The original Timbretones
quartet was formed by four young guys, Sam Inglis, tenor, who was old
enough to have a driver's license, his two cousins, Hugh Alexander, lead,
and younger brother Roddie, baritone. The bass, Jack Kohli lived just down
the street and was not related. This was 1951 and they wanted to compete
in the upcoming quartet competition. They placed third on their first
attempt.
Always more in demand by the
public than at competitions, they performed a variety of musical genres,
across Ontario and Manitoba as well as the neighbouring states augmenting
their entertaining style with a string bass and Ukulele or guitar.
The first change in personnel occurred in 1954 when Wayne Brubacher
replaced Jack Kohli as bass. Over the years, Roddie and Wayne switched
parts but for forty-six years, Wayne was the “new kid on the block”.
Sadly, in 2000, lead Hugh Alexander passed away, an event that was
expected to end a half-century quartet career. But that was not to be!
Chris Scappatura, lead from the Ontario Championship Quartet, "Contagious” thought
what the hell, why not try the pure entertainment
side of quartetting? And so it came to pass that new life and energy
renewed an Ontario tradition that is here to stay even if the older guys
have to use walkers!
Privately, the members had very dissimilar vocations. Sam was in the
electronics servicing and retail business. Roddie retired from being a
postie for 22 years. Wayne is a surveyor and Chris is well what day is it?
speaker, Realtor, blah blah. The musicians are Roddie, Bass and guitar and
Sam, guitar and clarinet, and Chris, trombone. All contribute to the
quartet's arrangements.
Briefly while Hugh, the original lead was studying to be an accountant,
Roddie and Wayne sang in the Squires quartet and the Ontario Champion
“Thompson Brothers” quartet. Roddie also sang with “General Delivery”
while he was a postman.