Formed on January 1, 1986, the original configuration of Copyright '86
included Mike Wallen (Alexandria's Ragtime Band, 1985 M-AD Champs) on lead,
and newcomers Steve White on bass, Bob Austin on baritone, and Bill Colosimo on tenor.
Two and a half months later, the quartet sang at the M-AD International Preliminary Contest where they
qualified and later competed in Salt Lake City (1986) July, placing 27th.
They immediately followed up with a 4th place finish at the Mid-Atlantic District contest in the fall.
Shortly thereafter, they reconfigured for the first time, bringing in John Casey
(tenor of Vaudeville, International Silver Medallists) on lead and Mike switched to baritone.
This combination immediately qualified for International Competition in Hartford (1987) where they
dramatically jumped in standing by placing 14th, then followed up their success by winning the
MAD Quartet Championship in 1988. At the International Competition the subsequent year in
San Antonio (1988), they move up one place to 13th with their entertaining clown package.
Soon after, Bill left the quartet and Rick Savage joined up.
They qualified again for International Competition in Kansas City (1989)
where they placed 16th with a hobo package. A final reconfiguration occurred when
Mike left and Mike Pinto signed on. They qualified for International Competition
for a fifth and final time in San Francisco (1990) where they again placed 16th to bring
a great quartet career to a close.
Coached primarily by Don Clause, Copyright '86 was a young, energetic, and dynamic quartet.
They were trendsetters in style, often dressing flamboyantly in hip contemporary clothing
featuring colorful red, teal, magenta, or palm tree print shoes with matching jackets.
Their gold lame' high-top Converse sneakers (given to them as a gift from the Alexandria Harmonizers)
always drew attention. Their visual presentations were consistently high scoring in the stage presence category.
Copyright '86 was a highly sought after show quartet and will be remembered
most for their entertaining rendition of the 50's hit 'Duke of Earl' which brought
standing ovations at every show.
The men of Copyright '86 went on to sing in other well-known and accomplished District quartets:
John Casey was the tenor of The Bingo Brothers (1994 MAD Champs and International Top-10 Finalists) and
lead of Shenanigans (1984 SLD Champs);
Steve White was the bass of The Bay Rum Runners (1996 M-AD Champs and International Top-20 Semifinalists),
Phat Cats (2004 M-AD Champs and International Quarterfinalists),
Full Tilt (International Quarterfinalists),
Touchstone (2011 M-AD Champs), and
MAD Hatters (2012 M-AD Champs and International qualifiers);
Mike Wallen was the tenor of Casino (2000 M-AD Champs and International Quarterfinalists),
tenor of Last Kids Picked (International Quarterfinalists),
and tenor of Youth Reclamation Project (2009 M-AD Seniors Champs and International Medalists);
Bill Colosimo was the baritone of Last Kids Picked and the 2017 MAD Mixed Quartet Champs, Serendipity
Rick Savage was the tenor of Premiere (1997 M-AD Champs and International Top-20 Semifinalists); and
Mike Pinto was the baritone of Phat Cats and Ringers (2007 M-AD Champs and International Top-20 Semifinalists).
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