The barbershop quartet has been a part of American music history since the late nineteenth century. Since that time, music sung by the barbershop quartet has been embraced by many as being American music in much the same way as jazz. The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA) was formed in 1938. That organization has awarded championship status annually to its best quartets. This paper presents a brief history of the barbershop quartet along with discussion of some major influences upon the style. Results of a survey of surviving members of the first 25 SPEBSQSA championship quartets are then examined. Of the first 25 championship quartets, all members of the first nine quartets are deceased. Surviving members (N=43) of the remaining 16 championship quartets were surveyed with respect to their musical backgrounds, self-perceptions of music reading ability, and the sight-singing methods employed by these singers both before and long after winning top SPEBSQSA honors. Responses (N=32) indicated that singers viewed their personal music reading abilities as improved by their involvement with barbershop singing, yet approximately 50% of respondents indicated that rote learning of parts (whether in the immediate company of another or via audiotape) was their major learning style. Results were discussed in terms of a possible influence of tape machine culture and avenues for further research.