The Four Freshmen
Encyclopedia
The Four Freshmen is a multiple (six) Grammy-nominated American
male vocal band
quartet that blends open-harmony
jazz arrangements with the big band vocal group sounds of The Modernaires
(Glenn Miller
), The Pied Pipers
(Tommy Dorsey
), and The Mel-Tones (Artie Shaw
), founded in the barbershop
tradition. The Four Freshmen is considered a vocal band because the singers accompany themselves on guitar, trumpet, bass, and drums, among other instrumental configurations.
The group tours internationally to sold-out audiences and records jazz harmonies since its late '40s founding in the halls of the Jordan School of Music at Butler University
(Indianapolis).
's Arthur Jordan Conservatory in Indianapolis, Indiana
, formed a barbershop quartet called Hal's Harmonizers. The Harmonizers also included Marvin Pruitt — soon replaced by Ross and Don's cousin Bob Flanigan — and Hal Kratzsch (1925–70), replaced in 1953 by Ken Errair. The quartet soon adopted a more jazz
-oriented repertoire and renamed itself the Toppers. At first, they were influenced by Glenn Miller
's The Modernaires
and Mel Tormé
's Mel-Tones, but soon developed their own style of improvised vocal harmony. In September 1948, the quartet went on the road as The Four Freshmen, and soon drew the admiration of jazz legends such as Dizzy Gillespie
and Woody Herman
.
In 1950, The Four Freshmen got a break when band leader Stan Kenton
heard the quartet in Dayton, Ohio
, and arranged for an audition with his label, Capitol Records
, which signed The Four later that year. In 1952, they released their first hit single "It's a Blue World". Further hits included "Mood Indigo" in 1954, "Day by Day" in 1955, and "Graduation Day" in 1956.
The Four Freshmen won Best Vocal Group of the Year in Down Beat
magazine's Readers' Polls in 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 2000, and 2001.
The Four Freshmen were nominated in the Grammy Vocal Group Performance category in 1958 for The Four Freshmen in Person (Capitol), 1961 for Voices in Fun (Capitol), 1962 for The Swingers (Capitol), 1964 for More Four Freshmen and Five Trombones (Capitol), and in 1986 for Fresh! (Pausa).
Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, The Four Freshmen released a number of recordings, made film and television appearances, and performed in concert. The group eventually lost their mainstream
following with the advent of the British pop bands of the 1960s. The group did not disband, however, even after the last original member, Bob Flanigan, retired in 1992. After his retirement Flanigan managed the group and owned the rights to The Four Freshmen name. He died on May 15, 2011 at the age of 84 from congestive heart failure. Ross Barbour died on August 20, 2011 from cancer at the age of 82.
The current incarnation of The Four Freshmen features Brian Eichenberger (lead, guitar, keyboards, arranger), Curtis Calderon (second voice, trumpet, flugelhorn), Vince Johnson (third voice, bass, trombone, whistler, scatter, arranger), and Bob Ferreira (fourth voice, drummer, soloist). They perform at upwards of 100 bookings a year. Eichenberger, Calderon, Johnson, and Ferreira have been honored with the following designations: JazzTimes
magazine's Readers Poll Best Vocal Group (multiple wins), Down Beat magazine's Readers Poll Best Vocal Group (multiple wins), and Down Beat magazine's Readers Poll Hall of Fame finals (multiple years).
The 21st International Four Freshmen Society Convention was held August 20–22, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia
. It is known as the "Blue Moon" convention. Former Freshmen Ross Barbour, Bob Flanigan, Rod Henley, Autie Goodman, and Greg Stegeman (by phone) participated along with over 400 fans.
The 22nd International Four Freshmen Society Convention was held in Annapolis, Maryland
August 19-21, 2010.
The 23rd International Four Freshmen Society Convention was held at The Park Inn Hotel in Toledo, Ohio
September 8-10, 2011.
The 24th International Four Freshmen Society Convention will be held in Reno, Nevada October 4-7, 2012.
Note: The first fifteen singles ("Mr. B" through "Graduation Day") were also released as 78rpm Capitol discs, with the same stock numbers as above.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
male vocal band
Vocal music
Vocal music is a genre of music performed by one or more singers, with or without instrumental accompaniment, in which singing provides the main focus of the piece. Music which employs singing but does not feature it prominently is generally considered instrumental music Vocal music is a genre of...
quartet that blends open-harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
jazz arrangements with the big band vocal group sounds of The Modernaires
The Modernaires
The Modernaires are an American vocal group, best known for performing in the 1940s alongside Glenn Miller- Career :The Modernaires began in 1935 as a trio of schoolmates from Lafayette High School in Buffalo, New York...
(Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
), The Pied Pipers
The Pied Pipers
The Pied Pipers were a popular singing group in the late 1930s and 1940s. Originally they consisted of eight members who had belonged to three separate groups: Jo Stafford from The Stafford Sisters, and seven male singers: John Huddleston, Hal Hopper, Chuck Lowry, Bud Hervey, George Tait, Woody...
(Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
), and The Mel-Tones (Artie Shaw
Artie Shaw
Arthur Jacob Arshawsky , better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings....
), founded in the barbershop
Barbershop music
Barbershop vocal harmony, as codified during the barbershop revival era , is a style of a cappella, or unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a predominantly homophonic texture...
tradition. The Four Freshmen is considered a vocal band because the singers accompany themselves on guitar, trumpet, bass, and drums, among other instrumental configurations.
The group tours internationally to sold-out audiences and records jazz harmonies since its late '40s founding in the halls of the Jordan School of Music at Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
(Indianapolis).
History
In early 1948, brothers Ross and Don Barbour, then at Butler UniversityButler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
's Arthur Jordan Conservatory in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, formed a barbershop quartet called Hal's Harmonizers. The Harmonizers also included Marvin Pruitt — soon replaced by Ross and Don's cousin Bob Flanigan — and Hal Kratzsch (1925–70), replaced in 1953 by Ken Errair. The quartet soon adopted a more jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
-oriented repertoire and renamed itself the Toppers. At first, they were influenced by Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller
Alton Glenn Miller was an American jazz musician , arranger, composer, and bandleader in the swing era. He was one of the best-selling recording artists from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best known "Big Bands"...
's The Modernaires
The Modernaires
The Modernaires are an American vocal group, best known for performing in the 1940s alongside Glenn Miller- Career :The Modernaires began in 1935 as a trio of schoolmates from Lafayette High School in Buffalo, New York...
and Mel Tormé
Mel Tormé
Melvin Howard Tormé , nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, known for his jazz singing. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, a drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books...
's Mel-Tones, but soon developed their own style of improvised vocal harmony. In September 1948, the quartet went on the road as The Four Freshmen, and soon drew the admiration of jazz legends such as Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
and Woody Herman
Woody Herman
Woodrow Charles Herman , known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading various groups called "The Herd," Herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and '40s bandleaders...
.
In 1950, The Four Freshmen got a break when band leader Stan Kenton
Stan Kenton
Stanley Newcomb "Stan" Kenton was a pianist, composer, and arranger who led a highly innovative, influential, and often controversial American jazz orchestra. In later years he was widely active as an educator....
heard the quartet in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, and arranged for an audition with his label, Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, which signed The Four later that year. In 1952, they released their first hit single "It's a Blue World". Further hits included "Mood Indigo" in 1954, "Day by Day" in 1955, and "Graduation Day" in 1956.
The Four Freshmen won Best Vocal Group of the Year in Down Beat
Down Beat
Down Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
magazine's Readers' Polls in 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 2000, and 2001.
The Four Freshmen were nominated in the Grammy Vocal Group Performance category in 1958 for The Four Freshmen in Person (Capitol), 1961 for Voices in Fun (Capitol), 1962 for The Swingers (Capitol), 1964 for More Four Freshmen and Five Trombones (Capitol), and in 1986 for Fresh! (Pausa).
Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, The Four Freshmen released a number of recordings, made film and television appearances, and performed in concert. The group eventually lost their mainstream
Mainstream
Mainstream is, generally, the common current thought of the majority. However, the mainstream is far from cohesive; rather the concept is often considered a cultural construct....
following with the advent of the British pop bands of the 1960s. The group did not disband, however, even after the last original member, Bob Flanigan, retired in 1992. After his retirement Flanigan managed the group and owned the rights to The Four Freshmen name. He died on May 15, 2011 at the age of 84 from congestive heart failure. Ross Barbour died on August 20, 2011 from cancer at the age of 82.
The current incarnation of The Four Freshmen features Brian Eichenberger (lead, guitar, keyboards, arranger), Curtis Calderon (second voice, trumpet, flugelhorn), Vince Johnson (third voice, bass, trombone, whistler, scatter, arranger), and Bob Ferreira (fourth voice, drummer, soloist). They perform at upwards of 100 bookings a year. Eichenberger, Calderon, Johnson, and Ferreira have been honored with the following designations: JazzTimes
JazzTimes
JazzTimes is a magazine that dates back to Radio Free Jazz, a publication founded in 1970 by Ira Sabin when he was operating a record store in Washington, DC. It was originally a newsletter designed to update shoppers on the latest jazz releases and provide jazz radio programmers with a means of...
magazine's Readers Poll Best Vocal Group (multiple wins), Down Beat magazine's Readers Poll Best Vocal Group (multiple wins), and Down Beat magazine's Readers Poll Hall of Fame finals (multiple years).
