Description
PAULA KELLY JR. & THE MODERNAIRES GROUP SIGNED PHOTO: "The Modernaires, Tom Traynor", "Bill Tracy", "Paula Kelly Jr.", and one unidentified, 10 x 8, color, group close up, captioned in lower margin "The Modernaires With Paula Kelly Jr.", by the influential vocal ensemble which became the Modernaires formed in Buffalo, New York in 1935, composed then of 3 male high school classmates. The trio found success singing with some of the best known big bands (Ted Fio Rito, Ozzie Nelson, Paul Whiteman, and especially Glenn Miller) under various names, including The Wizards of Ozzie. Becoming a quartet, the group renamed itself permanently as The Modernaires in 1937. The year 1941 was big for the ensemble: Paula Kelly, wife of founding member Hal Dickinson, joined the group, and they were featured prominently in the Glenn Miller film Sun Valley Serenade. The Modernaires recorded the first disc to turn gold, "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," and had ten hits on the charts in 1947. Other songs associated with the Modernaires include "There, I've Said It Again," and many of the songs of Glenn Miller. Obviously, the group's composition has changed over the decades, but the ensemble's smooth style and family connections have remained. Unfortunately, one member present here is at present unidentified. PAULA KELLY, JR, daughter of Dickinson and Kelly, joined the group in 1967. Two of her sisters, Julie Dickinson and Martha Dickinson Martz, sang with the group at various times. TOM TRAYNOR, formerly of the Johnny Mann singers, was well suited to performing with a group associated with Glenn Miller, since he had transposed Glenn Miller tunes on Keep 'em Flying, the Air Force Band's tribute to Miller. BILL TRACY (d. 2005) a singer featured on the Tonight, Steve Allen and Merv Griffin shows, was featured on The Modernaires Now, a 1996 recording of many of the group's biggest hits. The Modernaires were enshrined in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. In fine condition.
$125 #11989
