In 1960, the Evans Quartet was as good as it got in the world of barbershop music. That year the Salt Lake foursome won first place in the international championships held by the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America.
The quartet was made up of Thayer "Turk" Evans, tenor; Preston Evans, lead; Eugene Smith, baritone; and Jack Evans, bass. (Smith had replaced another Evans brother, Bob, who had sung with the group in its early days.)
Pres Evans, as he was known to family and friends, was the last surviving member of the quartet. He died Aug. 3, bringing the end of an era, says his cousin, Max Evans, who remembers the quartet singing at family reunions and traveling around the country.
"They were always in demand," Max Evans said, "especially after they won the championship. They logged more than 2 million air miles. They were on Lawrence Welk's show and the Ed Sullivan show. They sang at Carnegie Hall and for U.S. presidents and congressmen."
Winning the top award was quite an accomplishment; that year they beat out some 2,300 other quartets from the United States and Canada. "They were the first quartet west of the Mississippi to win the championship."
They did it by singing six songs: "Roll on Missouri," "Boy of Mine," "Frisco Pal," "Love's Old Sweet Song," "In My Mammy's Arms" and "And Old Pals Are the Best Pals."
Max Evans remembers that his cousins started singing at an early age. "Pres and Turk sang together for 60 years."
One of their most memorable appearances came in 1927 when aviation hero Charles A. Lindberg came to Salt Lake City. As his motorcade passed by, the four boys (ages 7, 9, 11 and 13) stepped out from the curb and started to sing, in barbershop harmony, "Lindy, Lucky Lindy." Lindberg had the car stop, he listened to the song and shook hands with the boys.
Preston Evans was born on June 15, 1916, a son of Ivy and Oscar Evans. He is survived by his wife, Fay, two sons and five daughters. In addition to his musical prowess, he was also active in sports and Scouting.
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