The Mid-Atlantic District Association of Quartet Champions (MADAQC) was cofounded in 1998 by Steve White and Gary Plaag.
This was the third time in MAD history that a champ’s association was established; the previous two did not endure.
The original MADAQC Board of Directors included the late Freddie King, Tom Ewald, and Dick Webber, as well as Ron Knickerbocker, Gary, and Steve. Mike Kelly is the Webmaster. Steve has been the de facto President and general wrangler since the inception.
The 2022-23 Board of Directors (AKA Executive Committee) members are: Tom Halley, Jay Butterfield, Anthony Colosimo, David Ammirata, Larry Bomback, Kevin King, Gary Plaag, and Steve White.
Every year since being founded, MADAQC members have gathered at the Fall District Convention to sing as a chorus of quartet champions on the Saturday night "Show of Champions" and to welcome with pride and admiration the newest quartet champion into its ranks.
1956 - Hometown Quartet (Frank Corsale) 1957 - York-Aires (Ed Allison?, Ed Smyser?) 1959 - Checkmates (Don Woods?, Mint Terhune?) 1960 - Out-of-Towners (Bob Parry, Charles Ruth) 1961 - Rocket Tones (Dick Geiger) 1962 - Main Street Four (Dick Floersheimer) 1963 - Yankees (Don MacFarlane) 1965 - The Townsmen (Dick Geiger, Roy Schmidt) 1966 - Hallmarks (Artie Dolt, Frank Tortorelli) 1967 - Continental Four (Roger Blackburn, Phil Steel) 1968 - NOVA Chords (Scott Werner) 1969 - Classic (Paul Kline, Jack Malone, Phil Steel) 1970 - Union Jacks (Bob Disney) 1971 - Exclusives (Dick Bethel) 1972 - Regents (Ron Knickerbocker)
Kevin King, son of Freddie King Scott Disney, son of Bob'Diz' Disney Rich, Jr. & Jeff Gray (brothers), sons of Dick Gray, Sr., all became first-time MAD Champs together w/ Runaway Sound Anthony Colosimo, son of Bill Colosimo
Commuters* (3rd - 1940) New York City Police Quartet (4th -1940) Garden State Quartet* (1st - 1946) Columbians (9th - 1954) Potomac Clippers (6th - 1955) Play-Tonics (2nd - 1956, 5th - 1957, 6th - 1958, 10th - 1960, 10th - 1961) Easternaires (5th - 1956, 8th - 1957, 7th - 1958, 4th - 1959, 7th - 1960, 9th - 1969, 5th - 1970, 6th - 1971, 8th - 1972) Hometown Quartet (6th - 1957, 3rd - 1958) The Hallmarks (7th - 1969 , 1970 - 7th) Oriole Four (8th - 1959, 7th - 1965, 8th - 1966, 7th, 1067, 6th - 1968, 4th - 1969, 1st - 1970) NOVA Chords (1975 - 9th, 3rd - 1976, 8th - 1977, 5th - 1978) Regents (1st - 1974, 3rd - 1972, 3rd - 1973) Friends of Yesterday (10th - 1977, 9th - 1978, 9th- 1980) B & O Connection (7th - 1978, 3rd - 1979) Vaudeville (9th - 1981, 5th - 1982, 3rd - 1983, 3rd - 1984, 2nd - 1985, 3rd - 1986, 7th - 1988) Pros 'N Cons (10th - 1986) Four Under Par (10th - 1980) Broadway (9th - 1989) Bingo Brothers (8th - 1992, 10th - 1994) BSQ (6th - 1995, 5th - 1996, 5th - 1997, 3rd - 1998, 4th - 1999, 3rd - 2000, 7th - 2001) Wheelhouse (9th - 2003, 8th - 2004, 6th - 2006, 9th - 2007) Old School (2nd - 2009, 2nd - 2010, 1st - 2011) Da Capo (10th - 2013, 10th - 2016) 'Round Midnight (10th - 2017, 9th - 2019, 9th - 2022) Studio 4* (8th - 2018) Pratt Street Power (8th - 2019, 9th - 2023) Midtown (4th - 2019, 2nd - 2022, 1st - 2023) GQ* (4th - 2022) (First non-male MAD quartet to make the finals) First Take (5th - 2022, 3rd - 2023) Gimme Four (7th - 2022, 7th 2023) * Not a MAD champion quartet
Commuters* New York City Police Department Quartet Garden State Quartet (Gold)* Play-Tonics Easternaires Hometown Quartet Oriole Four (Gold) NOVA Chords Regents (Gold) B & O Connection Vaudeville BSQ Old School (Gold) Midtown (Gold) GQ* (First non-male quartet in BHS history to earn a medal) First Take * Not a MAD Champ quartet
Garden State Quartet* (1946) - Ted Rau, Bob Freeland, Jack Briody, Joe Marrese Oriole Four (1970) - Bob Welzenbach, Jim Grant, Fred King, Don Stratton Regents (1974) - Harry Williamson, Joe Mazzone, Ron Knickerbocker, Hal Kauffman Old School (2011) - Kipp Buckner, Joe Connelly, Jack Pinto, Joe Krones Midtown (2023) - AnthonyFortino, KJ McAleesejergins, Christian Diaz, Nick Gordon * Not a MAD Champ quartet
Al Baker Ed Bell John Casey Joe Connelly (Gold Medalist with the Interstate Rivals, Keepsake, PLATINUM) Tom Ewald Nick Gordon Richard Lewellen Joe Krones Dennis Malone (Gold Medalist with the Side Street Ramblers) KJ McAleesejergins Dave Mittelstadt Harold Nantz (5 in DIX and SUN) Gene O'Dell Gary Parker (Gold Medalist with Dealer's Choice) Scott Risley Chris Slacke John Ward Drew Wheaton (Gold Medalist with Forefront) Cal Sexton Bob Royce Shawn Thomas Note: there may be others
John Adams (Reminisce - 1995) Alan Durick (Reminisce - 1995) Scott Werner (Reminisce - 1995) Dick Whitehouse (Reminisce - 1995) Mark Sanders (Faces for Radio - 2014) Ross Trube (Party of Five - 2017)
Larry Bomback (Road Trip - 2007) Tony Colosimo (Road Trip - 2007) Joe Eckert (Road Trip - 2007)
Joe Connelly (Interstate Rivals - 1987, Keepsake - 1992, Platinum - 2000)Dennis Malone (Side Street Ramblers - 1983)Gary Parker (Dealer's Choice - 1973)
Joe Mazzone (Exclusives - 1971, Regents - 1972) Rob Seay (Touchstone - 2011, MAD Hatters - 2012) Steve White (Touchstone - 2011, MAD Hatters - 2012)
Jim Grant (Arcade - 1992)Freddie King (Pros 'N' Cons - 1984) Ron Knickerbocker (Curtain Call - 1983, Free Trade Agreement - 1998)
Richard Lewellen (Riptide - 2001, 4th place; 2002, 4th place) Harold Nantz (Sidekicks - 1989, 4th place; Backbeat - 1995 - 5th place) Rick Taylor (Riptide - 2003, 5th place; 2004, 3rd place; 2005, 4th place)