In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

The Pied Pipers

Mixed Vintage Quartet from Hollywood, CA

Originally consisting of eight members, The Pied Pipers had their greatest success after nearly half of the members left the group. The remaining Pipers (Billy Wilson, Chuck Lowry, Jo Stafford, and her then-husband John Huddleston) joined the Tommy Dorsey Band in 1939, backing Sinatra on many classic recordings. In 1942 The Pied Pipers broke away from Dorsey, and Huddleston joined the army, to be replaced by Hal Hopper, one of the original eight members. The group backed Johnny Mercer on several tracks during the early 40s, including "Candy" and "Blues in the Night." Their first single ("Deacon Jones"/"Pistol Packin' Mama") was released in 1943. Stafford had become quite busy with her solo career and left the group in 1944, to be replaced by June Hutton. Throughout the rest of the decade The Pied Pipers charted frequently, yet their popularity waned in the '50s.

Vocal Group.

Dream

The Pied Pipers in their 1951 formation (left to right: Chuck Lowry, Louanne Hogan, Clark Yocum and Hal Hopper) in a short music film produced in 1951 by Louis D. Snader for Studio Telescriptions. They were accompanied by the Ernie Felice Quartet: Ernie Felice (Accordion), Dick Anderson (Clarinet), Rolly Bundock (Bass), and Dick Fisher (Guitar).

It Started All Over Again

Pied Pipers : Dreams From The Sunny Side of the Street

In the 1940s, in comparison to the rest of the world, Americans had it all-nylons, chewing gum and harmony groups like the Merry Macs, Modernaires and the Pied Pipers. Originally an octet when first hired by Tommy Dorsey, they were fired when his sponsors disapproved of "Hold Tight-Want Some Sea Food Mama" as unsuitable broadcast material (this is the first we've ever heard of this-possibly it had a hidden sexual connotation?). In any case, they reduced to a quartet and were on the verge of disbanding when they were hired back by Dorsey to join his new solo vocalist Frank Sinatra. With Sinatra the Pipers recorded quite a few hits including "I'll Never Smile Again," which was the very first #1 record on Billboard's Best Selling record chart, which began in 1940. The group's Jo Stafford also had solo hits, including "Yes Indeed." After an argument with Dorsey the group left for Hollywood and signed to newly-formed Capital Records. "Deacon Jones/Pistol Packin' Mama" was the first of a string of hits on their own and with Johnny Mercer and other solo artists, including "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive," "Personality," "Winter Wonderland," "The Trolley Song," "In The Moon Mist," "My Happiness" and "Dream." All songs are Swing-band accompanied. This is one of those 2-CD, 50-song collections we love so well because they are such a bargain and have so much great music. The Pipers were one of the most popular harmony groups of the Swing Era, and this is their "greatest hits" collection. What a treat from one of our favorite eras in American music!

Songlist: Pistol Packin' Mama, Doin' What Comes Natur'lly, Dream, In The Middle Of May, Girl of My Dreams, Cecilia, Watcha Know Joe?, You've Got Me This Way, What A Deal, There's Good Blues Tonight, Mairzy Doats, My Happiness, My! My!, The Freedom Train, Sweet Potatoe Piper, Old Man River, On the Sunny Side of the Street, Nine Old Men, You And Your Love, You Won't Be Satisfied, I Love It So, I've Got the Sun In the Morning, It's Only A Paper Moon, Linger In My Arms, I'll Buy That Dream, Easy Street, Gotta Be This Or That, Jamboree Jones, Isn't That Just Like Love, Embraceable You, and more