Biographies

Todd Kidder - Tenor

Todd joined the Vacaville Chapter of the Society in 1971 after having sung barbershop-style music for about 8 years with his father and brothers. He served as an assistant director for the Vacaville Chapter for several years.

Todd’s first quartet, Kidder & Sons, Incorporated was formed in 1969 and took home the FWD championship in 1987. He first sang with Rich Brunner and others in ‘Rad Dads’, and in joined Rich again in ‘Freestyle’. He is a veteran of the International stage, finishing with 11th in International Competition in 2002 with Freestyle.

In VocalEase, Todd is pleased to once again share the stage with ‘little brother Scott’, a goal they have for many years.

Todd and wife Diane live in Vacaville, California and have five grown children, Emily, Jennie, Bryan, Brandy and Jennifer, who married Christopher Bell, and have added two grandchildren to the clan, Christine and Matthew. He has been a law enforcement officer for twenty years and is currently a Sergeant with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department.

Rich Brunner - Lead

 Rich began singing barbershop harmony in 1978, when his high school music teacher (a member of the Dapper Dans) started a high school quartet. He joined the Sacramento Chapter in 1982, and has been a member since that time.

While attending UC Davis, where he earned his degree in Music, Rich sang with a college quartet, the ‘Davisville Student Forum’, all of whom became members of the Sacramento Chapter as well.

Rich has been a FWD Champion on two occasions, first with ‘Musician's Choice’ in 1988-89 and with “Freestyle’ in 1999-2000. He has been an International competitor 10 times, including 5 semifinalist appearances with Freestyle, which achieved 11th place in 2003.

Rich lives in the Sacramento Valley with his wife, Pattie, and sons Luke and Griffin, and their –permanent puppy’, Skyler. He is Vice President of Systems for MAXIMUS, a large systems integration company focused on healthcare and government.

Scott Kidder - Baritone

Scott began singing at the age of 5 with his brothers, Todd and Aaron. The ukelele-playing trio performed on barbershop shows and other local events in the Washingon DC area. When the family relocated to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines in 1969, "Papa" Don decided to satisfy his barbershop needs by forming a quartet with his three sons. While in the Philppines, the family quartet entertained troops and eventually won an Armed Forces talent search to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show in March of 1971.

After returning to the States in the fall of 1971, Kidder and Sons, Inc. spent much of the next 20 years performing on barbershop shows and competitions across the United States and Canada. Kidder and Sons finally won the coveted Far Western District championship in 1987.

Scott has earned 6 gold medals with the Masters of Harmony, serving as both Lead and Baritone section leader; and has sung in several other quartets, most recently with bass Joe D'Amore in Finale - 2001 Far Western District champions and 2002 International finalists. He is thrilled to finally have the opportunity to once again share the stage with his "older" brother Todd.

Scott works as a Senior Programmer/Analyst for Maxon Furniture, and lives with his lovely wife, Cindy, and wonderful sons Ryan and Kyle in Irvine, California.

Joe D’Amore – Bass

Joe became a member of the Pasadena Chapter in 1979 and fell in love with the barbershop style of music. He soon became the chapter’s musical director and sang in his first barbershop quartet (The Crowning Attraction). Joe sang bass in the Far Western District Novice Champion “Sound Horizon” in 1982.

In 1985, Joe led a group of motivated barbershop singers in chartering the Foothill Cities Chapter, Masters of Harmony chorus. Joe was the chapter’s first musical director and, once passing the musical leadership off to Dr. Greg Lyne, became Chapter President. Joe helped the chorus win two of its six International gold medals.

Joe is a two time Far Western District quartet champion, a four time International quartet medalist with Standing Room Only, and an International quartet finalist with Finale.

Joe is married to his best friend, Marcia. They live in Glendora, California. Joe and Marcia have three wonderful children – Michael, Heather and Matthew – and a very spirited Chocolate Lab by the name of Lakota.

Joe is the Academic Dean with San Joaquin Valley College, a private junior college, in Rancho Cucamonga, California