| Vier Belcantos - Deine Augen sind so blau wie das MeerThu, 01 Jan 2009 09:43:15 -0800 by kr103Telefunken master 20470, rec. Berlin, January 1935.Four unknown singers with Adalbert Lutter's orchestra.Another group that remains a mystery. They recorded about 20 sides between 1933 and 1936, but as far as I know there is not even a picture of those gentlemen anywhere in collector's hands. To complicate matters further, another group was recording in the mid-1930s as the "Fünf Belcantos", but as two of those five were female, whereas all four of this group were male, there seems to be no connection between the groups. Still another "Belcantos" recorded for the Tempo label in the late 1950s and do not sound anything like this group ... Related: 1930s close harmony german male vocal quartet vier belcantos adalbert lutter dance novelty telefunken | |
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| Three Ginx - Happy-go-lucky youThu, 01 Jan 2009 09:29:15 -0800 by kr103Vocalion master 1194-X, rec. London, September 1932 ca.Ivor Robinson, Jack Joy, and Eric Hanley (vocs) with instrumental accompaniment.One of the most successful British vocal groups of the 1930s, the three musicians started their carreer as instrumentalists (Robinson as a saxophonist, Joy as a pianist, and Hanley as a drummer). The three met while playing with the New Mayfair Orchestra, and later joined Sidney Kyte's orchestra, where they were regularly featured as vocalists, and it is likely that they are accompanied by members of the Kyte orchestra on this recording. They soon found themselves much in demand, and in 1933s finally decided to quit their orchestra jobs and to concentrate on singing full-time. The last record by them I know of were cut in 1940. Related: 1930s 1940s close harmony british male vocal trio three ginx novelty dance jazz vocalion broadcast | |
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| Kardosch-Sänger - Ohne dich (Stormy weather)Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:21:20 -0800 by kr103Pallas master C 1757, rec. Berlin, ca. September 1933.Zeno Costa (1st tenor), unknown (2nd tenor), Fritz Angermann (baritone), Paul von Nyiri (bass), István Kardos (piano and arranger) with Georg Grüber's orchestra.One of the last recordings the Kardoschs made before Rudi Schuricke joined the group as their new tenor and lead voice - or at least we think it is. Schuricke, who was one of the most influential German singers between the 30s and the 50s, can be heard for sure on a recording made in early October, but as his voice is very similar to his predecessor's, it is almost impossible to be sure when the change took place. However, several experts whose ears I trust agree this is still the group's original tenor here - whoever he was.The photo shows (from left to right): unknown, Zeno Costa, Fritz Angermann, Paul von Nyiri. Related: 1930s close harmony german vocal group kardosch sänger georg grüber dance novelty pallas paloma | |
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| Blue Ribbon Quartet - Breezin' along with the breezeThu, 01 Jan 2009 09:08:19 -0800 by kr103Brunswick master E 3339, rec. New York, 30 June 1926.Arthur Herbert (1st tenor), Alex Mason (2nd tenor), Neil Evans (baritone and arranger), Jesse Phillips (bass).A quite popular group in the 1920s, these gentlemen recorded under a variety of names, including The Dixieland Four (for old-time songs), Ritz Quartet, Kanawha Singers and Archie Ruff's Singers (whatever the reason behind that might be). They recorded about 70 sides between 1926 and 1928, but on only two titles you can hear them singing a capella. This is one of them. Related: 1920s close harmony american male vocal group quartet blue ribbon quartet ritz kanawha singers novelty vocalion | |
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| Sechs frohe Sänger - Prosit Neujahr 1938!Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:29:26 -0800 by kr103EMI master Prv 440, rec. Cologne or Berlin, late 1937.Five unknown singers with Rolf Hartmann (p, voc, arr.) and unknown female speaker.As Cologne's answer to the Comedian Harmonists, the group became immensely popular as with their weekly radio show "Laterna magica" that was broadcast from in the Rhineland and Westphalia every Sunday afternoon for almost twelve years. Here they commented the news of the week in satirical form (at least as satirical as the political climate would allow) and sang folk songs, ballads, hits of the day and dialect songs as well as parodies of those genres. This disc was sent to the companies who advertised in the show as a new year's greeting for 1938. One of the rarest 1930s recordings by a vocal group, this may give you an idea how their show was.The photo was printed in the 1936 edition of "Künstler im Rundfunk" (Radio Artists) and is the only picture of them I have ever seen. Related: 1930s 1940s close harmony german male vocal group quintet sechs frohen sänger novelty odeon lindström | |
