Jim Nabors Replacement Is Straight No Chaser

Straight No Chaser, an a capella group, was picked to replace Jim Nabors in singing ‘Back Home Again in Indiana’ before the start of the Indianapolis 500 in May.

Nabors, who is 84 years old, announced earlier this year that the 2014 race would be his last because of health reasons. He had performed the song 35 times before the start of the race since 1972.

Straight No Chaser was formed in 1996 at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Together the 10 students — Dan Ponce, Randy Stine, Charlie Mechling, Steve Morgan, Jerome Collins, Dave Roberts, Walter Chase, Mike Itkoff, Patrick Hachey, and Kevin Carroll, became Straight No Chaser. Their name was inspired by the title track of Thelonious Monk’s 1967 album, Straight, No Chaser, and is a conscious evocation of the popular American slang phrase often employed in requesting a drink.

Straight No Chaser – “Let It Go” from Frozen

Straight No Chaser – Lion Sleeps Tonight