The Modernaires

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Modernaires were an American vocal group, best known for their appearances in the 1940s with the orchestra of Glenn Miller. They began in 1934 as a trio of school friends from Buffalo, New York: Hal Dickinson, Chuck Goldstein and Bill Conway. After appearing on the radio in Buffalo they went to New York and were given a 26-week contract on CBS radio. With Ralph Brewster they became a quartet and appeared with among others the orchestras of Fred Waring, Charlie Barnet, George Hall and Paul Whiteman.

Music and breakthrough

In October 1940 Glenn Miller asked them to record It's Make Believe Ballroom Time, and in January 1941 they became a permanent part of his orchestra. Singer Paula Kelly, who was married to Dickinson, joined later, after which the group became a quintet. After the film Sun Valley Serenade the group had ten hits in 1941. Well-known songs by Miller and The Modernaires are Chattanooga Choo Choo with Tex Beneke, Perfidia, Elmer's Tune, Serenade in Blue and (I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo. Chattanooga Choo Choo was the first gold record ever, with more than a million copies sold.

Influence

After Miller's disappearance they recorded vocal versions of his instrumental hits, such as Moonlight Serenade and A String of Pearls. In 1945 they had their first top twenty hit with There! I've Said It Again. In the 1960s they sang the theme song of the TV series Hazel. In this way the group belongs to the colour of the big-band era, in which singers used harmony singing as an instrument of its own.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1965Christmas Serenade in the Glenn Miller Style
• 1996Juke Box Saturday Night
• 2001The Great Glenn Miller Instrumentals / We Remember Tommy Dorsey Too!

In School of Rock

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