Published: February 15, 2008 12:25 am            

SLIDE SHOW: Men of Note

barbershop quartet kokomo men on note

Click here to see a Men of Note slide show




For 17 years, she’s been known to Shane Campbell as his beloved wife.

To throngs of first-graders at Eastern Elementary, she’s Mrs. Campbell.

But Thursday, Laura Campbell had four men pleading to call her something else.

Sweetheart.

Bearing flowers, candy and a host of sweet tunes, Men of Note Brad Coon, Tom Rodenbaugh, Mike Lantz and Charlie Rose spent Valentine’s Day serenading local sweethearts with tunes such as the classic “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”

And such Men of Note deliveries throughout the area tugged at heartstrings, produced embarrassed blushes and — in some cases — tears.

Bit ’bout Valentines

One way to show that someone special you care is by embarrassing them, jokingly said Al Temby, spokesman for The Kokomo Men of Note Barbershop Harmony Chorus. Temby earlier said that, for $45, the group would deliver a love song, sweets, artificial flower, and personal card. He said Valentines would be delivered primarily Wednesday and Valentine’s Day, although other delivery dates could be arranged.

Sometimes “people like embarrassing their sweeties at their places of business,” Temby said of the Valentines, which his group has delivered locally more than a decade.

Daughters, mothers, grandmothers and secretaries have been among those receiving the greetings, Temby said, earlier adding he hoped to see about 125 such Valentines featuring tunes such as “Heart of My Heart,” “I Love You Truly,” and “Love Me Tender.” Singers — clad in black trousers, white shirts and suspenders — have also delivered Valentines to residents in Burlington and Russiaville.

Thursday’s fun

“A lady at Ivy Tech turned beet red,” said Rose, taking a brief break after he and other tunesters delivered Campbell’s greeting. Coon said they’d been busy all day. Singing Valentines were delivered to many, including Pam Cotterman at Fanny Tanners, Susan Alexander at Freedom Financial, Mike LaFollette at Rudae’s Beauty Salon, and Shirley Horoho at Mane Attraction Beauty Shop.

“And the kids love it, too,” Rodenbaugh said, noting the reaction of the Greentown teacher’s charges.

“Oh, my” the teacher gushed, opening a card handed to her by the quartet as they began their presentation. “I was stunned, I didn’t know what to think,” she said later. The unsuspecting Laura lauded her beloved as “very caring; you couldn’t ask for a nicer husband. Very unselfish, very generous and sharing ...”

The somewhat reticent students seemed to like the “show,” but had little to say. “They were good when they sang,” said Brittany Thurman, while Casey Clark said she’d be content just with the candy.

A short time later, an unsuspecting Brittany Baugher was working toward the rear of the South Lafountain Street Walgreens pharmacy when she was told to go up front. There, she was greeted by the aforementioned flower flourishing, candy carrying quartet. And she was, well, truly embarrassed and surprised when they serenaded her with “Truly.”

Boyfriend of four months Matt Stewart — “a really good guy ... nice and sweet ... he takes care of me” — sent her the surprise.

“It was sweet, very nice,” said co-worker Cathi Middleton, who watched from a distance.

        

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