Honoree : BOMP! (Quartet)
Sponsor : BOMP!
In 2015, Dan Cole wanted to put together a quartet to sing Doo-Wop music from the 50s and60s. He found three other guys - Andy Cook, Jim Johannsen, and Harvey Weiss. They liked the Doo-Wop idea and it clicked. They were soon getting accepted in the Barbershop community and getting gigs at birthdays, private parties, and especially, senior centers. Their music choices seemed to resonate with old and young.
They’ve sung many times to seniors in memory residences and are always amazed to see faces brighten up and lips and bodies start to move along with our songs.
This past year, Jim elected to retire from the group due to health issues. Fortunately, Mark Ortenburger, also a member of the Minneapolis Commodores, expressed interest in joining and becoming the quartet’s baritone.
Today BOMP! Advertises itself as an “A Cappella Doo-Wop Quartet with a Barbershop Flavor”. Quite a mouthful but something that attempts to encompass their repertoire to those who don’t know them. BOMP! hopes to continue having fun singing and performing in their little niche of the local music world for anyone who will have them. Whether it be for birthdays, senior events, parties, weddings, anniversaries, baby showers, parks and community events, they are always ready to sing.