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| Bachmayr-Quartett - Das Wirtshaus an der LahnThu, 01 Jan 2009 06:17:47 -0800 by kr103Three unknown singers, Hans von Bachmayr-Heyda (bass) with piano.This short-lived quartet produced only a handful of titles for the cheap Tempo label, but these are very much in demand among conaisseurs, as there are the first recordings by fabulous bass Hans von Bachmayr. Originally from Vienna, Bachmayr settled in Berlin, where he soon was much in demand for his incredibly deep bass. After his own Bachmayr-Quartett disintegrated, he joined the Melodisten (one half of the former Harmony Boys), before finally concentrating on a carreer as a concert singer in 1935. He was often billed as "Germany's deepest bass", which was most likely true (the lowest note he sings on this record is a B, and it does not seem to be difficult for him). He recorded some impressive sides as a soloist and continued to sing until angina pectoris forced him to retire in the 1950s. He then opened a hotel in Bavaria. He died in Pöcking in 1975. The photo shows Bachmayr in the mid-1930s. Related: 1930s close harmony german vocal quartet bachmayr quartett novelty folk tempo | |
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| Happy Boys - Na shledanouSun, 21 Dec 2008 07:09:30 -0800 by kr103EMI master 118285, rec. Prague, 1932. Three unknown singers with orchestra.These trio must have been quite popular once - you often stumble across their steeled-to-death records in the more Eastern part of Europe. Still, I do not know anything about them. The title translates as "Good bye", so I guess the Boys are not really Happy in this case ... Related: 1930s czech close harmony male vocal group trio happy boys dance tango parlophone | |
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| King Sisters - Its the natural thing to doSun, 21 Dec 2008 06:48:30 -0800 by kr103ARC master B 21338-2, rec. New York, 30 June 1937Alyce, Louise, Donna, and Yvonne King (voc) with Horace Heidt and his Brigadiers.A very early King Sisters recording, made during their first weeks with Horace Heidt. Their career really gained momentum after they met guitarrist Alvino Rey, who first featured them with his band and later accompanied them on most of their own sides of course, it would not have been too easy for him to bow out, as by that time Louise King was married to him.The Four King Sisters sang together from 1935 to 1969 whith the same line-up, which might be the longest any female group ever stayed together in unchanged form. For an excellent biography, please visit http://www.danacount ryman.com/KingSister sWebPage/BioPageOne/ Bio1.html Related: 1930 1940s american close harmony female vocal group quartet king sisters horace heidt dance novelty brunswick | |
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| Kordt Sisters - George Gershwin KavalkadeSun, 21 Dec 2008 06:13:06 -0800 by kr103Polydor masters 1580 HDK / 1581 HDK, rec. Copenhagen, 6 February 1941.Else Kordt, Inga Kordt, and Grete Kordt (voc) with Bernhard Christensen's orchestra.One of the most popular vocal groups from Scandinavia, the Kordt Sisters made their debut in 1940 in the revue "Guderne teer sig", and from that point on there was no looking back. This record was made a few months later, and although they still got better over the next few year, I like their early work a lot. Else Kordt, who was born in 1913, had been one third of the "Rhythm Girls" in the 1930s (I have already uploaded two of their recordings), but Else's two sisters were considerably younger: When this particular recording was made, Inga was 20 years old, and Grete had just celebrated her 15th birthday a month earlier!The material the sisters preferred was definitely on the hotter side of dance and jazz, which was not only a musical, but also a political statement: after all, Denmark was occupied by Germany at that time. Yet they never seemed to have any trouble recording, even when the featured music was by famous Jewish composers, such as Gershwin. And, by the way, these discs were pressed in Germany! Officially, these were only for export purposes, but if you knew whom to ask, you could get the records under the counter, anyway. And I suspect a quite large precentage of these discs either never left Germany and circulated amongst the young German swing fans in the big cities, or were re-imported by German soldiers who bought them up when based in Denmark. Related: 1940s 1950s close harmony danish female vocal group trio kordt sisters bernhard christensen dance jazz swing polyphon | |
