Americana: Naval Bombardment

Keith Mahosky, 20, is a second classman at the U.S. Naval Academy who winks back when opportunity smiles. His latest chance came in a contest sponsored by WBKZ, a Baltimore radio station. The challenge was to identify ten songs and singers from excerpts of tunes played on the air. The winner would get $10,000 worth of gold and silver jewelry.

The musical quiz turned out to be a snap for Mahosky, who, with the help of five academy friends, set out to rig the odds in his favor. They chipped in a total of $100, paid a printer to run off 75,000 copies of Mahosky’s entry, and deposited them at WBKZ.

They all went into the drum, along with 65,000 other correct entries, and out was pulled the winning form—one signed by the midshipman.

Mahosky and his friends have already picked up their prize. “Part of the jewelry will go to charity, part we’ll sell for taxes,” says Mahosky, “and part we’ll keep as an investment.” Meanwhile, the sextet plans to continue harmonizing.

Says Mahosky: “We’re looking for some sort of similar contest.”