Walter Latzko

Legendary barbershop quartet arranger and musician. Born in Karlsbad, Czechoslovakia on February 9, 1924 Died September 10, 2010 (86 years old). Between 1948 and 2010, he wrote a legacy of 1,226 arrangements of which 94 were medleys, many of which were performed and recorded by champion quartets and choruses. Married to The Chordettes singer Margie Needham (Marjorie). He was a joke-writer and musician having written for Arthur Godfrey's radio and TV shows, Jack Sterling's CBS morning radio show, Garry Moore, and Durward Kirby. He was the arranger and coach for the Chordettes, who were regular performers on the Godfrey shows. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Amherst College in 1948 with a Bachelor's degree in Music. He attended Columbia College to study for a Master's degree in music composition and earned all his credits, but did not get his degree because he took the job with Arthur Godfrey. Walter was an organist and choir director for 42 years. He was inducted into the Barbershop Harmony Hall of Fame, the Mid-Atlantic District Hall of Honor, and named Man of Merit by the Association of International Senior Quartet Champions.