The Merry Macs

Last updated
The Merry Macs in a 1944 advertisement Merry Macs Billboard.jpg
The Merry Macs in a 1944 advertisement

The Merry Macs were an American and British close-harmony pop music quartet who were active from the 1920s until 2000. They were best known for the hits "Mairzy Doats", "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" and "Sentimental Journey". The group also sang on recordings with Bing Crosby.

Contents

Formed to play proms in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the group originally consisted of the three McMichael brothers: tenors Judd (1906–1989) and Joe (1916–1944), and baritone Ted (1908–2001). They were discovered by organist-bandleader Eddie Dunstedter of station WCCO, who suggested they perform in masks and dubbed them The Mystery Trio.

In 1931–32, the McMichaels toured with the orchestra of arranger-composer Joe Haymes, who renamed them The Personality Boys. By 1933 they added a female lead singer, Cheri McKay, and changed their name to The Merry Macs. At Haymes' recommendation, Victor Records engaged the group for one single that year, their first recording.

In 1936, they appeared on several national radio programs, and Cheri McKay was replaced by Helen Carroll. (McKay trained her successor in the group's singing style). Another recording session followed with Ray Noble's orchestra. The Merry Macs started appearing with Fred Allen on Town Hall Tonight starting on November 17, 1937. In September 1938, they signed a contract with Allen for the 1938–1939 season, [1] and they remained until the end of the 1940 season.

Vocal quartets had customarily harmonized like barbershop quartets. The Merry Macs revolutionized vocal harmony with closer harmonic chords. This style inspired other groups, like The Modernaires and Six Hits and a Miss. In 1938 The Merry Macs signed with Decca Records and recorded "Pop Goes the Weasel". The Merry Macs (with Carroll) sang a swing version of "Down by the Old Mill Stream" in the 1939 Vitaphone musical Seeing Red, Red Skelton's first film.

In 1939, Mary Lou Cook (1908–2008) [2] replaced Helen Carroll. [3] This is the foursome that most listeners know from film appearances. The McMichael brothers and Cook appeared as a specialty act in Hollywood movies, including 1940's Love Thy Neighbor , and Universal Pictures gave The Merry Macs their own feature-film series in 1941. Their most famous film is Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942), an Abbott and Costello comedy in which The Merry Macs offer musical interludes. At the time, Cook was married to actor Elisha Cook, Jr.; she ended both her marriage and her affiliation with The Merry Macs at about the same time.

Marjory Garland (1923–1991) replaced Mary Lou Cook after Ride 'Em Cowboy was filmed. The Merry Macs continued to score on the hit parade; their version of "Mairzy Doats" was a best-seller. Garland, who later married Judd McMichael, remained with the group for two decades. Imogene Lynn was the group's female lead singer in 1946–1947. [4] [5]

Youngest brother Joe McMichael served in the armed forces and died in 1944 following an accidental overdose of Sulfa tablets while ill. [6] He was replaced by Clive Erard, then Dick Baldwin, and finally Vern Rowe. The foursome of Judd, Ted, Marjory, and Vern continued performing until Judd retired from show business in 1964.

1964-2000 Vern and Ted took The Merry Macs to the U.K. where they made their home until Vern and Ted retired in 1967 and returned to the U.S. The Merry Macs continued in Britain making its base on the south coast Salisbury Wiltshire until 2000 when Harold Lambert, John Reg Peter and their female vocalist Lettice Mackenzie Campbell retired from the music entertainment industry. Cheri McKay was the first female vocalist (1933-36) with Lettice Mackenzie Campbell being the last and the longest serving (1977-2000) with The Merry Macs.

Awards and recognition

The Merry Macs were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003.

Selected singles

Selected albums

Related Research Articles

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1945.

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1944 in music</span> Overview of the events of 1944 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victor Young</span> American composer and conductor (1899–1956)

Albert Victor Young was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Crosby</span> American singer and bandleader (1913–1993)

George Robert Crosby was an American jazz singer and bandleader, best known for his group the Bob-Cats, which formed around 1935. The Bob-Cats were a New Orleans Dixieland-style jazz octet. He was the younger brother of famed singer and actor Bing Crosby. On TV, Bob Crosby guest-starred in The Gisele MacKenzie Show. He was also a regular cast member of The Jack Benny Program, on both radio and television, taking over the role of bandleader after Phil Harris' departure. Crosby hosted his own afternoon TV variety show on CBS, The Bob Crosby Show (1953–1957). Crosby received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for television and radio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Haymes</span> Argentine singer, songwriter and actor (1918–1980)

Richard Benjamin Haymes was an Argentine singer, songwriter and actor. He was one of the most popular male vocalists of the 1940s and early 1950s. He was the older brother of Bob Haymes, an actor, television host, and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Forrest</span> American singer

Helen Forrest was an American singer of traditional pop and swing music. She served as the "girl singer" for three of the most popular big bands of the Swing Era, thereby earning a reputation as "the voice of the name bands."

