THE CHRONOLOGICAL 32-YEAR HISTORY OF THREE MEN and a TENOR
Early Formation - Supporters - Commitment
THE BEGINNING:
KEY MOMENTS AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE PAVED THE ROAD FOR AN AMAZING 32-YEAR JOURNEY
It was January of 1992, and there was a problem... and an opportunity. The MSU Men's Glee Club and the MSU Jazz Band were booked to perform together at a concert in Grayling, Michigan. But only a few weeks before the show, the Jazz Band got a nice offer to play in Chicago on that same date, and they took it, which created the Glee Club opportunity. The director of the choir offered that if anyone wanted to form a group, sing a solo, or play an instrument, he would be auditioning within days of the announcement to help fill that concert time. He stated that he was nervous that with only 2 weeks to prepare, it would only be a select few that would make it in the show. For 3MT, their formation was going to take a leap of "fate".
THE IDEA:
THREE BIG GUYS AND A LITTLE GUY -
”FOR ONE SONG, WE WOULD AT LEAST LOOK FUNNY”
Paul and Glenn (who at that time were sitting alongside each other in the first tenor section) decided to form the group. In addition to this one-song opportunity, they had previously discussed maybe singing around campus at sororities and events. But for now, they had one song in a big show to prepare for. They asked Chuck to be the "front man", and he agreed. Then as the time until the concert was running out, they asked another bass singer to be in the group and as fate would have it, he declined. With Paul being 6'4" and Chuck at 6'3", they realized that if they asked another tall guy (regardless of his natural vocal part) that "at least, that would look funny". So they scanned the room and saw that Mark was the next tallest guy in the room (6'5"). When Mark agreed to do it, "THREE MEN and a TENOR" was formed... without ever singing a single musical note together! The name came quickly... it fit the description of the guys, as well as the vocal parts. Over time, however, the name would be a challenge to promote who they are and what they actually do, as it has always made radio/tv and record label executives pause in wondering if they are based in jazz, barbershop-style singing, or opera music.
But once people started seeing the group live, their name was the perfect representation for who they were becoming and so it stuck. As they enter their 32nd year together, a name change is highly unlikely at this point, but the challenge of mass marketing the group remains.
THE COMPANY:
GRAYLING FILLER PRODUCTIONS, INC.
FUNNY NAME... BUT IMPORTANT TO THE HISTORY
When trying to come up with a name for the management company for the group, the foursome decided on "GRAYLING FILLER PRODUCTIONS", to honor the inspiration of how they formed - to be "Filler" in the Grayling concert. And so, when the group incorporated in 1995, they formed an S-CORP partnership using that name to never forget where they started.
WHAT NOW?
ONLY 6 MONTHS OF SHOWS BEFORE A MAJOR OBSTACLE -
”ARE WE IN THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL?”
The group had only been rehearsing and performing for 6 months before life started factoring in. Paul was offered a full-time job in the machining industry at a sheet metal fabrication shop in Detroit and moved to the D in the summer of 1992. Chuck and Mark and Glenn were still finishing at MSU. During the group's first year together, the guys made an effort to keep rehearsing and do as many shows as possible, with Paul making the trek back and forth to East Lansing on a regular basis. He was a regular guest on Chuck's couch and would often leave for his job at 5am from East Lansing, tired from the drive, but motivated by the shows and the direction of the group.
HOW DO WE MAKE THIS WORK?
800 NUMBER AND GAS CARDS -
”WE NEED STUFF AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY... WHAT DO WE DO?”
One of the early business decisions that the group made was to set up a toll-free 800-phone number for people to call so it would not cost them money to book the band. Soon after, came the decision to obtain Shell fleet gas cards so that it did not cost the guys their own money to get to shows. Any additional show fee money was invested back into the future of the group by purchasing wireless microphones, speakers, mixing boards, mic stands, other miscellaneous sound equipment, promotional items, and a company vehicle to carry the group's equipment. This was a slow build, but the group was making strides advancing their name and their show. It was three full years of shows before the guys ever individually took money from performances. All money that had been being earned was then re-invested in the equipment and performance/promotional items that were necessary for growth. This commitment cannot be overlooked by bands that are trying to get off the ground. 3MT made the decision that all money should be invested in the future of the group and by doing this, they grew the group to where they looked and sounded like a full-time band, and soon after things began to help them confirm that decision.
