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 (with Noble, the Tune Twisters were initially known as "The Freshmen"), (ii) Bob Crosby in 1935, (iii)

Glenn Miller Alton Glen Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band founder, owner, conductor, composer, arranger, trombone player and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the United States Arm ...

in 1937, and (iv)

Adrian Rollini Adrian Francis Rollini (June 28, 1903 – May 15, 1956) was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who played the bass saxophone, piano, vibraphone, and many other instruments. Rollini is also known for introducing the goofus in jazz music. As ...

in 1938. The Tune Twisters performed in the 1937 Broadway production, ''

Between the Devil ''Between the Devil'' is a musical comedy with book and lyrics by Howard Dietz and music by Arthur Schwartz. Production and background The musical opened in pre-Broadway tryouts in New Haven and Philadelphia in October 1937. The original plot had ...

,'' singing "Triplets." The production ran from December 22, 1937, to March 12, 1938 (93 performances). 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

History

Andy Love, Jack Lathrop, and Bob Wacker began singing as a trio around 1928 or 1929 while attending a prep school near

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. Lathrop attended college in New York and Wacker got a job. Around 1933, Love suggested – to Lathrop and Wacker – commercializing their trio. Their launch was unsuccessful, and Love, discouraged, began singing as a soloist with Paul Whiteman. Eventually, the three auditioned for

NBC Radio The National Broadcasting Company's NBC Radio Network (known as the NBC Red Network prior to 1942) was an American commercial radio network which was in operation from 1926 through 2004. Along with the NBC Blue Network it was one of the first t ...

. After the audition, an NBC executive asked, "What do you call yourselves?" "You sure are some tune twisters." Love responded with a grin, "That's our name." The Tune Twisters made their radio broadcast debut in 1935 as guest artists on a show hosted by Ray Noble, who discovered them in a Westchester County roadhouse nightclub. They continued to work with Noble until he moved to

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

to form a new until for the Burns and Allen programs. The trio subsequently performed in vaudeville on their own. They also performed with Fred Allen and Rudy Vallée hours. In 1938, the Tune Twisters signed with NBC to perform the for the '' Jell-O Summer Series,'' starring Jane Froman and her husband, Don Ross ''(né'' Donald McKaig Ross; 1899–1971), with the

Alfonso D'Artega Orchestra Alfonso D'Artega (June 5, 1907 – January 20, 1998), often known simply as D'Artega, was a songwriter, conductor, arranger and actor. His song "In the Blue of Evening", co-written with Tom Adair, was a number one hit for the Tommy Dorsey Orch ...

. NBC's Red Network (radio) broadcast the show nationwide, beginning July 4, 1938. The show had previously been hosted by Jack Benny.

Members

* :: Love was one of three children born to Andrew Jackson Love, M.D. (1861–1948), and Anita Florence Hemmings ''(née'' Annie Williamson Hemmings; 1872–1960). * * :: * :: Gene re-married, on June 18, 1947, in Los Angeles, to Miriel Eloise King ''(maiden;'' 1917–2001). Dorothy re-married, on December 17, 1947, in Manhattan, to Andy Love. :: Gene Lanham and Dorothy Lanham – under the name Dorothy Lanham – and also Robert Wacker, sang as members of the Ralph Brewster singers on

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

's 1957 recording, " Mistletoe and Holly." In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Lanham served on the board of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Lanham remarried – on June 18, 1947, in Los Angeles – to Miriel Eloise King ''(maiden;'' 1917–2001). *

Selected broadcasts

Radio (1930s)

* 1940–1942: WOR; Ramona and the Tune Twisters – broadcast three times a week; sponsored by R&H Brewing Company – Rubsam & Hormann Brewing Co., found by Joseph Rubsam and August Horrmann in

Staten Island Staten Island ( ) is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull an ...

