| OC Times | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | Orange County, California |
| Genre: | Barbershop |
| Years Active: | 2003–present |
| Website: | octimesquartet.com |
| Current Members: | Shawn York — tenor Sean Devine — lead Patrick Claypool — baritone Cory Hunt — bass (from 2005) |
| Past Members: | Drew Harrah – bass (to 2004) |
OC Times is a male barbershop quartet affiliated with the Barbershop Harmony Society. They earned second place silver medals at the International Barbershop Quartet Contest at Denver's Pepsi Center on July 7, 2007,[1] and won the International Quartet Championship on July 5, 2008, in Nashville, Tennessee. The quartet combines traditional barbershop harmonies with contemporary music styles. The music of OC Times is inspired by artists like Michael Buble, Sinatra, and Elvis.
The quartet's run for the title is featured in the 2009 feature film American Harmony.
OC Times formed in the spring of 2003 and placed 18th out of 52 quartets in their first Barbershop Harmony Society international quartet competition. The quartet updated its image in January 2005 when Cory Hunt replaced Drew Harrah as the bass singer. With coaching by barbershop veteran Mark Hale, they dressed more casually and broadened their repertoire with non-traditional songs. OC Times' subsequent international competition placement jumped to 5th, 3rd, then 2nd before they won the championship in 2008.[2]
The quartet has earned several other awards and accolades, including being chosen as the society's Far Western District champions in 2004. The group won the 2008 CARA Awards (Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards) for Best Barbershop Song and Best Barbershop Album for their sophomore release, Let's Fly.[3]
All of OC Times are members of the Masters of Harmony, the 8-time gold medalist chorus (including 2011), and the 2007 and 2010 gold medalist Westminster Chorus.[4]