The Hi-Lo's

The Hi-Lo's

The Hi-Lo's

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The Hi-Lo's

The Hi-Lo's were an a cappella quartet formed in 1953, who achieved their greatest fame in the late 1950s and 1960s. The group's name is reportedly a reference to their extreme vocal and physical ranges (Bob Strasen and Bob Morse were tall, Gene Puerling and Clark Burroughs were short).

History

The group consisted of Gene Puerling (bass-baritone or 4th voice, arranger and leader), Bob Strasen (baritone or 3rd voice), Bob Morse (baritone or 2nd voice and occasional soloist) and Clark Burroughs (tenor or 1st voice/lead). In 1959, Don Shelton replaced Strasen.

They were occasionally supported by Frank Sinatra. Clare Fischer was their pianist for years and wrote some of their arrangements.

The Hi-Lo's recorded the theme song to the 1956 television series Noah's Ark. They were also featured on the soundtrack of the motion picture Everything's Ducky (1961), contributing three songs: "Everything's Ducky," "Moonlight Music" and "The Scuttlebutt Walk."

Individual group members

Puerling and Shelton, together with Bonnie Herman and Len Dressler, later formed another vocal group, The Singers Unlimited. This group gave a wide range for Puerling's arrangements,for the four singers multi-tracked as many as 16 voices. For that reason The Singers Unlimited were exclusively a recording group.

Bob Strasen died February 28, 1994, and Bob Morse on April 27, 2001. Afterward, Puerling, Shelton and Burroughs still appeared very occasionally as the Hi-Lo's in and around Southern California. Shelton is an accomplished reed player and has played in Clare Fischer's bands. Clark Burroughs is semi-retired and can sometimes be heard on film soundtracks.

On March 25, 2008, Gene Puerling died just shy of his 79th birthday.

Legacy

The Hi-Lo's, and especially their innovative use of vocal harmony, were an influence on the groups and musicians Take 6,[1] The King's Singers, The Manhattan Transfer, Chanticleer, The Free Design and Brian Wilson.[2]

Discography

Albums

  • Listen To The Hi-Lo's! (1954)
  • The Hi-Lo's I Presume (1955)
  • Under Glass (1955)
  • Noah's Ark television series theme song (1956-1957)
  • Now Hear This (1957)
  • Ring Around Rosie (1957) with Rosemary Clooney
  • Suddenly It's The Hi-Lo's (1957)
  • The Hi-Lo's And The Jerry Fielding Orchestra (1957)
  • Love Nest (1958)
  • Reflection In Rhythm With The Hi-Lo's (1958)
  • Featuring The Hi-Lo's (1958)
  • The Hi-Lo's And All That Jazz (1958)
  • All Over The Place (1960)
  • Broadway Playbill (1960)
  • Die 4 Hi-Lo's (1960)
  • Dansez Avec (1961)
  • This Time It's Love (1962)
  • The Hi-Lo's Happen To Bossa Nova (1963)
  • The Hi-Lo's Happen To Folk Songs (1963)
  • Attention! (1968)
  • But Beautiful (1970)
  • More Than You Know (1970)
  • Back Again (1979)
  • Now (1980)
  • Harmony In Jazz (1980)
  • The Hi-Lo's Collection (1982)
  • Cherries And Other Delights (1994)
  • Nice Work If You Can Get It... (1996)
  • Clap Yo' Hands (1999)
  • Suddenly It's The Hi-Lo's / Harmony In Jazz (1999)
  • Under Glass / I Presume (1999)
  • Now Hear This / Broadway Playbill (2000)
  • Love Nest, All Over The Place (2001)
  • Happen To Bossa Nova / Happen to Folk Songs (2002)
  • Ring Around Rosie: Hi-Lo's with Rosemary Clooney (2005 CD reissue)
  • A Musical Thrill (2006)

References

  1. Feather, Leonard. "The Miracle Mix of Take 6 : Vocal group rates a 10 on the success scale". The Los Angeles Times. January 29, 1989. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  2. Dellar, Fred. "Review: The Hi-Los - Nice Work If You Can Get It...". Q (Q118, July 1996): 138139.

Further reading

Articles

  • "Music as Written: Trend Signs Hi-Lo Combo". Billboard. January 30, 1954.
  • "Hi-Lo's Exit Trend, Following Others". Billboard. December 4, 1954.
  • "The Hi-Lo's Shout Their Thanks". Billboard. December 3, 1955.
  • "Avakian to Cut Hi-Lo's on 1st Col. Album". Billboard. December 29, 1956.
  • Grevatt, Ben. "The Hi-Lo's: Birdland, New York". Billboard. June 10, 1957.
  • Grevatt, Ben. "Hi-Lo's Win Birdland With Oldies". Billboard. June 16, 1958.
  • Grevatt, Ben. "Night Club Reviews: Basin Street East Line-Up Solid". Billboard. July 27, 1959.
  • Rolontz, Bob. "MJQ Fine But Hi-Lo's Steal Show". Billboard. February 15, 1960.
  • Hopkins, Mark W. "Precise Harmony Makes Hi-Lo's a Welcome Treat". The Milwaukee Journal. July 2, 1960.
  • Lewis, Don "Easy Listening: A Hi-Lo's High". The Milwaukee Journal. July 19, 1981.
  • Sowa, Tom. "The Hi-Lo's Then and Now". The Spokane Spokesman-Review. November 20, 1981.
  • Gold, Don. "'The Best Vocal Group Ever'". The Chicago Tribune. December 22, 2002.

Books

Warner, Jay. "The 1950s". American Singing Groups: From 1940 to Today. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Corporation. 2006. p. 224. ISBN 0-634-09978-7

External links

  • Hear them!
  • The Hi-Lo's Official Fan Site
  • All About Jazz
  • singers.com
This page was last modified 02.12.2013 01:56:56

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