A HUGE SPARTAN HELP:
BIG 10 UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT LOVES THE GROUP AND HELPS OUT
- PRESIDENT DR. GORDON GUYER PLAYS HUGE ROLE
During MSU's spring break in March of 1993, Interim President Dr. Gordon Guyer and his wife Norma were doing alumni visits in Florida. 3MT timed their spring break trip to align with those visits so that they could be the alumni's featured entertainment. The shows were very well received and Dr. Guyer became a big part of the group's next major steps. That spring, at MSU events all over campus, 3MT was featured and supported by President Guyer and his wife. That summer, at a major Spartan event in Charlevoix, 3MT was the headline act, and soon, the phone began ringing due to that exposure. In addition to helping with exposure for the group, in a major show of support, the Guyers gave 3MT a personal check to help fund the creation of their first recording, with no timeline for repayment. It was a very touching gesture from very important people at the helm of a major Big Ten university.
ON THE WAY UP:
TOO MANY SHOWS TO BE PART-TIME, NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO BE FULL-TIME - GETTING CLOSER TO A DECISION
Chuck moved to Dexter in the summer of 1994, putting both Paul and Chuck in the metro Detroit area, and Mark and Glenn were still in the Lansing area (interesting side note: in 2016, those are the two areas where the four members still live). Following the making of a commitment to each other to follow this musical path wherever it led, Chuck began his leadership role in booking the group with a full schedule of shows, featured appearances, and media appearances which helped to increase their name recognition and bookings.
HERE WE GO:
SCHEDULE WAS FILLING UP
- SUMMER 1995 WAS BUSY
By the summer of 1995, just 3 short years after their initial formation, it seemed like there was now enough work on the schedule to decide to make "Three Men and a Tenor" a full-time music career. Each of the other 4 "real jobs were not quite enough to keep the guys from doing music full time, and the show schedule was starting to become an issue with needing too much time off, jeopardizing their ability to keep their employment elsewhere.
A FULL-TIME COMMITMENT:
THE GROUP GOES FULL TIME- THE 3MT SHIP SETS SAIL
Officially, in October of 1995, these four talented and diverse musicians began their full-time touring schedule, and Three Men and a Tenor was now a full-time professional act in Michigan. The group ramped up fast, quickly totaling as many as 250 shows in one year, proving that they made the right decision and that there was an audience for their shows if they could coordinate them all.
BUILDING THE FOUNDATIONAL BASE OF BUSINESS:
SCHOOLS AND THE COMMUNITY CONCERT
- 3MT BUILDS ITS BASE AND HELPS RAISE MONEY FOR SCHOOLS
Chuck's first full-time job out of college was working for QSP, a school-fundraising division of Reader's Digest. In his sales capacity, he started to offer schools a way to use the QSP fundraisers to bring in "Three Men and a Tenor" to do school performances as a special prize for reaching their fundraising goals. And it worked. It created school performances all throughout lower Michigan for 3MT. The more schools 3MT performed for, the more opportunities it created in other statewide school districts. This formula of doing the day-time shows for the schools soon added a critical piece ... the nighttime concert. These communities would bring 3MT back about 2 weeks later following the daytime school performances. The night time shows would be presented by the choral and band music boosters at these schools, and in return for the partnership of helping sell the tickets for the show, 3MT would give these programs a split of proceeds from the door ticket sales as an additional fundraiser. It proved to be a winning combination for over 10 years and helped create hundreds of new performance opportunities for 3MT to help quickly launch them into full-time touring status.
3MT IN INNER CITY SCHOOLS IN DETROIT:
OMNI ARTS AND 3MT IN THE INNER CITY DETROIT SCHOOLS
- "WHAT ARE THOSE GUYS DOING HERE?"
