Golden Staters

Barbershop Harmony Society's 1972 International Quartet Champion.

First organized in 1960 with Jack Lang on tenor, Joe Rook on lead, Buddy Yarnell on baritone, and Mike Senter on bass. Mike Senter organized the group and was the musical arranger of the quartet.

In 1961, personnel changes began and Joe Sipots replaced Joe Rook as lead. A year later, brothers, Gary and Jack Harding joined as tenor and baritone. Lead number three, Jim Meehan, then joined them in 1963.

The Golden Staters began competing in 1962 and won the fall Far Western District championship in 1963. They qualified for their first international contest and came in 7th place. They came in 6th place in 1965. Following the 1965 international contest, Jim Meehan left the quartet.

After Jim Meehan left the quartet, Ken Ludwick joined as the new lead and they began their contest climb. They rose to 4th place bronze medalists in 1966. They slipped back into 5th in 1967 but jumped up to 3rd in 1968. During this time, they released their first record entitled, “Oh How We Roared In The 20’s.”

In 1969, they were awarded with 2nd place silver medals, then tragedy struck. Ken Ludwick was involved in an automobile accident which forced him to have to leave the quartet. They sat out the 1970 international contest hoping to find a new lead. In late 1970, the Golden Staters found their new lead, Milt Christensen.

Milt Christensen came to the Golden Staters from the recently disbanded “Salt Flats”, a comedy quartet from Salt Lake City, Utah. They placed 3rd with Milt in 1971. They finally won it all in 1972 in Atlanta, Georgia.

They released their second album following their championship which was titled, “Two Sides Two Sounds.” The Golden Staters retired in 1975.

They came out of retirement in 1978 and performed again until May of 1979 when Mike Senter suddenly died at age 39. Jack Harding died in 2003 at age 71 and Milt Christensen died in 2018 at age 86. Today only Gary Harding survives. They released two compilation albums after their active years.