The Modernaires

The Modernaires began in 1935 as a trio of schoolmates from Lafayette High School (Buffalo, New York). The members, Hal Dickinson, Chuck Goldstein, and Bill Conway, were called Don Juan-Two and Three, and had their first engagement at Buffalo's suburban Glen Falls Casino, with the Ted Fio Rito Orchestra. They then joined the Ozzie Nelson Band, and became known as The Three Wizards of Ozzie. They next recruited Ralph Brewster to make a quartet and, performing with the Fred Waring Orchestra, became The Modernaires. In 1937, they were featured on the Paul Whiteman radio show. They recorded many of the classic songs of that era, a few with Jack Teagarden. In October 1940 the legendary Glenn Miller engaged them to record It's Make Believe Ballroom Time, a sequel to the original Make Believe Ballroom, which they had recorded earlier for Martin Block's big band show of the same name, on WNEW New York. In January 1941 Miller made The Modernaires an important part of the most popular big band of all time. Paula Kelly (Mrs. Hal Dickinson) was added to the Miller band between March - August 1941. After appearing in the movie Sun Valley Serenade with Miller's orchestra in 1941, they had ten chart hits that year. After Miller joined the Army, Paula Kelly became a permanent member of The Modernaires, making it a quintet. For the next few decades they traveled the world many times over making history with the Glenn Miller Band. Johnny Drake replaced Chuck Goldstein (who left the Modernaires the day after the Miller band broke up in 1942) and Fran Scott replaced Bill Conway (who left during the war and never returned to the Mods for a handful of reasons). Songs made popular by Miller and The Modernaires included Perfidia, Chattanooga Choo-Choo (the first-ever "gold record" with over one million copies sold), I Know Why, Elmer's Tune, Serenade In Blue and Kalamazoo, among others. In 1945, There! I've Said It Again became The Modernaire's first top-twenty hit. After Miller's disappearance, The Modernaires recorded vocal versions of several of Miller's instrumental hits, including Sunrise Serenade, Little Brown Jug, Tuxedo Junction , Pennsylvania 6-5000, and A String of Pearls. Their style, harmonies and blend would influence later artists such as The Four Freshmen, who would in turn be models for the Beach Boys, who the Beatles later cited as a strong influence on their work. Thus, The Modernaires have affected generations of popular music, from swing to rock and roll. The Modernaires were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.