[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 61-02, April - June, 2007 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]

Arthur M. Patterson

1927 - 2007

By Ron Starling, Bass, The Four Chorders

A beloved member of The Four Chorders quartet, Art Patterson passed away April 12, 2007 at Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Music was a major part of Art’s life. At an early age, he played piano and was very accomplished by the time he entered Beck Collegiate where his music abilities came to the attention of music teacher, Don Wright. Art was soon in the orchestra, the glee club and a pianist for Beck’s famous singing auditoriums. [ED: Both Donna and I experienced these, although many years later.]

At the request of Don Wright, Art put together a barbershop quartet to sing on Beck Variety Night shows  and The Four Chorders quartet was born.

It was at a Beck Variety Night show where W.L. (Lester) Davis, Treasurer of John Labatt Ltd., first heard us sing and invited us to a London Chapter meeting. Les entered us in our first quartet contest at Massey Hall, Toronto, and we were selected to represent Canada at the 1949 International Contest in Oklahoma City, USA. It was there that we met all the major Barbershoppers, including O.C. Cash and his daughter, Betty Ann. Betty Ann acted as our hostess along with three of her school chums. Needless to say, we had a wonderful time!

O.C. Cash seemed to like our rendition of the “Whiffenpoof Song” and had us sing it several times.

During his teaching career, Art taught in both the elementary and secondary levels.

In retirement, he entertained at many retirement homes, did arrangements and coaching for vocal groups, and created musical arrangements for bands.

Art recently said to me, “What would we have ever done with our lives without The Four Chorders?”

I agreed that it would have been a much duller life without the quartet. Art will be greatly missed by his family, his many friends and the other members of The Four Chorders: tenor Bill Smith, lead Wils Starling and yours truly, bass Ron Starling.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Art’s life will be held on June 16, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Meadowvale Cemetery, 7732 Mavis Road, Brampton (just north of Hwy. 407).             k