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| Peters Sisters - Sweet, sweet, sweetSun, 21 Dec 2008 05:58:24 -0800 by kr103EMI master CL 8870-1, rec. Paris, February or March 1949.Mattie (also written Mattye) , Annie, and Virginia Peters (voc) with orchestra directed by Jacques-Henri Rys.One of many groups to leave the USA at least for a while after the war was over, the Peters Sisters settled in Franc, where they were the sensation of the revue "Trois faibles femmes" at the Folies-Bergères in Paris, and later in Belgium.They recorded several numbers from the shows they were featured in, and although in those there are only occasional glimpses of what they really were capable of, they are charming period pieces never published internationally. Oh, and please pardon their French ... Related: 1940s 1950s close harmony american female vocal group trio peters sisters novelty revue columbia | |
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| Three New Yorkers - Henry's made a lady out of LizzieSun, 21 Dec 2008 05:20:59 -0800 by kr103Metropole master M 1084, rec. London, 1928.Three unknown singers with own piano accompaniment.Not much is known about this group, but at least we can be sure that they really are from New York; they came to England together with bandleader George Fisher and sang with his Kit-Kat Band in London in early 1928. This recording was made later in the year, probably in the fall. It seems that the California Humming Birds made an impresson on the Three New Yorkers, and their style was new and at that time unique in Great Britain. However, recording for the short-lived and rather obscure Metropole label was not a smart carreer move, and I have no idea what became of them afterwards. Related: 1920s close harmony american male vocal group trio three new yorkers novelty metropole | |
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| Swingtette (with Jack Hylton) - Making up a songSun, 14 Dec 2008 08:04:47 -0800 by kr103HMV master OEA 4733-1, rec. London, 6 April 1937Jewel McCarthy, Dorothy McCarthy, Francis McCarthy, Ben Lake, Gene Lanham (voc) with Jack Hylton's orchestra.Originally from Chicago, the group was discovered by British band leader Jack Hylton. Hylton had a contract for a US tour in 1936, but to his dismay found out that the musicians union prevented him from bringing his British band. He hastilly auditioned musicians for a new orchestra as well as new vocalists. At first he wanted to work with the Merry Macs, but as their schedules turned out to be incompatible, the Swingtette got the job. The collaboration worked so well that they stayed with him when he returned to Europe. In the following years they recorded solo as well as with Hylton and had quite a following all over Europe. Related: 1930s american british close harmony vocal group quintet jack hylton swingtette dance jazz hmv | |
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| Jean, Jac & Jo [2] - FigaroSun, 14 Dec 2008 07:36:17 -0800 by kr103Columbia master CZ 1331, rec. Zurich, late 1942Henri "Jac" Juvet, possibly Jean Irace and one unknown singer, also accompanying themselves.The original trio parted ways when war broke out at the end of 1939 and Marcell Herman joined the French army. Juvet relocated to Switzerland and formed a new line-up, of which Jean Irace might still have been a part: It seems he was not in the army, and the sound is still very similar to the original group. They were active in Switzerland at least until 1945, maybe even right up to the original members' death: both Juvet and Irace died in September 1955. Maybe original "Jo" Johan Driessen had joined them again for some time? He, too, was later performing as "Jean et Jo" with guitarrist and singer Max Ehrlander ... Related: 1930s 1940s french swiss close harmony male vocal instrumental group trio novelty columbia | |
