The Pied Pipers

For other uses, see Pied Piper (disambiguation).

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The Pied Pipers

The Pied Pipers in a 1945 advertisement

Background information
Origin| California, United States
Genres|

* Popular music
* big band

Years active| 1938–present
Labels|

* RCA Victor
* Capitol

Members|

* Nancy Knorr
* Don Lucas
* Kevin Kennard
* Chris Sanders
* David Zack

Past members|

* Jo Stafford
* John Huddleston
* Chuck Lowry
* Hal Hopper
* Bud Hervey
* George Tait
* Woody Newbury
* Dick Whittinghill
* Spencer Clark
* Billy Wilson
* Clark Yocum
* Frank Sinatra
* June Hutton
* Sue Allen
* Virginia Marcy
* Arthur Lambert
* Louanne Hogan
* Lee Gotch
* Allan Davies

The Pied Pipers is an American popular singing group originally formed in the late 1930s. They had several chart hits through the 1940s, both under their own name and in association with Tommy Dorsey, with Johnny Mercer and with Frank Sinatra.

## Origins[edit]

Originally they consisted of eight members who had belonged to three separate groups: Jo Stafford from The Stafford Sisters, and seven male singers: John Huddleston, Hal Hopper, Chuck Lowry, Bud Hervey, George Tait, Woody Newbury, and Dick Whittinghill, who had belonged to two groups named The Four Esquires and The Three Rhythm Kings, all of whom were contributing to the 1938 movie Alexander's Ragtime Band.[1][2] Multi-instrumentalist Spencer Clark was also a member at one point.

Paul Weston and Axel Stordahl, who were arrangers for Tommy Dorsey's big band, heard of the group through two of The King Sisters, Alyce and Yvonne. Weston had a jam session at his home and a visiting advertising executive signed the octet for Dorsey's radio program, broadcast in New York City.[1][3] They sang with Dorsey's orchestra for about six weeks before a British representative of the sponsor objected to some of the songs in their repertoire and fired them.[4] They went back to California, but in the time they had been in New York had recorded two records for RCA Victor Records.[4]

## Chicago quartet[edit]

While in Los Angeles, the group was reduced to a quartet: Jo Stafford, her then-husband John Huddleston, and Chuck Lowry from the original eight, and Billy Wilson. They were getting little work, however, and were on the threshold of disbanding when they received a call from Tommy Dorsey (in Chicago). Dorsey said he could not afford to hire eight Pipers but would be happy to have them join him if they could cut the number down to a quartet. As they had already done that, and with only one unemployment check remaining, they were happy to comply.[4]

In 1939, they moved to Chicago, with Clark Yocum, who had played guitar and sung for Dorsey, replacing Wilson.[4] Although Paul Weston left Dorsey to become Dinah Shore's music director about that time, he was to figure in the fortunes of the group again.[5]

In 1940, Dorsey hired another vocalist, Frank Sinatra, who had previously sung in a quartet, The Hoboken Four, and later with Harry James' orchestra. Sinatra and the Pipers teamed to record a major hit, "I'll Never Smile Again", in that year. The group had twelve more chart hits with Dorsey, ten of them with Sinatra.[2] Also, Jo Stafford herself had a solo hit, "Yes Indeed", in 1941.[6][7]

## Los Angeles years[edit]

Around Thanksgiving 1942, Tommy Dorsey (who was prone to incidents of bad temper) became angry at one of the Pipers for sending him in the wrong direction at a railroad station in Portland, Oregon, and fired him. The Pipers, out of "team loyalty," resigned en masse. At that moment, the #1 record on the charts was "There Are Such Things" sung by Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers, the last RCA record they did with Dorsey.[4]

They returned to Los Angeles and signed with Capitol Records, where Paul Weston was now working, and he became the arranger and orchestra leader for most of the Pipers' recordings.[5] Huddleston left to join the war effort (also about that time, he was divorced from Jo Stafford), and Hal Hopper rejoined the group to replace him. The group also backed Johnny Mercer on a number of sides. And in 1944 Jo Stafford had a hit on her own, ahead of the Pipers, and after a couple more hits, she left for good to pursue a solo career.[8] She was replaced in May by June Hutton,[9] who had been singing with the Stardusters.

The Pipers had twelve charted hit singles on Capitol, including "Dream" and ending with "My Happiness" (biggest hit version by Jon and Sondra Steele, later made popular again by Connie Francis) in 1948.[10] They also continued a relationship with Frank Sinatra, doing several tours with him starting in 1945 and becoming a regular on his radio program from 1945 to 1947.

