The 1980 annual shoe, "Barbershop Charms," contained one of those memorable moments which go down in Phoenician history. The presentation of "Music, Maestro, Please" called for special atmosphere which was achieved with a fog machine. On Saturday night, however, the machine ran wild, and the front row of the chorus-seated on the first row of risers-was nearly lost in the "inclimate weather" that ensued.

The 1980 Far Western District Fall Convention was held in Phoenix, with Don Richardson serving as general chairman. When it was all over, the Phoenicians were again the FWD Chorus Champion, and Remember When was the new FWD Quartet Champion.

1981
1981 started off with a bang with the Phoenicians giving six performances at Phoenix Symphony Hall from January 26 through 31. In April of that year, Arizona Governor Bruce Babbit was named "Director of Harmony" for the Phoenicians by Chapter president Mike Laurel. Governor Babbit signed a proclamation naming all the Interstate highways within the State of Arizona "Harmony Lane" for the day of April 15.

The 1981 International Convention was held in Detroit, where the chorus finished third and Remember When finished eighth. Many Phoenicians remember the Book Cadillac Hotel, and several recall being stuck in an elevator for two hours.

1981 also marked the expansion of the "Best of Barbershop" series, with the Phoenicians adding an annual performance at the Sundome in November.

1982
The "Best of Barbershop" production at Gammage premiered Dan Wilson's "Sports" package; Fred Kirwan was a big hit as "Mr Touchdown." The Scottsdale Chorus, Sweet Adelines International, joined the Phoenicians at the "Best of Barbershop" production at the Sundome.

The Phoenician University was established by "Dean" Gary Steinkamp. It included classes in barbershop technique, sound, ear training, and pitch memory.

The Sunshine Boys and Music Appreciation 101 qualified for the district contest in Pasadena. The chorus won the district trophy, qualifying to represent the FWD once again.

1983: International Chorus Championship #3

One of the key men in the founding of the chapter and its first full-term president, R. Everett Manning, died in August. Born in October,.1895, he lived almost 88 years. Although Ev never married, he lived a full life among friends who sang and shared his love of harmony and fellowship. His sense of humor was legend, and his love of a barbershop seventh chord was surpassed by no one's. He was a great man.

Following the international contest in Seattle, a family of all boys moved to Phoenix. Four of the boys had competed in international as a quartet: they were the Knudsen Brothers Quartet.

1984
The Knudsen brothers and Remember When both qualified for international competition in 1984; they finished 8th and 13th in St. Louis. When the chapter board determined that it wasn't possible for the chorus to attend the convention, they donated $5000 to the Fresno Gold Note Chorus travel fund.

1985
At the spring House of Delegates Meeting, Lou Laurel was named to the Far Western District Hall of Fame.

The Phoenicians returned to district competition that fall in San Jose and again won, this time by 150 points, their greatest margin ever. The chorus was also the largest to date: 123 men. Another Phoenix quartet was named District Quartet Champion: The Knudsen Brothers. Two other quartets-After Hours and Music Appreciation 101-finished third and fourth. To make it a complete success, Terry Aramian was elected FWD President at the House of Delegates meeting.

A month later the chorus traveled to Honolulu where they sang two performances with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and the Sandwich Islands Chorus. The combined choruses presented music from Meredith Willson's "The Music Man." At the afterglow, every member of the Aloha Chapter was presented with a special certificate of thanks from the Phoenix Chapter.

1986
Bud Hesterman and Nostalgia (Bill Adank, Don Richardson, Tim Quinn, and Bob McColl) took part in the Musical Theatre of Arizona presentation of "The Music Man," performing nine times at Gammage Auditorium and at the Sundome during the month of January. Bud played Mayor Shinn, and Nostalgia played the members of the school board.

At the House of Delegates meeting in March, it was announced that Phoenix had won first place in the District Achievement Awards program for Plateau 6 for 1985; Gene Fischer was named Secretary of the Year for Plateau 6.

At the 1986 International Convention in Salt Lake City, the Phoenicians finished fourth. Remember When and the Knudsen Brothers finished seventh and eighth, respectively. At the Far Western District Convention, later that year, After Hours placed second.

1987
The 1987 annual show was a special one for the Phoenix Chapter and for the members of the Hallmark of Harmony Chorus from the Sheffield Barbershop Club in England. The British chorus traveled to Phoenix and stayed for a week on Phoenix barbershoppers’ homes, making friendships that continue to this day. The two choruses performed a spectacular show at Gammage Auditorium and gave a repeat performance at Phoenix Symphony Hall the following weekend before the Hallmark of Harmony Chorus returned home. The show -- "You Ain’t Heard Nuthin’ Yet" -- featured the life and music of Al Jolson; it was recorded in its entirety and released on two cassette tapes. (Highlights from his recording were re-released on CD in 1998, available on our Recordings page.)

Remember When took first place at the International Quartet Preliminary Contest later that year.

The Phoenicians traveled to California to sing on the "Barbershop on the Green" show on July 26 and 26 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn, sponsored by the Rancho Bernardo Chapter. In September, the Phoenicians sang a special performance in Sun City preceding the appearance of Pope John Paul II. Later that fall in Reno, the chorus won the Far Western District chorus contest again, this time winning by eleven points.

1988
The 1998 annual show featured the music of Mardi Gras and New Orleans. The guest quartet was the Dapper Dans of Disney World.

At the SPEBSQSA International Convention in San Antonio, celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the Society, the Phoenicians competed with an unprecedented four songs in qualifying and final rounds, the first and so-far only time the International Chorus Contest used a two-round format. They were named fifth place medallist chorus.

Lou Laurel was inducted into the South Western District’s Hall of Fame later that year, becoming one of only a select few to be named to two different district’s halls of fame.

1989
The year 1989 was another year of transition for the Phoenix Chapter as that year Lou Laurel made it official: after twenty-three years as director, in which time he led the Phoenicians to eleven Far Western District championships, three International chorus championships, and eight International medals, Lou retired. His last show was directed in Symphony Hall on April 23.  It was a tribute to Harry Woods called "Barbershop Goes Bob-Bob-Bobbin’ Along!"

The 1989 Phoenician Award of Harmony was given to Carie Reardon, founder and manager of Operation Waste Not.

Gary Steinkamp, oldest son of Society stalwart Lloyd Steinkamp, was named the new director for the Phoenicians.  His first stint came at the Chocolate Chordials show at the Pointe Tapatio Cliffs Resort on June 4.