Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys didn't know what to make of what he was seeing on CNN: Four U.S. senators singing - in four-part harmony, no less - his group's signature song, "Elvira."
Soon he and the other Oak Ridge Boys were on the phone to one another, saying, in effect, "You gotta see this."Soon enough they were in Washington, invited by the Singing Senators - Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi and fellow Republicans John Ashcroft of Missouri, Larry Craig of Idaho and James Jeffords of Vermont.
Sure, there was the Capitol tour, but there was also a little harmonizing to be done in the Rotunda. On Sunday in Branson, Bonsall and fellow Oaks Duane Allen, Richard Sterban and William Lee Golden (he of the distinctive flowing hair and beard) returned the favor.
The senators, on a fund-raising trip, decided to take a day off and visit Branson. When the Oak Ridge Boys heard about it, they made arrangements to bring them on stage at the Charley Pride Theater.
Backstage beforehand, as Senate wives snapped pictures and musicians exchanged hugs, it was hard to tell who was more awed.
"Sterban is my idol," Lott declared. "If I could sing bass like Sterban, I know I could do anything."
A few minutes later, he was standing next to him on stage, and when the two belted out the "ummmmh poppa, ummmmh poppa, mau, mau" harmony to "Elvira,' the audience that filled about two-thirds of the 2,000-seat theater whooped its appreciation.
In matching blue work shirts and tan pants, the Senators took the stage halfway into the Oaks' first set, singing "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "This is My Country" before turning to a few gospel tunes.
The Senators came together two years ago, after Craig and Lott noticed how well they harmonized together on a rendition of "Happy Birthday."
Now they perform regularly at Republican fund-raisers and are considering recording an album this winter.
And then Hollywood?
"Oh, no, no," said Jeffords. "We're not so carried away with ourselves that we don't understand we'd better keep our day jobs."