## Radio[edit]

In 1944, The Pied Pipers were regulars on Johnny Mercer's Chesterfield Music Shop on the NBC Radio Network Monday through Friday nights.[11] Beginning March 30, 1948, the group became a part of Club Fifteen on CBS. They sang on the program's Tuesday and Thursday episodes, alternating with The Andrews Sisters, who sang on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.[12]

## Modern[edit]

In 1950, June Hutton left the group and was replaced by Sue Allen and later by Virginia Marcy.[10] (However, the trade publication Billboard reported that Virginia Maxie replaced Hutton in December 1949.)[13] Hutton married Axel Stordahl, the other half of Dorsey's original arranging team. Just as Jo Stafford (who had married Paul Weston) had her husband's orchestra accompany her on her solo hits, June Hutton's solo hits on Capitol in the 1950s featured Stordahl's orchestra as backing group.

Louanne Hogan, who was the dubbed singing voice behind several movie stars, was briefly a member of The Pied Pipers in 1951. Lee Gotch, who had sung in the 1940s with the swing group Six Hits and a Miss, joined the Pied Pipers from 1954 to 1967, during which time he recorded an LP by Lee Gotch's Ivy Barflies.[14]

The Pied Pipers sang on a few tracks of Frank Sinatra's 1950s studio albums, backed up Sam Cooke on his #1 hit, "You Send Me", and made a guest appearance on I Love Lucy.

### Current[edit]

The current Pied Pipers are Nancy Knorr, Don Lucas, Kevin Kennard, and Chris Sanders. The group frequently performs with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.[15]

## Recognition[edit]

In both 1944 and 1945, The Pied Pipers won awards from Down Beat magazine as the best and most popular group of the year.[9] The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Jo Stafford". The Daily Telegraph. July 17, 2008. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
2. ^ a b Bernstein, Adam (July 18, 2008). "Jo Stafford, 90; Pop Singer Won a Grammy for Comedy". The Washington Post. p. B7. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
3. ^ Hall, Fred, ed. (1989). Dialogues in Swing: Intimate Conversations with the Stars of the Big Band Era. Pathfinder Publishing of California. pp. 37–56. ISBN 978-0-934793-19-3. Retrieved May 4, 2011. "jonathan darlene edwards."
4. ^ a b c d e Warner, Jay, ed. (2006). American Singing Groups: a History from 1940 to Today. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 51–53. ISBN 0-634-09978-7. Retrieved November 3, 2012. "jo stafford."
5. ^ a b Popa, Christopher (December 2007). "Paul Weston". Big Band Music. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
6. ^ Roberts. T.C. (November 5, 1987). "Announcer Remembers Top Bands of the Past". The Vindicator. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
7. ^ "Jo Stafford, Singer Known as 'GI Jo'". The Press Democrat. July 19, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
8. ^ Franklin, Nancy (August 26, 1996). "A Voice from Home". The New Yorker. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
9. ^ a b "Pied Pipers Down Beat Award Winners". Santa Cruz Sentinel. September 20, 1947. p. 22. Retrieved August 15, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 953/4. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
11. ^ The Billboard 1944 Music Yearbook (PDF). Billboard. 1944. p. 259. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
12. ^ "Pied Pipers To Join 'Club 15'". Harrisburg Telegraph. March 27, 1948. p. 20. Retrieved August 8, 2015 - via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ "In Short" (PDF). Billboard. December 24, 1949. p. 44. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
14. ^ "Lee Gotch's Ivy Barflies discography". RateYourMusic.
15. ^ "Meet The Pied Pipers™". www.thepiedpipers.com. Retrieved May 7, 2019.

## External links[edit]

* Pied Pipers Homepage
* Tribute to The Pied Pipers
* 'The Pied Pipers' Vocal Group Hall of Fame Page

* v
* t
* e

Jo Stafford

Studio albums|

* Kiss Me, Kate (1949)
* American Folk Songs (1950)
* Autumn in New York (1950)
* Songs of Faith (1950)
* As You Desire Me (1952)
* Broadway's Best (1953)
* Starring Jo Stafford (1953)
* Garden of Prayer (1954)
* My Heart's in the Highlands (1954)
* Happy Holiday (1955)
* Soft and Sentimental (1955)
* Songs of Scotland (1955)
* A Gal Named Jo (1956)
* Ski Trails (1956)
* Once Over Lightly (1957)
* Swingin' Down Broadway (1958)
* Ballad of the Blues (1959)
* I'll Be Seeing You (1959)
* Jo + Jazz (1960)
* All Alone (1963)
* Getting Sentimental over Tommy Dorsey (1963)
* Jo Stafford's Sweet Hour of Prayer (1964)
* The Joyful Season (1964)
* This Is Jo Stafford (1965)
* Do I Hear a Waltz? (1965)