3MT was hired in 1995 by Claudia Rogers and an arts outreach program sponsored by Omni Hospital called "OMNI ARTS IN EDUCATION" to perform a vocal music show in the inner-city Detroit elementary schools. 3MT was asked to do shows in some of the most economically challenged neighborhoods of Detroit, typically in neighborhoods with many boarded up, or burned down houses on the streets within blocks of the schools where they were asked to perform. 100% free and reduced lunch schools, and 80-90% racial ethnicity, with 5-10% white students on average. As anyone might expect, the initial moment that 3MT took the stage, there were looks of surprise and wonder on the faces of the kids in the schools. But it did not take long for the musical connection to be made and soon, the racial barrier (if there was any) was crossed when 3MT got the kids laughing and the teachers dancing as they performed in front of almost entirely African-American populated schools, while performing the music of Motown and other fun music. For digging in and doing their part, 3MT was one of the most sought-after shows in the Omni Arts roster, and in 2002, they received the "SPIRIT OF DETROIT" award by the Detroit City Council for working to help keep music alive in the Detroit Public Schools. It was an award that meant so much to the group, for not only did they make a musical connection to so many young people, they proved that music is color blind- if used properly, it could help bridge people together.
ENTER “THE SOUND DOCTOR”:
MIKE MCLEMORE - THE SOUND DOCTOR
- 'BIG SOUND AND BIGGER SHOWS'
Not long after they began their full-time schedule, 3MT was at a featured performance in Adrian (MI) when they met Mike McLemore who was running sound and tech for the festival. Mike was the owner/operator of "The Sound Doctor" a full-service sound/light/tech company. He had 20 years of running his own business of sound production, and a wide variety of options of sound equipment... enough to provide full PA support and lights for any/all of the upcoming Three Men and Tenor performances. The two companies formed a collaboration, and 3MT now had full sound and light production at all shows, enough for just about any size venue across the country. By partnering with The Sound Doctor, they also gained the combined use of his full-service office staff that would help with bookings, contracts, and scheduling so that the group could begin ramping up the focus on the full schedule and bigger shows.
ENTER THE VOCAL COACHES AND GROUP MOMS:
MARSHA LYTTLE, SHERRY MILLER, AND CHERI GAPINSKI:
3MT GROUP MOMS
For several years, as the group was getting more and more shows, the need for management was evident. And, the need to improve and maintain the voice and the vocals was critical. Marsha Lyttle was a small business marketing and management specialist who plugged in her expertise and services to help the group improve the promotional pieces that they sent out for bookings, and Cheri and Sherry were brought in as vocal coaches to make sure the guys were keeping on course for new songs, arrangements, and using proper vocal techniques to help sustain the voice on long tours. Those years of preparation and practice began to pay off for the group as the numbers of shows increased and the need to rest and repair the voice was necessary. All 3 ladies played a big role in pushing 3MT to be better. Cheri Gapinski died in the fall of 2017, another sad loss in the circle of close 3MT friends and family that have been lost over the course of the 3MT history.
ENTER THE PROFESSIONAL POLISH:
PAUL COOPER
- 'THE GROUP STARTS DANCING' -
In 1998, at the Contemporary A Capella Society of America (CASA) Summit in Boston, 3MT met Paul Cooper, the lead singer and founding member of "The Nylons", a platinum-selling and Grammy-award nominated pop a cappella group from Canada. With The Nylons, Paul had been on national TV, in major recording studios, and earned industry respect as a professional singer/songwriter - all skills that 3MT could lean on to learn the stagecraft for creating bigger vocal music shows. His experience in production and stage showmanship transferred over perfectly to help teach the guys how to dance and move together, taking 3MT from being 4 guys standing in one area singing, to a polished, more choreographed and stylized vocal music experience. NOTE: Paul passed away peacefully in his sleep in December of 2013. His impact on THREE MEN and a TENOR is still felt in shows and in 3MT YouTube videos of the group, you can sometimes hear Paul's voice in the count offs.
TIME FOR TV:
PREPPING FOR NATIONAL PBS-TV
- THE GROUP HEADS FOR NATIONAL TV AUDIENCE
This new team of Three Men and a Tenor and Paul Cooper went on to produce the "Listen to the Music" and "You Better Watch Out" CDs, and then the team worked tirelessly for 18-months to prepare for taping a PBS-TV Music concert special with WCMU PBS-TV in Mt. Pleasant. When the funding for that first concert special fell through, the group then pitched their performance to the executives at Detroit Public Television in late 2002. DPTV was aware that 3MT had quite a following in Michigan and agreed to produce the show and then promote it nationally.
