The Modernaires vocal jazz group

The Modernaires had their beginnings as a trio in Buffalo, New York, in 1935. Their first engagement was with the Ted Fio Rito Orchestra. The members, Hal Dickinson, Chuck Goldstein, and Bill Conway were called Don Juan-Two and Three. Soon after that, they joined the Ozzie Nelson Band, and became known as The Three Wizards of Ozzie. Next came a stint with Fred Waring, where they recruited Ralph Brewster to make it a quartet, and The Modernaires were a reality. In 1937 they joined Paul Whiteman's musical organization where they were featured on his radio show, and recorded many of the classic songs of that era, a few with Jack Teagarden.

Their biggest break came in 1939 when the legendary Glenn Miller engaged them to record a tune called "It's Make Believe Ballroom Time," a sequel to the original "Make Believe Ballroom," which they had recorded earlier for Martin Block's Big Band Show of the same name, on WNEW New York. Soon after, Glenn Miller made the Modernaires an important part of the most popular big band of all time. Paula Kelly (Mrs. Hal Dickenson) was added to the group, making it a quintet, and for the next few decades they traveled the world many times over making history with the Glenn Miller Band.

Discography

Sing Glen Miller / We Remember Tommy Dorsey Too!

The four man, one woman swing/jazz group The Modernaires, who rode their distinctive bright, jazzy vocal style from the big band era of the 40s, up into the vocal jazz nightclub sound of the 60s, are featured on another wonderful EMI compilation of two lps. The lps are a tribute to two of their Swing Era contemporaries, bandleaders Tommy Dorsey and Glen Miller, giving us 24 wonderful jazz band-accompanied winners: "Tuxedo Junction," "A String of Pearls," "Sunrise Serenade," "Pennsylvania 6-5000," "In The Mood," "Little Brown Jug," "Stardust," "Boogie Woogie," "Song of India," "Yes, Indeed," "I'll Never Smile Again"Éwe could go on and on, but let us just say that each song is a classic and a hit. The Modernaires had timeless class, style, humor and the kind of tight, sweet harmonies that put their own stamp on songs we thought we'd heard before. A great gift for two kinds of people: anyone who was lucky enough to have been there to listen and dance to this great music when it came out, and anyone who wasn't! Import

String of Pearls - 1946 & 1947

This is a fascinating recording of several sessions from the post-war years of the group featuring some tracks that later became standards in their repertoire. Many of the vocal arrangements of these songs are different than the ones you might be familiar with from their later recordings and makes for a very interesting listen.

The Very Best Of

The Modernaires, who joined the Glenn Miller band in 1939, enjoyed tremendous chart success, with ten chart hits in 1941 alone. A quintet including the talented Paula Kelly, they continued to record through 1958, though the war years, with its materials shortages, did slow record production. "Singin' and Swingin'" contains much of their latter work on the Coral label, and great songs they are: "April In Paris," "Stompin' At The Savoy," "Goody Goody," "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree," and a reprise of their greatest hits with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Very much a vocal ensemble, their harmonies and blend would influence later artists such as the Four Freshmen, and Frank Sinatra chose the Modernaires to back him up in 1950. A classic big-band sound.

The Complete Modernaires Vol 1

The Modernaires are considered by music historians to be one of the most influential and innovative vocal groups in popular music. Their music is a microcosm of the romantic melancholy and elegance in the face of adversity that was present in the WWII years. Backup singers for the Glenn Miller orchestra during the first half of the decade, a few of their hit recordings with Miller would be reprised by the Modernaires after Miller was lost over the English Channel in 1944. Paula Kelly, the girl singer for Artie Shaw and Dick Stabile, joined Miller in 1940 and became Mrs. Hal Dickenson (The Modernaires' unofficial group leader) soon after. Still associated with Miller in the public's mind, their July, 1946 single "Salute to Glenn Miller," a medley of 4 Miller standards, was a top 20 hit for the group. There are 20 hits here, from heartstring-tugging romantic love songs like "There, IÕve Said It Again" (the first top 20 release for the group, in 1945) and "The Night is Young and YouÕre So Beautiful," to jive and swing numbers like "Juke Box Saturday Night" and "La Cucaracha;" and novelty numbers like "The Dummy Song." "To Each His Own," a landmark number 3 single for the group in 1946, became a hit for the Platters in 1960.

4537 CD $14.95

The Complete Modernaires Vol 2

In 1946 The Modernaires (male quartet with Paula Kelly) were one of the most popular groups in the USA, having been part of the most successful Big Band in the country, the Glenn Miller Orchestra. It was a long way from when they were called "The Wizards of Ozzie" in New York, singing with bandleader Ozzie Nelson. In 1939, unofficial group leader Hal Dickinson saw a billboard advertising a new cleaning process, "modernizing," and the group christened themselves the Modernaires. Ubiquitous on the radios and jukeboxes of the era, the group was as adept at lush, romantic ballads like "Santa Catalina (Island of Romance)" and "Pennies from Heaven" as they were at jive, swing and novelty numbers, like "The Jingle Bell Polka," "The Stanley Steamer" (with Dinah Shore), and "I CanÕt Get Offa My Horse," that were the meat and potatoes of any dance band's repertoire. 20 songs, from favorites like "Connecticut" and "It's a Lonesome Old Town (When YouÕre Not Around)," to silly, fun ones like "One Hour (The Puppy Love Song)" and "Say It With a Slap", this collection takes us right back to the 40's.

4538 CD $14.95

The Complete Modernaires Vol 3

The Complete Modernaires Vol 4

Juke Box Saturday Night

The Modernaires phenomenal half century career began as a trio of high school singing pals from Buffalo N.Y. who went to New York City where they soon added a fourth voice. Early bands with which they sang were led by George Hall and Ozzie Nelson. They were employed by Paul Whiteman, "The Dean of American Music" and recorded with him for Decca, frequently with collaborator Jack Teagarden. In 1941 they joined Glen Miller and participated in the original recordings of "Chattanooga Choo Choo," "Kalamazoo," "I Know Why" and "Juke Box Saturday Night." Paula Kelley joined the group at this time, after marriage to Hal Dickinson, and they continued on for almost another fifty years!

4248 CD $12.98

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