ABOUT
The Ames Brothers were a highly acclaimed traditional pop sibling vocal quartet with rich, close-knit harmonies that became famous during the late 1940s and 1950s. Their best known songs include "Rag Mop" (1950), "Sentimental Me" (1950), "You You You" (1953), "The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane" (1954), "Tammy" (1957), and "Melodie D'Amour (Melody Of Love)" (1957).
Formed in their hometown of Malden, Massachusetts, the original members consisted of brothers Ed (b. July 9, 1927), Vic (May 20, 1925 - January 23, 1978), Gene (February 13, 1924 - April 26, 1997), and Joe Urick (May 3, 1921 - December 22, 2007), with Ed serving as lead singer. First known as The Amory Brothers, they shorten their stage name to Ames and by 1948, had signed with Decca before later moving to RCA Victor. A top attraction on the nightclub and supper club circuit, they also became regulars on such radio programs as "Arthur Godfrey & His Friends" and were among the first acts to appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show" (then called "Toast Of The Town"). The Ames Brothers also hosted their own TV show in 1955 and made numerous other television appearances at the height of their commercial fame.
The Ames Brothers debuted in 1948 on the Pop charts with "A Tree In The Meadow" (with Monica Lewis), a Top 40 hit. Their fame took off in 1950 with "Rag Mop," which topped the charts along with its B-side, "Sentimental Me," and they topped the charts again in 1953 with "You You You." The Ames Brothers' long string of hits, which continued through the early 1960s, also includes "Can Anyone Explain? (No, No, No!)" (1950), "Undecided" (1951), "The Man With The Banjo" (1954), "The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane" (1954), "My Bonnie Lassie" (1955), "It Only Hurts For A Little While" (1956), "Tammy" (1957), and "Melodie D'Amour (Melody Of Love)" (1957). They later scored a Top 40 hit on both the R&B and Pop/Rock charts with "China Doll" (1960). Their final charting song came in 1963 with their sung rendition of The Village Stompers' Dixieland-styled smash, "Washington Square."
By the early 1960s, The Ames Brothers had disbanded, and Ed Ames went on to pursue a highly successful solo career as an actor and singer. In 1998, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
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The Ames Brothers
- China Doll 1960
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