Four Freshmen Society
The 20th International Four Freshmen Society Convention, "Back Home in Indiana", was held in Indianapolis, the home of Butler University, August 21–23, 2008. Six hundred of the approximately 3,000 Society members attended in honor of The Four Freshmen's 60th year of continual performance. Present were original Four Freshmen Ross Barbour and Bob Flanigan (now Butler honorary doctors) and the widow of Don Barbour. Former Four Freshmen Ray Brown (Group 5), Rod Henley (Groups 8 and 11), Kirk Marcy (Group 12), and Greg Stegeman (Groups 14-21) attended and performed along with current Four Freshmen Brian, Curtis, Vince, and Bob (Group 22).The 21st International Four Freshmen Society Convention was held August 20–22, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. It is known as the "Blue Moon" convention. Former Freshmen Ross Barbour, Bob Flanigan, Rod Henley, Autie Goodman, and Greg Stegeman (by phone) participated along with over 400 fans.
The 22nd International Four Freshmen Society Convention was held in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
August 19-21, 2010.
The 23rd International Four Freshmen Society Convention was held at The Park Inn Hotel in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
September 8-10, 2011.
The 24th International Four Freshmen Society Convention will be held in Reno, Nevada October 4-7, 2012.
Albums and DVDs
- Voices in Modern (1955)
- 4 Freshmen and 5 Trombones4 Freshmen and 5 Trombones4 Freshmen and 5 Trombones is a 1955 album by The Four Freshmen.# “Angel Eyes” – 3:32# “Love Is Just around the Corner” – 2:00# “Mam'selle” – 3:03...
(1955) - Freshmen Favorites (1956)
- 4 Freshmen and 5 Trumpets (1957)
- 4 Freshmen and 5 Saxes (1957)
- Voices In Latin (1958)
- The Freshman Year (1958)
- Voices In LoveVoices in LoveVoices in Love is an 1958 album by The Four Freshmen.-Track listing:# “I'm Always Chasing Rainbows” # “There Is No Greater Love” # “Moonlight”...
(1958) - In Person (1958)
- 4 Freshmen and 5 Guitars (1959)
- Love LostLove Lost (Four Freshmen album)Love Lost is a studio album, released on June 11, 1959, by jazz vocal and instrumental group The Four Freshmen. Released at the height their fame, the album is now considered a "vintage" recording...
(1959) - Freshmen Favorites Vol.2 (1959)
- Voices And Brass (1960)
- Road Show (1960)
- First Affair (1960)
- Voices in Fun (1961)
- The Freshman Year (1961)
- Best of The Four Freshmen (1961)
- Stars in Our Eyes (1962)
- The Swingers (1962)
- Day By Day (1962)
- Got That Feelin (1963)
- In Person, Vol. 2 (1963)
- More 4 Freshmen and 5 Trombones (1964)
- Funny How Time Slips Away (1964)
- That's My Desire (1967)
- A Today Kind of Thing (1968)
- Today is Tomorrow (1968)
- Four Freshmen in Tokyo '68 (1969)
- Different Strokes (1969)
- My Special Angel (1970)
- Return to Romance (1971)
- Mount Freshmore (1977)
- Alive & Well in Nashville (1977)
- Live At Butler University With Stan Kenton And His Orchestra (1986)
- Fresh! (1986)
- Freshmas! (1992)
- Angel Eyes (1995)
- Easy Street(1997)
- Golden Anniversary Celebration (1998)
- Still Fresh CD (1999)
- Four Freshmen Live CD (2000)
- First Affair/Voices in Fun Double CD (2002)
- Live in the New Millennium CD (2002)
- Live in Holland CD (2004)
- In Session CD (2005)
- Star-spangled Banner Single CD (2005)
- Live from Las Vegas' Suncoast Hotel DVD (2006)
- Snowfall CD (2007)
- Live from Las Vegas' Suncoast Hotel CD (2009)
- Live from the Atlanta FFS Convention (members only) DVD (2009)
- Four Freshmen and 'Live' Trombones CD (2009)
Singles (A-side / B-side, release date, catalog number)
- Stan Kenton's Orchestra September Song (1951) Capitol 382
- "Mr. B's Blues" / "Then I'll Be Happy" (11/50) Capitol 1293
- "Now You Know" / "Pick Up Your Tears and Go Home" (4/51) Capitol 1377
- "It's A Blue World" / "Tuxedo Junction" (7/52) Capitol 2152