"You're Just in Love" is a popular song by Irving Berlin. It was published in 1950 and was first performed by Ethel Merman and Russell Nype in Call Me Madam, a musical comedy that made its debut at the Imperial Theatre in New York City on October 12 that year. The show ran for 644 performances. Ethel Merman also later starred in the 1953 film version, with Donald O'Connor. Theatre lore has it that Berlin wrote the song one night after Call Me Madam was not doing well in tryouts. The second act of the show was lacking. "What I'd like to do is a song with the kid ," Merman said. So, Berlin went to his room and later produced the counterpoint song. When Berlin played the song for Merman, she said, "We'll never get off the stage." Reportedly, Berlin played the song for Russell Nype first, but admonished him not to admit he did so because it would infuriate Merman.

<i>Ride Em Cowboy</i> (1942 film) 1942 film by Arthur Lubin

Ride 'Em Cowboy is a 1942 film starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello, Dick Foran, Anne Gwynne, Johnny Mack Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Samuel S. Hinds, Douglas Dumbrille, Morris Ankrum, and directed by Arthur Lubin. The film focuses on Abbott and Costello as they play the role of two peanut vendors on the run from their boss. Despite their lack of knowledge in the trade, they get jobs as cowboys on a dude ranch. The film is set in the West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Always Chasing Rainbows</span> Vaudeville song composed by Harry Carroll

"I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" is a popular Vaudeville song. The music is credited to Harry Carroll, but the melody is adapted from Fantaisie-Impromptu by Frédéric Chopin. The lyrics were written by Joseph McCarthy, and the song was published in 1917. It was introduced in the Broadway show Oh, Look! which opened in March 1918. The song was sung in the show by the Dolly Sisters. Judy Garland sang it in the 1941 film Ziegfeld Girl. It was subsequently sung by Jack Oakie in the 1944 film The Merry Monahans and was again featured in the 1945 film The Dolly Sisters, where it was sung by John Payne. It was also included for part of the run of the 1973 revival of Irene. Additionally, the pre-chorus would not have been included until later covers in the 1940s, where the song would gain it's iconic libretti.

Joseph Lawrence Haymes was an American jazz bandleader and arranger.

The Chez Paree was a Chicago nightclub known for its glamorous atmosphere, elaborate dance numbers, and top entertainers. It operated from 1932 until 1960 in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago at 610 N. Fairbanks Court. The club was the epitome of the golden age of entertainment, and it hosted a wide variety of performers, from singers to comedians to vaudeville acts. A "new" Chez Paree opened briefly in the mid-1960s on 400 N. Wabash Avenue and was seen in the film Mickey One with Warren Beatty.

<i>San Antonio Rose</i> (film) 1941 film by Charles Lamont

San Antonio Rose is a 1941 American black-and-white musical film starring Jane Frazee and featuring Lon Chaney Jr. and Shemp Howard; it was also designed as a showcase for the then-popular vocal group The Merry Macs. The plot involves two rival groups of entertainers converging on an abandoned roadhouse with the intent to reopen it, unaware that a gangster is eyeing the property for his own scheme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Carroll and the Satisfiers</span> American harmony group

Helen Carroll and the Satisfiers were an American smooth harmony popular music singing group of the mid-20th century consisting of Carroll and the Satisfiers

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanda McKay</span> American actress (1915–1996)

Wanda McKay was an American actress and model.

The Travelling Scholarships were established in 1944 to enable British creative writers to keep in touch with their colleagues abroad. As directed by the anonymous founder of the trust, the Scholarships are administered by the Society of Authors and applications are not accepted – recipients are nominated by the assessors for the year. In 2020, each awardee received £1600.

The Tune Twisters was an American jazz vocal trio founded in 1934 as The Freshmen by Andy Love, Robert "Bob" Wacker, and Jack Lathrop, who also played guitar. They were featured on radio broadcasts and recorded with jazz artists that included (i) Ray Noble in 1935, (ii) Bob Crosby in 1935, (iii) Glenn Miller in 1937, and (iv) Adrian Rollini in 1938. The Tune Twisters performed in the 1937 Broadway production, Between the Devil, singing "Triplets." The production ran from December 22, 1937, to March 12, 1938. During the audition, the Tune Twisters were known as the Savoy Club Boys. Lathrop was a member of the Tune Twisters in 1939 when they recorded the first radio jingle of its kind for Pepsi – "Pepsi-Cola Hits the Spot" (aka "Nickel, Nickel"). The trio also performed in two 1935 films, Sweet Surrender and Melody Magic, the latter directed by Fred Waller. Gene Lantham, in 1940, replaced Lathrop, who went on to become guitarist and vocalist with Glenn Miller.

References

  1. ↑ Wolters, Larry (September 4, 1938). "Host of Stars Engaged for Fall Programs". Illinois, Chicago. Chicago Tribune. p. Part 3-Page 4. Retrieved 4 April 2016.}
  2. ↑ Cook, Mary Lou. "Mary Lou Cook".
  3. ↑ "Helen Kress (Helen Carroll) obituary". Remick & Gendron Funeral Home. 12 March 2011. Archived from the original on 7 April 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  4. ↑ Aubrey Poole (June 11, 2003). "Imogene Lynn". Variety. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Music – As Written". Billboard. July 26, 1947. p. 35. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  6. ↑ "DIES OF SULFA OVERDOSE; Joe W. McMichael, Former Radio Vocalist, Was Ill in Army Camp". The New York Times. 13 February 1944. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  7. ↑ Orodenker, M.H. (February 7, 1942). "On the Records" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.