RURAL ROUTE 4 is:

Don Kahl - Tenor, Calvin Yoder - Lead, Jim Bagby - Baritone, Willard Yoder - Bass

The quartet formed in 1971, when four farm boys got together in Cass County, Missouri. They actually lived on R.R. 2, but what kinda name would that have been?   They were first members of the fledgling Cass County Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society (SPEBSQSA) and later the Kansas City Chapter, about 40 miles up the road.   That's where they found coaching and encouragement. To make a long story short, the RR4 won the Central States District championship in 1976, competed on and off at the international level when farm chores didn't get in the way and changed parts a couple of times along the way.   They kept moving (mostly) up: 21st, 9th, 8th, 9th, 14th, 11th, 5th - until in 1986, they were crowned international Quartet Champions. The Gold Medal foursome consisted of original quartet members Calvin and Willard Yoder, brother dairy farmers who learned to harmonize by listening to their father's Mennonite gospel quartet; baritone Jim Bagby, then an Associated Press newsman and third-generation barbershopper, and tenor Don Kahl, a respiration therapist who began his barbershopping career in the Tulsa No. 1 Chapter. By the time the quartet retired in 1994, they had performed in 38 states, Canada, Great Britain and the Caribbean, spreading their special brand of comedy, harmony and Christian faith along the way.   Don later moved to Dallas and joined the Vocal Majority Chorus, left the quartet in 1990 and was replaced by Calvin's son, Wesley Yoder. Jim (in Kansas City) and Don (in Hot Springs Village, Ark.) are now both retired. But every once in awhile, the RR4 find an excuse to get together.