- "The Day Isn't Long Enough" / "Stormy Weather" (11/52) Capitol 2286
- "Poinciana" / Baltimore Oriole" (4/53) Capitol 2398
- "Holiday" / "It Happened Once Before" (8/53) Capitol 2564
- "Seems Like Old Times" / "Crazy Bones" (2/54) Capitol 2745
- "I'll Be Seeing You" / "Please Remember" (6/54) Capitol 2832
- "We'll Be Together Again" / "My Heart Stood Still" (8/54) Capitol 2898
- "Mood Indigo" / "Love Turns Winter to Spring" (10/54) Capitol 2961
- "It Never Occurred to Me" / "Malaya" (3/55) Capitol 3070
- "Day By Day" / "How Can I Tell Her" (6/55) Capitol 3154
- "Charmaine" / "In This Whole Wide World" (11/55) Capitol 3292
- "Angel Eyes" / "Love Is Just Around the Corner" (2/56) Capitol 3359
- "Graduation Day" / "Lonely Night in Paris" (4/56) Capitol 3410
- "He Who Loves and Runs Away" / "You're So Far Above Me" (9/56) Capitol 3532
- "That's the Way I Feel" / "What's it Gonna Be" (2/57) Capitol 3652
- "Julie Is Her Name" / "Sometimes I'm Happy" (8/57) Capitol 3779
- "How Can I Begin To Tell" / "Granada" (11/57) Capitol 3832
- "Whistle Me Some Blues" / "Nights Are Longer" (3/58) Capitol 3930
- "Don't Worry Bout Me" / "I Never Knew" ?? Capitol
- "Candy" / "Route 66" (2/60) Capitol 4341
- "Teach Me Tonight" / "Shangri-La" (6/62) Capitol 4749
- "I'm Gonna Go Fishin'" / "Taps Miller" (9/62) Capitol 4824
- "Summertime" / "Baby Won't You Please Come Home" (6/63) Capitol 5007
- "Funny How Time Slips Away" / "Charade" (11/63) Capitol 5083
- "My Baby's Gone" / "Don't Make Me Sorry" (3/64) Capitol 5151
- "When I Stop Lovin' You" / "Nights Are Long" (4/65) Capitol 5401
- "Old Cape Cod" / "Men In Their Flying Machines" (8/65) Capitol 5471
- "Cry" / "Nowhere to Go" (12/66) Decca 32070
- "Cherish" / "Come Fly With Me" (6/68) Liberty 56047
- "Windy" / "Up, Up and Away"
- "Blue World" / "Phoenix" (4/69) Liberty 56099
- "My Special Angel"
- "I Want To Love" / "While I'm Young" Capitol F 3539 (Ken Errair solo
- "Ain't Goin' Nowhere"
- "How About Me" Capitol F 3890 (Ken Errair Quartet)
- "How's About Tomorrow Night"
- "The Creep" / "Tenderly" (2/54 Capitol 2685) (Four Freshmen sing on Tenderly)
Note: The first fifteen singles ("Mr. B" through "Graduation Day") were also released as 78rpm Capitol discs, with the same stock numbers as above.
Promotional singles
- "It's a Blue World" / "Poinciana" Capitol PRO 862
- "You're So Far Above Me" / "Brazil" Capitol PRO 863
- "Every Time We Say Goodbye" / "Circus" Capitol PRO 864
- "Whistle Me Some Blues" / "It Never Occurred To Me" Capitol PRO 865
- "You Stepped Out Of A Dream" / "I May Be Wrong" Capitol PRO 866
- "Baltimore Oriole" / "It Could Happen To You" Capitol Pro 867
- "Accentuate The Positive" / "I Want To Be Happy" Capitol PRO 1822
- "We've Got A World That Swings" / "When My Sugar Walks Down The Street" Capitol PRO 2392 (red vinyl)
- "It Never Occurred To Me" / "Malaya" Capitol PRO 2969
- "How Can I Tell Her" / "Day By Day" Capitol PRO 3070
- "Angel Eyes" / "Love Is Just Around The Corner" Capitol PRO 3154
- "I Want To Love While I'm Still Young" / "Aint'Goin' Nowhere" (Ken Errair Capitol PRO 3359
- "Give Me The Simple Life" (dated 1/12/62)) / "Say it Isn't So" (not a Four Freshman cut) USAF presents Music in the Air
- "Nowhere To Go" / "Cry" Decca 32070
7 inch, 33 (small hole) promotional singles
- "Here's Hollywood" / "And So It's Over" Capitol PRO 2402
- "Moon River" / "Dynaflow" Capitol PRO 2449
- "Blue World" / "Poinciana" Capitol PRO 2510
- "Li'l Darlin'" / "Lulu's Back In Town" Capitol XE 1753
- "Candy" / "It Could Happen To You" Capitol XE 1640 (set of 3)
- "Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe" / "While You Are Gone"
- "Day By Day" / "Little Girl Blue"
- "Moonlight Rain"
- "I'm Beginning To See The Light" / "It's A Blue World"
External links
- Official homepage
- The Four Freshmen
- The Four Freshman in the Vocal Hall of Fame.
- The Four Freshmen Society