The Buffalo Bills were a barbershop quartet formed in Buffalo, New York, in 1947. The original members included tenor Vern Reed, lead Al Shea, baritone Herschel Smith, and bass Bill Spangenberg. They began performing locally and gained their name during an appearance at the Buffalo Quarterback Club. The quartet won the Barbershop Harmony Society International Quartet Contest in 1950. After Herschel Smith left, Dick Grapes joined as baritone. They appeared on national radio and television programs and released an album titled Barbershop Gems for Decca Records in 1951. In February 1957, they won Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, which led to their role in the Broadway production of The Music Man (1957–1960) and the 1962 film adaptation. The quartet disbanded in 1967.
