Randy Rogers - Tenor

Randy has been with Escalade since it formed back in 1999. He is also the greyest member in the group (does that mean he is the oldest?). Actually, he was the youngest member until Jeff took that distinction from him (grey and young? Hmmm). Randy presently is employed as an operations manager and lives in Worthington, MN. He is the father of two beautiful (and full grown) children, Andrew and Kelsey (hmmmm, maybe he IS that old). His barbershop career started in Worthington back in 1992 and has been section leader, music director and Barbershopper of the Year for the Noble Chordsmen in Worthington and has also held a section leader role with Harmony Junction Chorus.  He has sung all voice parts (except bass) in one quartet or another in the 13 years he has been quarteting. His former quartets are The Late Knights, Connect 4 and Artistic Privilege (along with many pick-up quartets). He has a music background in instrumental music (classical violin) and does some musical arranging for the group. And because he really doesn't know which part to sing sometimes, he is owner of a music recording business that specializes in making learning tracks for (what else?) barbershop quartets and choruses (that way he gets to sing ALL of the parts himself!). Check out www.tunesfor4.com for details. He is also the webmaster for Harmony Junction, Escalade AND Tunes For 4 (how does he do it?). You can contact Randy at randy@escaladequartet.com.

Tom Hawkins - Lead

Tom is also a founding member of Escalade and lives in Fairmont, MN.  He has been a member of the Albert Lea (MN) Harmony Junction Chorus since 1995.  Tom didn’t get involved in a quartet right away as he figured he would have to get a divorce first.  Like many men, when he started singing he didn’t inform his wife until later on.  But being in the geographical center of our members locations, it worked out that Tom could host the Escalade rehearsals in his home where he can be with his family…isn’t that great, honey? Tom has been in the automobile business since graduating from St. Cloud State University in 1981.  He now owns and operates Hawkins Chevrolet-Cadillac in Fairmont.  Tom is married (still…really) to wonderful wife Kate since 1988.  They have three boys…TJ (Thomas James), William and Michael….and one dog….a poodle named “Chevy”, who happily greets the guys when they show up for rehearsal. Tom has sung both Baritone and Lead in the Harmony Junction Chorus, but has landed in the Lead spot for “Escalade”.  We look forward to sharing our music with our friends and the communities in our area. Contact Tom at tom@escaladequartet.com.

Jeff Hagen - Baritone

Jeff is the newest member of Escalade (along with being the youngest!).  He joined the quartet in December of 2004 and has been enjoying learning his part ever since.  He is however having a problem developing that baritone shoulder shrug that every baritone needs to have!! Jeff began his barbershop career back in 1985 when he sang lead with the St. Croix Valley, Croix Chordsmen Chorus in River Falls, Wisconsin. He had his first quartet experience singing with Keith Fransen, Jim Hall and Tyler Smith and even competed on district stage (finishing right behind the then fledgling and later district champions, State of the Art!).  He joined the Albert Lea, Harmony Junction Chorus in 1991 and soon became a member of Harmony Forum, made up of Curt Korn, Royce Abel, and his dad, Dennis Hagen. Changes to his job career took Jeff from radio to television and time conflicts forced him to leave the Harmony Junction Chorus. Jeff currently lives on a farm near Ceylon, MN and is employed by Charter Communications Cable Company as Sales & Marketing Coordinator.  He works out of Fairmont, MN. Jeff has been married to his wife, Karis, since July of 2002 and is glad that she allows him to enjoy the great life of singing four-part harmony and developing new friendships with the other members of his quartet. You can contact Jeff at  jeff@escaladequartet.com.

Curt Korn -Bass

Curt is definitely the most seasoned veteran of the group (sounds delicious). His barbershop experience started back in 1981 when he joined the Harmony Junction Chorus as a bass (remember those canary yellow tuxes?). Most of his quartet (and chorus) life, have been spent singing a beautiful tenor. Among his quartets were The Mainstreeters (along with Tom Benson, Lee Olson and Kenny Sibilrud), Full Chord Express (featuring the voices of Brad and Ron Gerhardt and Royce Abel), Harmony Forum (with Jeff and Dennis Hagen and Royce Abel) and State Street, consisting of two members each from The Mainstreeters and State of the Art (Curt and Tom Benson with Nate Schmidt and Pete Benson). The Mainstreeters never competed but never lost an audience. Full Chord won the LOL District’s Novice Quartet Championship in 1992 and even wound up as mike testers for the finals that year! Full Chord also entertained a number of barbershop audiences at chapter shows that same year. Harmony Forum was together from 1994 to 1997 and competed on the District Contest stage in 1995. State Street was formed so Pete could say he had competed with his dad in a quartet. Then finally, changing to bass, he hooked up with Escalade in 1999 (whew, that’s quite a list!). In his real life (he has one??), Curt is employed by WFS in Bricelyn, MN in the propane division in sales, delivery and service. Curt, along with his wife, Lorie and son, Jeremy, live on an acreage, one mile west of Kiester, MN. Curt also adds a word of thanks to his wife and son for all of the encouragement and for allowing all of the rehearsal and performance hours. Thanks Lorie, for letting us borrow Curt every once in a while! Contact Curt at curt@escaladequartet.com.