Cayuga's Waiters

The Cayuga's Waiters

Company type	Student organization
Industry	Collegiate a cappella
Founded	1949
Defunct	2017
Headquarters	Ithaca , United States
Area served	Cornell University campus
Products	Music albums, live performances

The Cayuga's Waiters were an all-male collegiate a cappella singing group at Cornell University that existed from 1949 until 2017. The university permanently disbanded the ensemble in 2017 following an investigation into hazing allegations.

Origin as a Glee Club Subgroup (1949–1956)

Established in 1949, the Cayuga's Waiters derived their name from Cornell's alma mater, "Far Above Cayuga's Waters."^:239 They wore the traditional Glee Club tuxedos but added towels draped over their arms as a clever nod to their name. Their setlist featured popular tunes such as "Mood Indigo," "Mandy," and "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye."^:239 By 1951, the ensemble had become highly sought-after on campus and enjoyed enthusiastic receptions during joint tours with the Glee Club.^:239

During the early 1950s, the Waiters became trailblazers in the emerging collegiate a cappella movement. Michael Slon ('92) observed in Songs From The Hill — A History Of The Cornell Glee Club:

Before the Waiters, Cornell lacked the now-common practice of small group singing combined with touring and recording. Unaware of their pioneering role, this new triple quartet began accepting local engagements alongside their Glee Club commitments, rapidly building momentum and popularity.^:240

In 1953, they embarked on their inaugural independent tour to Bermuda’s Harbor Castle Hotel and produced their first album. By 1956, the group decided to concentrate solely on small group performances and officially separated from the Glee Club. Both ensembles continued to enjoy notable achievements throughout the rest of the twentieth century.

Spring Fever Concert

In 1974, The Waiters inaugurated their yearly "Spring Fever" concert, a tradition that persisted until 2016. This event received acclaim from outlets like Slope Media, which highlighted its role in advancing a cappella artistry. During the early 1990s, they also introduced an annual December Holiday Show that ran through the 2000s.

"We Didn't Go To Harvard"

In 1990, The Waiters produced "We Didn't Go To Harvard," a parody of Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire." This track has garnered over 152,000 views on YouTube and motivated other college groups to create similar parodies inspired by Joel's 1989 hit.

Online Digital Releases

Approaching their fiftieth anniversary in 2000, the group expanded its digital footprint by making much of its music accessible online.

Influence on Pitch Perfect

The 2012 surprise success film Pitch Perfect was based on Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory, a 2009 non-fiction work authored by alumni Mickey Rapkin ('00), which explores the cultural and commercial significance of collegiate a cappella.

Suspension and Termination by Cornell

In 2016, the Waiters faced a temporary suspension imposed by Cornell's Office of the Judicial Administrator due to alleged breaches of the Campus Code of Conduct. Subsequently, on April 25, 2017, Cornell University made the decision to permanently remove the Waiters, citing their repeated hazing violations.

Discography

The Waiters released a total of 26 albums:

During their time as a subgroup of the Glee Club:

• Cayuga's Waiters 51–52 (1952)
• Cayuga's Waiters 53–54 (1954)
• Cayuga's Waiters 54–55 (1955)

Following their establishment as an independent entity:

• Cocktails For Twelve (1959)
• Goodnight Little Girl (1961)
• Presenting Cayuga's Waiters (1963)
• Just Waitin' (1964)
• Pow! (1966)
• Lost In The Sound (1968)
• Still Waitin' (1975)
• Waitin' For You (1976)
• Straight Break (1977)
• 12° North (1983)
• Laughed Out Of Town (1986)
• Maintaining The Illusion (1989)
• Live At Spring Fever XVI (1990)
• Niko's Cafe (1993)
• Live And Kicking (1996)
• Channel Zero (1998)
• Clothing Optional (1999)
• Straight Outta C-town (2001)
• Spring Fever 28 Ticket CD (2002)
• The Forgotten Room (2003)
• Wednesday Night (2007)
• Stripped (2010)
• Nothing Wrong (2015)