DETROIT PBS-TV AND THE NATIONAL CONCERT SPECIAL:
CREATION OF THE NATIONAL PBS-TV SPECIAL
- "3MT NAILED IT... 90 MINUTE CONCERT SPECIAL AND NO RETAKES"
In April of 2003, Detroit Public Television (DPTV-PBS) filmed and produced a 90-minute music concert special "Three Men and a Tenor- In Concert" taped in front of a sold-out crowd of over 1700 in Dearborn, MI. The show eventually played in over 70 major and smaller TV markets across the nation. It was awarded an Emmy for "Best Live Shots". One of the major successes of the taping was that it was recorded "live to tape", meaning they would only stop in cases of major production flaws. But, amazingly, Three Men and a Tenor filmed their 90-minute show in one take with no retakes needed. It was a statement about how prepared they were for their big opportunity.
2 TOURS OF GERMANY FOR US MILITARY BASES:
TWO PERFORMANCE TOURS OF US MILITARY BASES IN GERMANY
- “CAN YOU PAY YOUR OWN WAY'?
In 2004 and 2006, the group was contacted by Marty Benstein, a vocal music teacher at a US Military Base in Germany. He had connections throughout the country on different bases that could help him put a tour together. When 3MT enthusiastically replied that they were ready to do the tour, they found out that it would not be that easy to get there as funds were limited, and costs were high. Fortunately, the group had built up some corporate support along the way and received sponsorship funding with the support of GM's Foreign Car Exchange for the 2004 tour, and the Daimler Chrysler Corporation Fund and the Downtown YMCA of Lansing teaming up to help support the 3MT Freedom and Families tour in 2006.
Marty booked the two complex tours taking such care to promote and inform the families on the bases of just what 3MT could do to uplift their spirits, and he wanted the group to be seen by as many people as possible while they were there. He coordinated 23 shows in 12 days in 2004 and then booked 38 performances in 16 days for the 2006 tour. (To see a video from the US Military Base performance tours, click here.) As an unplanned part of the tours, the guys also made stops at Landstuhl Hospital in Ramstein to sing and lighten the mood of the wounded American soldiers. Those bedside moments were heartfelt and the group has admitted that their lives were changed by talking with the brave young men and women just off the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. NOTE: Sadly, Marty lost his battle with cancer in 2009, but his love and support for 3MT will never be forgotten and the group still remains in communication with his wife who now lives in Oregon and is still a VIP of 3MT.
3MT HEALS IN HOSPITALS:
HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM (WEST BLOOMFIELD)
- 3MT USES MUSIC TO HEAL IN HOSPITALS
The experience of singing at the bedsides of the wounded soldiers would have an interesting connection to a new 3MT opportunity. In 2006, Gerard VanGrinsven, former CEO of the Ritz Carlton in Dearborn, MI, became the CEO of the Henry Ford Health System in West Bloomfield, MI. (Learn more about the HFHWB here). West Bloomfield's campus was a healthcare industry leader in America, "changing the boundaries of the imagination of health and wellness". GVG had previously hired 3MT on several occasions to provide corporate entertainment for his leadership symposiums. But for the new health system, he wanted the group to do something that no other HFH hospital had ever done... have a musical singing group be a regular part of the healing process at the hospital. He knew 3MT had done this type of singing visits at the bedsides of the wounded soldiers in Germany, and so 3MT had 3-4 visits a month visiting the patient rooms working their musical healing magic on the HFHWB patients. This relationship lasted over 6 years, and 3MT's mark on the wellness of the patients at that hospital will not be forgotten.
ANOTHER SHOT AT NATIONAL TV:
NATIONAL TV PERFORMANCE AUDITIONS
- 'YOU GUYS SHOULD GO ON AMERICA'S GOT TALENT’
Around 2010, it became a regular comment from people after performances that 3MT should go on the nationally-televised talent competitions. So, in 2011, when the group won Mid-Michigan's Got Talent they got their shot to audition in New York City in front of the directors and producers for NBC's America's Got Talent. They also auditioned in Chicago for The Sing-Off (the NBC-TV a cappella competition) making it through the initial audition phase and impressing the producers of the show with their talent and showmanship. In both cases, 3MT put on a stellar vocal performance but was not passed on to the next round. Admittedly, the guys were disappointed by not making it on national TV but knew that it was not an end, just part of their journey.
NATIONAL OPENING ACT SPOTS:
OPENING PERFORMANCES WITH NATIONAL ICONS
- JAY LENO AND 3MT WAS A PERFECT MATCH
As of 2024, 3MT has almost 4,000 performances and has been seen LIVE or on TV by an estimated three million people.
