The Boonslick Chordbusters put on their first show in 1997, but the chorus actually evolved from a heritage of barbershop singing that has existed in mid-Missouri for much longer. When the first barbershop chapter in Columbia, known as the Tiger Town Tuners, slowly folded after many years, a few members began to sing with the Booneville chapter called the River City Chordbusters. After a while, this chapter also fell apart. Many years began to pass with no active barbershop chapter in the area, and it became clear that had to change.