 2008 LOL district champion, X-factor. The tallest member of the quartet, Keith is a dentist in Montevideo, MN where he lives with his wife and two children. In his spare time, Keith doubles as a super hero called Memory Man in his local church helping young children memorize Bible verses.

Baritone
Graham, Brent

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I've been a Barbershopper since 1978, getting my start in the Far Western District. I attended Harmony College three times and taught at numerous District-level schools during my tenure in the FWD.
I directed the Santa Barbara, CA, chapter for 11 years, finishing 5th in the District three times. I sang tenor with the popular show quartet, Santa Barbara Sound, and then lead with the International quarter-finalist, Swingtime, before moving to Oregon in 1997. I directed the Eugene, OR chapter for three years and sang baritone with Legacy, who finished 2nd at District in 1998, before moving to Minnesota in 2000 to join Excalibur. I competed with Excalibur four times at International, finishing as high as 7th in 2003 and 2004. My first District championship quartet was Quest, who won the LOL District in 2005, and finished as high as 19th at International. X-factor won the District in 2008 and finished 23rd at International. GQ won the LOL championship in 2011, and competed at International 3 times. From 2001-2008, I directed the City of Lakes Sweet Adeline chorus, and became a Master Director in 2007.
I currently sing with Suit Up! and the A Cappella Syndicate in the FWD.
I have arranged about 200 songs in the Barbershop style, and coach a wide variety of choruses and quartets around the country.
When I'm not Barbershopping or playing poker, I work as a Data Analyst in Phoenix, AZ.

Lead
Walker, Heath

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Heath has been singing barbershop since 2005 when he moved to Minneapolis from Montana. He started singing with the GNU chorus as tenor and lead, singing at 3 international competitions, snagging a second place medal in 2011. GQ is only Heath's second quartet - he sang baritone with Snap for a little over two years and finished 5th at the 2008 LOL District. Heath and his wife Jamie recently welcomed their boy, Corbin, to the family and have moved back to Montana. That can make rehearsing difficult!

Bass
McDonald, Steve

No Image Available

Steve has been singing barbershop since he graduated nursing school in 1990. His first exposure to barbershop was listening to his father sing in a quartet called the Woodwins. Steve has sung in previous successful quartets winning LOL District competitions PrimeTime (1994) and After Midnight (2005). Steve has had experience on the international stage with both groups and the Great Northern Union chorus. The emotional experience of sharing his music is what Steve enjoys best about singing barbershop harmony.

Contact Information

Olson, Keith
4558 368th Ave
Montevideo, MN 56265 USA
  • ksolson@charter.net