New audiobook features 12 songs by famous Two Rivers barbershop quartet The Schmitt Brothers

MANITOWOC — The Schmitt Brothers, a barbershop quartet from Two Rivers, is the subject of an audiobook published by P.T. Rivers.

The singing group — Jim, Joe, Paul and Fran — won the 1951 international championship of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America.

The four brothers grew up in a family of 17 children in Two Rivers. They learned to sing in the St. Luke's church choir and won a contest on WOMT radio in Manitowoc when the youngest was just 4 years old.

The group sang together for 35 years, performing on major stages throughout the United States and Canada, as well as on the Ed Sullivan, Arthur Godfrey and Lawrence Welk shows.

Manitowoc history: How Manitowoc's Citizenship Day celebration of May 1939 drew national attention and sparked a nationwide movement

Rivers, niece to the four brothers, was inspired by the group's story to write "The Schmitt Brothers" book. Shortly after it was published, she and other family members started working to produce an audiobook.

"It's very difficult to describe the magic of their singing on the written page," Rivers said in the release. "My goal was to combine the music with the story in a way that would really bring the Schmitt Brothers to life so that their memory and harmonies could live on."

Damian Schmitt, son of Joe Schmitt who was the quartet's tenor and spokesperson, narrated the book while John Gorski, nephew of the four brothers, integrated the music and produced the audiobook.

The audiobook has 12 songs including "America the Beautiful" and "Nearer My God to Thee." It is available on Amazon and Audible.

Metro Jam: Metro Jam announces The Exotics will headline June 14 lineup

The audiobook also includes two live recordings from singers Joe and Jim Schmitt. The first is of Joe as he recounts the group's 1951 victory to a live audience. The second is of Jim celebrating the quartet's 50th anniversary during the 2001 Barbershop Harmony Society convention when 99 Schmitt relatives attended to honor their dads and grandpas.

"Everyone involved in this project is related to the quartet and grew up hearing them sing," Rivers said. "This project is truly a labor of love from our family to the Schmitt Brothers' many fans."

Alisa M. Schafer is a reporter for the Herald Times Reporter in Manitowoc. She can be reached by email at aschafer@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Songs by famous Two Rivers barbershop quartet featured in audiobook