Its 32-year history includes guest performances opening shows for American entertainment icons like:
Comedians:
Jay Leno
Bob Newhart
John Pinette
Soupy Sales
Musical acts:
The Beach Boys
Lee Greenwood
Peter Cetera
Chuck Berry
.38 Special
Dionne Warwick
Mitch Ryder
AWARDS AND HONORS
Several awards have been bestowed upon 3MT including:
FOUR-TIME WINNERS of The Best Entertainment in MI - MI Meetings and Events Magazine
Highest-Rated Touring Group (1996) - Michigan Arts and Cultural Affairs
Entrepreneurs of the Year (2000) - Greater Lansing Business Monthly
Spirit of Detroit Award (1998) - Detroit City Council Award
ADDITIONAL "3MT VIP" THAT HAVE HELPED 3MT OVER 32 YEARS
Over 32 years, with the countless shows and projects, 3MT has gained some lifelong friends and supporters that have pitched in their services and made some amazing contributions to the group. These folks have offered countless services and sacrifices and should be recognized. Here is just a partial list of so many that have contributed: (in no particular order):
Dr. Jefferson Johnson - MSU Glee Club director that created the opportunity for 3MT to form
Dr. Jonathon Reed - MSU Glee Club director that kept allowing 3MT to perform past their first year
Kurt Thoma- Tech manager, road manager, equipment mgr., driver, manager, scheduler, problem solver, rock.
Gary Bender- Legal support for 3MT PBS-TV, recording projects, licensing and copyrighting, and all musical legal matters.
Dorothy Genoe- Office management, administration, accounting/bookkeeping, scheduling
Kirk Squiers- Consultant, financial supporter, project manager, tech support, tour manager, printing/banner maker
Andrew Harmon- Sound/light tech manager, sound guy, road manager, equipment manager, AZ tours designated driver.
Johnny Burke- Radio DJ, the voice of show intro for 3MT, booking contact for Lobsterfest and Toys for Tots in Frankenmuth
Ken Calvert - One of Detroit’s most respected DJs had the group on his radio show on WJR-760 am many times and promoted them!
"SuperFan" Nan Manley- Financial supporter, tour companion, and loving 3MT grandmother, passed away in 2015. Miss you, Nan!
Rod Bushey- Choral director at Howell Public Schools, deeply involved with booking 3MT and working with his choirs
Lucy Ann Lance- DJ in Ann Arbor, booked 3MT on her radio show several times and the Rotary Christmas show with 3MT
Tom Pastotnik - Chief 3MT graphic designer, web designer, first "Flash" website designer, tech help, social media manager
Todd Fisher- YMCA Director and supporter of 3MT tours of Germany, 4 annual 3MT YMCA concerts at Wharton Center
Jeff Hayes - Lighting and stage production manager
John Dale Smith - Coordinated the “4x8” group combining 3MT with J and J Sounds for 2 big Lansing area concerts.
Evan Arhangelos- Printing director, project manager, booking agent, support
Judy Hutchinson- Web design and development
JD Small- Several promotional photoshoots that perfectly captured the fun of the group
Bill Drake- First official business manager of 3MT in 1995 and road crew
Bill Ayars- Merchandise manager and tech crew on both tours of Germany (61 performances)
Terry Grady- early-stage booking agent, and business consultant. Introduced the group to Ken Calvert (radio personality at WJR760AM)
......and hundreds more that have helped and offered guidance over the years! Thank you!
DONNY BROWN AND 3MT
3MT recorded 3MT25 with producer Donny Brown. Donny brought some great vocal arrangements for this CD, and he serves the music with unique ideas and interesting vocal twists. As the guys enter their 32nd year together, the most current CD 3MT25 represents a sound that is the best of 3MT while keeping the original blend and emotional delivery that you have come to expect.
SUMMARY
- THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE AND SUPPORT
32 years. Ups and downs. Fights and fun. Marriages and children. Used cars and equipment trucks. 2 years of surviving the global pandemics and cancellations of all shows for 18 months. Somehow, still making it all work. Same original founding members. The same simple goal of making people feel better through a couple of hours of musical interaction and laughter. Come see a show and see what so many have enjoyed over the years, and expect that you will feel better- it is an experience that you can't help but enjoy and want to bring others to enjoy as well. For how many more years, who knows? For now, you should catch it while you can.