Jingles

* 1938: Pepsi-Cola Jingle (see also '' Sensory branding)'' : "Pepsi-Cola Hits the Spot" ''(aka'' "Nickel, Nickel") : The commercial, reportedly, aired over 1.5 million times

Broadway

* 1937: ''

,'' the Tune Twisters sang "Triplets," December 22, 1937 – March 12, 1938 (93 performances); during the audition, the Tune Twisters were known as the Savoy Club Boys

Selected filmography and discography

Filmography

* The Tune Twisters performe
"Love Makes The World Go 'Round,"
in the 1935 film, '' Sweet Surrender'' – music by Dana Suesse, lyrics by Edward Heyman

Discography

* The Tune Twisters : : matrix 38617 : : matrix 38648 : Recorded September 13, 1934,

: Decca ( matrix 38617) * The Tune Twisters : : : Decca 233 ( matrix 38647) : Recorded September 13, 1934,

* Victor Young and His Orchestra : Hal Burke, vocal : The Tune Twisters : : Recorded March 21, 1935 : Decca 426 * Victor Young and His Orchestra : Featuring Hal Burke and the Tune Twisters : : From the 1935 film, '' Go Into Your Dance'' : Decca :
audio
''via'' YouTube) * Johnny Green and His Orchestra, with Marjory Logan (vocalist) and the Tune Twisters : The songs: : : "I'm Yours" (Tune Twisters) : " Body and Soul” : "I Wanna Be Loved" (orchestra) : : : : Musicians: 2nd pianist (and arranger), Dave Terry : From ''Melody Magic,'' musical film directed by Fred Waller :
audio
''via'' YouTube) * The Decca All Star Revue – 2 two-part productions: : Recorded January 15, 1935,

: Part One: " You're the Top,"

Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in film. Born to ...

, from '' Anything Goes'' : Decca : Part Two: " You're the Top" : Decca ; matrix 39253 : Recorded May 20, 1935,

: : Decca ; matrix 39529 : : Decca ; matrix 39530 * Tune Twisters : : Side A: "Triplets" : Side B: "I'm Against Rhythm" :
audio
''via'' YouTube) : * ''

His Quintet'' : : Recorded June 23, 1938,

: :: (© 24 August 1938) Harry Bailey ''(né'' Harry Preston Bailey; 1909–1984) and Doris Fisher (w&m) : :: (© 10 May 1938) Frank Loesser (words), Hoagy Carmichael (music) : Vocalion 4212 :
Discogs reference
: : :: (© 8 June 1938) Bud Green (words),

Albert Stillman Al Stillman ''(né'' Albert Irving Silverman; 26 June 1901 Manhattan, New York – 17 February 1979 Manhattan, New York) was an American lyricist. Biography Stillman was born to Jewish parents Herman Silverman and Gertrude Rubin ''(maiden).'' ...

Al Hoffman Al Hoffman (September 25, 1902 – July 21, 1960) was an American song composer. He was a hit songwriter active in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, usually co-writing with others and responsible for number-one hits through each decade, many of wh ...

, Al Lewis,

Murray Mencher Murray may refer to: Businesses * Murray (bicycle company), an American manufacturer of low-cost bicycles * Murrays, an Australian bus company * Murray International Trust, a Scottish investment trust * D. & W. Murray Limited, an Australian whol ...

(de) (1898–1991) (w&m) *

Victor Salon Orchestra The name Victor or Viktor may refer to: * Victor (name), including a list of people with the given name, mononym, or surname Arts and entertainment Film * ''Victor'' (1951 film), a French drama film * ''Victor'' (1993 film), a French shor ...

, Nathaniel Shilkret (conductor) : : Recorded June 5, 1940 :

Victor The name Victor or Viktor may refer to: * Victor (name), including a list of people with the given name, mononym, or surname Arts and entertainment Film * ''Victor'' (1951 film), a French drama film * ''Victor'' (1993 film), a French shor ...

BS-051230 : "Hello, 'Frisco!" :

BS-051232 : Recorded June 5, 1940 * : : Matrix 73578 : : Matrix 73577 : Decca 18902 : Recorded May 17, 1946

Notes and references

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tune Twisters, The 20th-century American singers American musical trios Decca Records artists Musical groups established in 1933 Musical groups from New York City Traditional pop music singers Vocal trios