Home Edition is a quartet specializing in the production of wonderful four-part barbershop harmony. They are all members of the Fun Center Chordsmen, the Mansfield chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society or SPEBSQSA.
Home Edition is the chapter’s most tenured registered quartet, having been together since 1989. Home Edition appears regularly on the annual shows of the Fun Center Chordsmen. They have appeared in several “Town Roasts” and have performed for many events, parties, and conventions in the Richland County area. They have provided dinner entertainment at J. Gilbert’s restaurant in Columbus on several occasions. That’s right, they “sang for their supper.”
In 2001, Home Edition completed their first tape/CD recording of their favorite songs. In 2002 and 2003, they took on the challenge of presenting Young Men In Harmony classes to high school choral students in a five-county area. Additionally, they have helped raise scholarship funds for students who attend a Harmony Camp each August in Columbus, including profits from their own treasury.
Members of the quartet include Gary Oswalt, tenor, who is the newest member, joining Home Edition the summer of 2018. Gary was a charter member of the Fun Center Chordsmen beginning in 1974 through 2012, when he took a sabbatical from singing to pursue other responsibilities. Gary has renewed his membership with FCC. He has sung with several registered quartets, Richland Sound System, Good Advice, Memories and Barn Yard Boys, prior to joining Home Edition. Gary retired from Sprint Corp. in 2004, after 34 years in architectural drafting and building engineering. He also operated his own professional drafting business, retiring in 2013. Gary enjoys quartet singing and spending quality time with his wife, and his one and only grandson.
Jerry Starrett, lead, has also been with the quartet since 1990. Jerry has been singing barbershop harmony beginning in 1988 and in addition to singing with the Fun Center Chordsmen, he sings with the Singing Buckeyes in Columbus, the past Johnny Appleseed District Chorus Champions. Jerry is a career food service manager.
Bill Herdman provides the bass voice for the quartet. Bill joined Home Edition in early 2002, following the death of our charter bass man, Dick Sherman. Bill is a charter member of the Fun Center Chordsmen and has been singing barbershop for many years. This is the second registered quartet in which Bill has sung, the first being the Broadway Limited. Bill is in the management ranks of AK Steel in Mansfield. Bill is also a bass section leader in the chorus.
Dave Kracker, baritone, is the remaining original member of Home Edition which began in 1989. Dave has been a barbershopper since joining the Society in 1961. He sang with Bill Herdman in the Broadway Limited quartet for a number of years and several other registered quartets. Dave is also a charter member of the Fun Center Chordsmen. He directed the chorus for 22 years and is currently an assistant director and the Vice President of Youth in Harmony. He is also a dual member with the Singing Buckeyes in Columbus.
