The Pied Pipers was a popular American singing group at the end of the 30s and 40s of the 20th century.
History[Edit][]
In 1938, worked out a number of singing groups participated in the production of Alexander's Ragtime Band by 20th Century Fox. The Four Esquires, among them The Rhythm Kings and The King Sisters. During the long waits between takes the members of the groups got to know each other and thus was born a new vocal group. The original eight-Member occupation consisted of Jo Stafford and seven male members: John Huddleston, Hal Hopper, Chuck Lowry, Bud Hervey, George Tait, Woody Newbury and Dick Whittinghill.
Paul Weston and Axel Stordahl, who wrote the arrangements for Tommy Dorsey's Big Band, heard of the Group and after a session at Weston at home, the Group offered a contract to act in Dorsey's radio program in New York City. After six weeks, however, an end to the sponsorship contract because he could not find in the repertoire of the group. They returned to California, but in the meantime they had in New York two recorded for RCA Records.
In Los Angeles , the Group was reduced to a Quartet: Jo Stafford and her then-husband John Huddleston, Chuck Lowry and newcomer Billy Wilson. They had no success and just before they disbanded the Group wanted, they got a phone call from Chicago by Tommy Dorsey. They counted only four members now, he could offer them a contract. The group moved to Chicago In 1939. Clark Yocum, a former guitarist and singer from Tommy Dorsey's Big Band, had in the meantime Billy Wilson replaced.
Dorsey hired a young singer In 1940 in which before had been part of the Quartet, The Hoboken Four and Harry James ' Orchestra: Frank Sinatra. In that same year, Sinatra and the Pipers scored a great hit with"I'll Never Smile Again". The Group would appear ten times with Sinatra in the charts. In 1941 also got a solo hit with Jo Stafford "Yes Indeed".
Around Thanksgiving 1942 flying up the smoking fired Tommy Dorsey one of the Pipers after a banal quarrel. The Pipers names en masse resignation. At that time, "There Are Such Things" by Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers at number 1 on the charts. It would be their last RCA record with Dorsey.
They returned to Los Angeles and signed a contract with Capitol Records. Paul Weston and he worked there now would be the arranger and conductor of most recordings of the Pipers. Meanwhile, Huddleston and Jo Stafford were divorced. Huddleston left the group to participate in the second world war and he was replaced by Hal Hopper. After 1944 Jo Stafford a series new solo hits and they left the group for a solo career.June Hutton of The stardusters took her place. Stafford would later marry Paul Weston.
Afterwards, the Pipers on the Capitollabel, including twelve hit singles with "Dream" and "My Happiness", a country song that would become popular again in 1948 in the version by Connie Francis. The group worked from 1945 with Frank Sinatra several more tours off. Between 1945 and 1947 they were loyal guests in his radio programs.
In 1950 left the group for a solo career, also June Hutton. She was first replaced by Sue Allen and later by Virginia Marcy. .
The Pied Pipers in 2001 were included in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.