After knowing each other for over 25 years, the opportunity finally arose for these four guys to sing together.  Dan and Bill had sung in a quartet called Fatherly Advice which won the 1996 Seniors International Championship.  Following the loss of their bass, Burt Staffen, to cancer and their lead, Dick Bek, to a staff job at SPEBSQSA, they discussed the possibility of a new quartet with Forrest LaMotte and Wes Sorstokke, who had filled in for Dick and Burt with Fatherly Advice on occasion. After all, there were commitments to fill and new engagements out there ripe for the picking! Following a quick vote among the friends, and with a  slight name change to Friendly Advice, it was “on with the show”!

Today, the fours0me are frequent entertainers at local shows and special events, and plan to continue offering their own brand of “friendly advice” to audiences far into the future!

Meet the members of Friendly Advice (as pictured left to right above):

	Dan Tangarone (tenor), a retired Environmental Engineer, lives with his wife, Janet, in Carnation, WA. Dan has been in four previous district champion quartets (Northwest Spirit, 1986; Pacific Pride, 1983; New Found Sound, 1973, and The Squires Four, 1965) and has over 39 years of quartet experience. Dan and Janet bought their home from (and next to) Wes when Wes was a realtor in a previous life. Apparently, Dan and Wes figured they could get more singing in if they didn’t have to travel so far. They even jointly own a riding lawn mower! You can reach Dan at djtangarone@comcast.net.
	Wes Sorstokke (lead), now a three-time Evergreen District quartet champion (Friendly Advice; Critics Choice, 1996; and Northwest Spirit, 1986), lives with wife Sharon (next to Dan and Janet!) in Carnation, WA. Wes and Sharon own the Snoqualmie Falls Candy Factory in Snoqualmie, WA. and can be seen regularly in their shop across from the old-time train station making batches of fantastic caramel corn, brittles and fudge. You can reach Wes at Snflscandy@aol.com.
	Forrest LaMotte (bass), is a real estate broker and lives in Federal Way, WA. Forrest also has four other District championships to his name: Reunion, 1999; Extra! Extra!, 1995;  The New Rendition, 1978; and Easy Street, 1987). His daughter, Kari, also sings a mean bass and has appeared on the Sweet Adeline international stage several times with her chorus and quartets. Forrest’s son-in-law (Kari’s husband) is Tom Metzger, bass of the 2005 BHS International Quartet Champions, Realtime. You can reach Forrest at forrestlamotte@hotmail.com.
	Bill Thurmon (baritone), a retired landscape architect, lives in Bellevue, WA, with his wife, Gail, and daughter, Amanda. Bill has sung in quartets for over 40 years including two other Evergreen District Champions (South Sounders, 1980 and The Most Happy Fellows, 1971). Bill is known throughout the Evergreen District for his uncanny portrayal of Mark Twain on barbershop shows. You can reach Bill at friendlyadvice1@juno.com.