Melody Lane: December 2006

Former Lead for Melody Lane steps into the quartet to sing

Contact Information

We are a Barbershop Quartet that has been together since February of 2004. Together we have over 100 years of experience singing Barbershop Harmony. We sing mainly in the Tri-state area of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. We have sung the National Anthum at many of the U Of A sporting events. We also sang God Bless America at the first NATURALS baseball game in Springdale. The quartet personel are Rod Martin, Baritone; Ron Heinemann, Lead; Bryce Hopkins, Tenor; and Gene Gnuse Bass
Contact Information
Phone----- 479-876-5040 or 479-283-8453
E-mail--- gbuild2@gmail.com or ronheine@hotmail.com

Rod Martin Son of Music Educator

Rod grew up the son of a music educator and worship leader and so began singing early in life. He learned to read music singing Hymns in church and developed an ear for harmony listening to the different parts. Rod sang in his first gospel quartet while in junior high school and organized a Barbershop quartet for a spring show while in college.
Although taking a long hiatus from organized music, a chance encounter with the "Double Pair O'Docs" lead to an invitation to sing with the Natural Statesmen Chorus and joined the Barbarshop Harmony Society in 2001. In December of 2003, Rod helped to form "Melody Lane Quartet" and soon tranferred chorus membership to The Pride of the Ozarks Chorus.

With Ron Heinemann Singing Is Ancient History

At the ripe old age of 4 Ron sang his first solo in church on Christmas Eve.
He's been singing ever since. Through his school years Ron majored in two areas, music and sports, school work seemed to get in the way. Ron was selected to sing with both the Minnesota State and the National FFA choruses. His very first quartet experience was as a junior in High School.
In 1963 Ron and his family moved from Danube Minnesota to Stevens Point, Wisconsin where he found his first barbershop chapter. A short time later he became a member of a new quartet which was know as, "Reflection". Since that time Ron has sung in numerous quartets such as, "Grin-n-Tonics," "Hallmark of Harmony," "Chordfusion," "Ring-N-Accord," "Masterpiece," "Four Ever Young" and "Melody Lane." Music has been and continues to be in Ron's life.

Ron's Experience With Instrumental Music

Prior to becoming deeply involved with vocal music, Ron spent much of his time with instrumental music. One of the highly unusual and memorable highlights of his life was that he started playing in the high school band as a first grader. He played all twelve years while graduating from the [6 inch] cymbals to the bass drum, to the alto horn and finally to the baritone. Shortly after graduating from high school, Ron was asked to take over as director of his high school band when their director became ill, what an experience for a kid!

Bryce Hopkins Background In Singing

Bryce, the nominal tenor of Melody Lane has been singing all his life in glee clubs, church choirs, and barbershop since about the age of eight. He took voice lessons from four different teachers for a total of over ten years. He has appeared in several musicals over the years including Music Man [twice], Anything Goes, Oklahoma, Carousel, The Student Prince, Evita, Camelot, and recently Guys And Dolls. He began his barbershopping in the society with the Singing Capitol Chorus of Washington DC in 1968. After stops with the Montgomery Counts, The Fairfax Jubilaires and the Natural Statesmen, he now sings with the Greater Ozarks Chorus in Bentonville. Quartets include The Rock Creek Chords, Horse And Buggy Daze, Southern Comfort, Jamesgang and currently, Melody Lane.

Below are Quartets That Gene Gnuse has sung in over the past 30 years

[Woodshed Express] 1977 till late 1979--See pictures below
[Country Combination] 1979 till 1985
[Route 30 Express] 1987 till 1991 [No Picture available] Gene Gnuse, Bari; Jerry Leslie, Bass; Joe Chapman, Tenor; Loren Havekost, Lead
[Runbleseat Reunion] Summer 1992 till December 1995
[Arkansas Travelers] 1996 till early 1997--See picture below
[Harmony Bound] late 1997 till Jan. 2004--See picture below
[Kind of Neat] {Sarasota Chapter}--Feb. 2007--See pic. below
[Bella Vista Moments] #I 2000 till 2001--See picture below
[Bella Vista Moments] #II 2001 till 2004
[Bella Vista Moments] #III 2004 till 2007--See picture below
[Melody Lane] 2004 till????????????
[Bella Vista Moments] #IV 2007 till?????????