In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

Clark Burroughs Biography

Born: 1930. Living in: United States
At six years old he played a three year old child. His parents were both dancers during the 1930's. His mother and father were in the same production.

At fourteen he made his first movie appearance in "God Is My Co-Pilot" playing Dennis Morgan as a child. Followed by a job in the Gene Autry movie, "Cowtown." He joined St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral Choir at eleven.

This boys and mens choir performed not only in the cathedral but in many other public functions. Clark was in this choir until the age of nineteen. At seventeen he also became a member of The Roger Wagner Chorale. This famous group performed not only at concerts, but in movie soundtracks such as "Joan of Arc" starring Ingrid Bergman. This fostered an addiction to harmony.

Clark attended Loyola University and was in the men's glee club there for two years. He also joined "The Orchard Gables Repertory Theatre Group"in Hollywood and continued acting.Next stop was Los Angeles City College where Bob Florence was a fellow music student.

Clark was in two vocal groups during the same period of time, "The Clef Clan" and "The Twilighters." Most of the vocal groups had choreograpers at the time, through Tom Mahoney's referral Clark met Gene Puerling at a "Clef Clan "rehersal.

Within a few days in 1951 Tom received a call to providea male vocal group for "The Alan Young Show", an early television variety show. Clark, Marv Tripp, Jerry Sweet from "The Clef Clan" added Gene Puerling and became "The Youngsters."

Gene Puerling was already brilliant and did the arrangements for the group. Clark and Gene became roommates during the show. After the show was over Clark auditioned for "The Encores" led by Randy Van Horne. The group toured for a year and a half before joining "The Billy May Orchestra." They toured another year and a half until Clark decided to return to Los Angeles. On his return Clark discovered some of Gene's vocal arrangements on his piano. One of them was "Georgia On My Mind."

With Clark on lead, Bob and Bob on tenors, and Gene on bass, the Hi-Lo's fractured the traditional definition of vocal group structure with a tonal blend rarely equaled by any quartet.

In 1954, the group came in contact with orchestra leader Jerry Fielding, which initiated their recording career. Fielding wrote the first four band arrangements for the group for Trend Records.

During their formative stage, they performed as a production group at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, backing up various artists including Italian actress/singer Anna Maria Albergetti. The Hi-Lo's did very few backup chores in years to come. As a matter of fact, their only other performing collaborations were on record - one on an early single forHerb Jeffries on Trend, the Columbia records album "Ring Around Rosie" with Rosemary Clooney, and one with Dean Martin on Reprise.

During the 80's, The Hi-Lo's became the darlings of the college jazz vocal world, touring extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada at College Jazz Festivals and competitions. They appeared again at the Monterey Jazz festival and travelled to Japan with theModern Jazz quartet, Joe Williams, and Dave Pell's "Prez Conference"

The last concert was in 1992 at Palm Springs, Ca. for the Betty Ford Foundation. After the performance Gene Puerling regretfully disbanded The Hi-Lo's.

Member of Hi-Lo's - Baritone - Founder