Welcome to the home page of the Brooks Brothers, AKA the Singing Sumos.

The Brooks Brothers officially signed on as a Society quartet in June of 1980, but at the time it was more of your typical barbershop quartet. You know … the striped vest, bow tie and dumb looking hats. Since they already had the clothes they decided to enter the local county fair talent show. WOW … second place and 50 bucks. That almost covered the evening pizza bill! Oh yeah, first place went to the 5-year-old baton twirler. Hey, 50 bucks is 50 bucks and someone actually paid us to sing … what an incentive!

As the Brothers grew older, they all went their different ways and each have actually gone on to win District Championships. Two of them have even tripped the footlights on the International stage … but we won't say who. And even though they moved around and sang with other quartets, they always found time to get together whenever possible to do those "special request" shows. In 1996 they decided to "officially" get back together again for the Illinois District contest where they managed to steal 2nd place.

HISTORY OF THE SUMOS

Always a fast-paced, entertaining quartet, the Brothers came up with a new concept … Sumo Barbershop. It was on the way back from a chapter show that they racked their brains trying to come up with something just a bit different … a new look if you will. Needless to say, they found it!

The Brooks Brothers took their new "look" to the contest stage in 1998 to see what would happen. They had hoped the audience would enjoy the set, but never realized the impact it would have. The quartet was introduced and after making their way to the front of the stage it would be several minutes before the audience would settle down long enough for the guys to begin. The first song was Okinawa … a parody of the song Oklahoma. The district crowd responded with a standing ovation. The second song, You've Got to Be A Sumo Hero, had the same affect … a second standing ovation as the quartet exited the stage. The quartet didn't win a spot for International, but they had won the affection of those in attendance. The quartet stayed in the hot suits long after the results were announced to pose for pictures. Young kids, little old ladies and even fellow barbershoppers had their pictures taken with the quartet.

The set proved to be so popular that every show request that came in wanted the Singing Sumos. It was then that the quartet had to go out and put together an entire show package. It took an additional 8 months before they were ready, but with the help of Presentation Judge Jim Coates, the Sumos were ready to go. The quartet has been traveling across the U.S., in Canada, and even Ireland; entertaining exclusively as the Singing Sumos.

WE WON A CONTEST … REALLY!

In August of 1999 the quartet competed at the Buckeye Invitational Funny Bone Comedy Quartet contest where they were awarded first prize. And what a prize it was! The quartet won a trip to Kilarney, Ireland where they performed for the Roaring 20's Festival and enjoyed a week's vacation with their special ladies. You can check out some photos from the trip in our photo album.