Compilation
albums|

| 1950s|

* The Voice of Your Choice (1955)
* Jo's Greatest Hits (1958)

|

1960s|

* The Hits of Jo Stafford (1964)
* Sweet Singer of Songs (1969)

1970s|

* Big Band Sound (1970)
* In the Mood for Love (1970)
* Jo + Broadway (1978)

1980s|

* Jo Stafford:By Request (1982)
* Broadway Revisited (1987)
* G.I. Jo (1987)
* Introducing Jo Stafford (1987)
* You Belong to Me (1989)

1990s|

* America's Most Versatile Singing Star (1990)
* Fabulous Song Stylists (1991)
* Capitol Collectors Series (1991)
* Greatest Hits (1993)
* Portrait Edition (1995)
* 16 Most Requested Songs (1995)
* For You (1995)
* Spotlight on Jo Stafford (1996)
* Drifting and Dreaming with Jo Stafford (1996)
* Music of My Life (1996)
* The Jo Stafford Story (1997)
* The One and Only (1997)
* Walkin' My Baby Back Home (1998)
* G.I. Jo Sings the Hits (1998)
* Too Marvelous for Words (1998)
* Coming Back Like a Song: 25 Hits 1941–47 (1998)
* No Other Love (1998)
* Jo Stafford (1940-44) (1998)
* V-Disc Recordings, Jo Stafford (1998)
* Happy Holidays: I Love the Winter Weather (1999)

2000s|

* Just Reminiscin' (2000)
* The Columbia Hits Collection (2001)
* Candy (2001)
* Haunted Heart (2001)
* A You're Adorable (2001)
* International Hits (2001)
* Cocktail Hour (2001)
* The Magic of Jo Stafford (2001)
* Jo Stafford on Capitol (2001)
* Best of the War Years (2001)
* Platinum Collection (2001)
* Yes Indeed (2002)
* I Remember You (2002)
* The Ultimate (2002)
* The Best of Jo Stafford (2003)
* Meet Jo Stafford (2003)
* The Columbia Singles Collection, Vol. 1 (2004)
* You Belong to Me (Memoir) (2004)
* You Belong to Me (Remember) (2004)
* You Belong to Me (ASV/Living Era) (2004)
* Over the Rainbow (2004)
* Memories Are Made of These (2005)
* Love, Mystery and Adventure (2006)
* Sincerely Yours (2006)
* Vintage Years (2006)
* All Hits! (2006)
* Ultimate Capitol Collection (2007)
* Blues in the Night (2007)
* Her Greatest Hits (2008)
* You Belong to Me (2008)
* Fools Rush In (2008)
* The Capitol Rarities 1943-1950 (2009)
* Reflections: The Ultimate Collection (2009)

2010s|

* Beyond the Stars: Key Recordings 1940-1959 (2010)
* The Best of Jo Stafford (2010)
* At the Supper Club (2010)
* At the Supper Club Part II (2011)
* At the Supper Club Part III (2011)
* For You (2011)
* Jo Sings for You (2011)

Year unknown|

* Something to Remember

Duets with
Gordon MacRae|

* Songs for Sunday Evening (1950)
* Memory Songs (1955)
* Whispering Hope (1962)
* Peace in the Valley (1963)
* Old Rugged Cross (2001)
* The Two of Us (2001)
* Stars of the Summer Night (2004)
* Alone and Together (2005)
* Jo Stafford & Gordon MacRae - Yesterday - The Definitive Duo (2011)

Duets with
Frankie Laine|

* A Musical Portrait of New Orleans (1954)
* The Duets (1994)

Duets with others|

* Jo & Friends (2000)

Jonathan and
Darlene Edwards|

* The Piano Artistry of Jonathan Edwards (1957)
* Jonathan and Darlene Edwards in Paris (1961)
* Darlene Remembers Duke, Jonathan Plays Fats (1982)
* Jonathan and Darlene's Greatest Hits (1993)
* Jonathan and Darlene's Greatest Hits: Volume 2 (1994)
* Complete Original Albums (2011)

Related articles|

* Discography
* Filmography
* The Chesterfield Supper Club
* The Jo Stafford Show (1954)
* The Jo Stafford Show (1961)
* The Pied Pipers
* Paul Weston

* Category

Authority control

General|

* ISNI
* 1
* VIAF
* 1
* WorldCat

National libraries|

* France (data)
* Germany
* United States

Other|

* MusicBrainz
* artist
* SUDOC (France)
* 1

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