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| Heyn-Quartett - Wenn in der Heimat die Heide blühtSun, 14 Dec 2008 07:11:41 -0800 by kr103Grammophon master 2568 GN, rec. Berlin, February 1935 ca.Hans Göbel (1st tenor), Robert Jonas (2nd tenor), Walter Bartoschek (bariton, lute), Erich Heyn (bass).The Heyn-Quartett might have been the one to have made the most records of all German groups - I say might, because there seem to be innumerable records on which they appear uncredited. Records under their own name start with an emphasis of more "folksy" material such as this number, gradually more and more adding dance numbers (sometimes as the "Vier Harmonisten"), until at the outbreak of war founder Erich Heyns fascination with the fascist regime began to dominate the groups output. It seems that at some point in 1942 the other three singers had enough of marching songs glorifying the Wehrmacht, StuKa fighters and submarines, for they regrouped as the "Bartoschek-Terzett" and recorded a few totally apolitical sides in 1943. This change came a little late, however, and their carreer was finished in 1945. Related: 1930s german close harmony male vocal group heyn quartett folk novelty grammophon | |
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| Dunham Jazz Singers - In the evening by the moonlightSun, 14 Dec 2008 06:42:42 -0800 by kr103Gennett master GEX 744-A, rec. Birminham (Alabama), 15 July 1927 ca.Charles Son ["Alf"] Dunham (lead), James Allen (tenor), L. V. Cox (baritone), Leon Patrick (bass).Recorded at Dunham's first session ever, the label of that disc neither get's the group's name nor the title right, but at least it reflects the fact that the ensemble's origins were in Bessemer, Alabama.Son Dunham was one of the central figures in the Alabama gospel scene, singing and recording with his own outfit as well as training other jazz and especially gospel groups - one example would be the "Kings of Harmony" from Alabama.Dunham could be a motivating supervisor and a great singer (if required, he could sing all voices of a quartet), but his sometimes difficult personality prevented the great carreer everybody expected him to have. His egocentric behaviour alienated promoters as often as singers in his group, whose personnel was constantly changing, and the fact that he was more and more slipping into a live of heavy drinking did not help, either. When he died in 1955, he was almost completely forgotten. Yet his records deserve to be remembered, for the "Dunham Jubilee Singers" recorded some very fine gospel sides - luckily all collected on a "Documents" CD. Related: 1920s 1930s american close harmony male vocal group quartet dunham gospel novelty jazz jubilee gennett | |
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| Three Keys - Wah-dee-dahSun, 14 Dec 2008 05:58:02 -0800 by kr103ARC master B 12342-A, rec. New York, 29.August 1932.George "Bon Bon" Tunnell (voc), Slim Furness (voc, g), and Bob Pease (voc, p).One of the pioneering black vocal/instrumental groups and, they were a role model for many others to come, despite the fact that they played together only for three years. George Tunnell started a solo carreer, singing with Jan Savitt's orchestra from 1937 to 1942, being the first black singer to be employed by a white bandleader; he later recorded with the Red Caps (a.k.a. The Toppers) for Joe Davis. Slim Furness founded a new group (creatively called the Four Keys) who recorded for Decca in the 1940s, including some sides with Ella Fitzgerald. He had nothing to do, however, with the Five Keys ...Several sources claim that Tunnell was the group's pianist and Pease played bass, but in all pictures of the group playing I have seen it's always Pease at the keys and no bass at all (as on this recording).Until I found this disc, I'd never have thought that their discs were sold here, but this is doubtless a German pressing ... Related: 1930s american close harmony male vocal instrumental group trio three keys novelty jazz brunswick | |
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| Quatre Ondelines - Pepito de CaracasMon, 01 Dec 2008 15:05:45 -0800 by kr103Elite master AB 295, rec. Geneva, 1943 ca.Madeleine Baeheler, Yvette Yvar, Minette Morel, and Maguy Chauvin (voc) with Louis Rey's orchestra.Very popular in the french speaking part of Switzerland, the Ondelines first could be heard on Radio Geneva in 1943, where they held a regular spot for the following six years. They appear on about a dozen fine discs, specializing in the more rhythmic hits of the day. But as with other female groups of the time, a longer carreer was not to be - marriage and touring were impossible to combine at the time, so the group disbanded in 1952. Related: 1940s 1950s close harmony swiss vocal group quartet quatre ondelines louis rey jazz dance novelty elite | |
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