The Four Tunes
Encyclopedia
The Four Tunes were a leading black pop
vocal quartet during the 1950s. The members at the peak of their fame were William "Pat" Best, Jimmy Gordon, Jimmie Nabbie, and Danny Owens.
, a quartet started in New York City
by Ivory "Deek" Watson (born July 18, 1909, Mounds, Illinois
- died November 4, 1969, Washington, DC) after he split from the Ink Spots in late 1944. The other original members were William "Pat" Best (baritone and guitar) (born June 6, 1923, Wilmington, North Carolina
- died October 14, 2004, Roseville, California
), Joe King (tenor), and Jimmy Gordon (bass).
Best and Watson were co-credited with the song "For Sentimental Reasons
", which became The Brown Dots' first single (Best has been quoted as stating that Watson had nothing to do with the creation of the song, apart from being the group founder). Later it became a 1946 hit for Nat King Cole
and was recorded by many other artists. Soon afterwards, King was replaced by Jimmie Nabbie (tenor) (b. USA, d. September 1992) and, in late 1946, Nabbie, Best, and Gordon recruited Danny Owens to replace Watson. They called themselves The Sentimentalists (after "For Sentimental Reasons") and started recording for Manor
, backing Savannah Churchill
on her 1947 # 1 R&B hit "I Want To Be Loved (But Only By You)".
After bandleader Tommy Dorsey
asked them to stop calling themselves the Sentimentalists, also the name of his vocal group, they changed their name to The Four Tunes. Nabbie later stated that the name was derived from the fact that all they had left were four tunes that they hadn't yet recorded. Manor reissued all their Sentimentalists recordings as by the Four Tunes.
They continued recording for Manor through the Spring of 1949, when they switched over to RCA Victor, where they had 18 records released between May 1949 and November 1953. They then switched to Jerry Blaine's Jubilee
label, where they achieved their greatest popularity. Their first Jubilee recording, "Marie" was released in September, and reached #2 on the R&B charts (#13 Pop). This Irving Berlin
tune had been a #1 smash for Tommy Dorsey
(with Jack Leonard on vocal) in 1937, and was later a hit for Irish group The Bachelors
.
The Four Tunes' next Jubilee release, "I Understand Just How You Feel" was a bigger hit, climbing to #7 R&B, but even higher (#6) on the Pop charts, a notable achievement for 1953. By this time, the group had leaned closer to rhythm & blues and now had swung back to pop. The group played the black theater circuit and also many white clubs. When they were on a tour with pop singer Joni James
, she asked Jimmie Nabbie to write a song for her. The result, "You Are My Love
", was her big hit of 1955 (which the Four Tunes covered). In late 1959, there were two releases on Crosby (a Las Vegas label that Jimmie Nabbie partly owned). Then, there was a single release on Robin's Nest (as the "Four Tunes And One") in 1962.
After 18 years with the group, Jimmie Nabbie left in 1963, to become a soloist (in 1965, he joined an Ink Spots group to come full circle; he would remain with them until his death); Danny Owens left about the same time. Billy Wells was tapped to fill Nabbie's place and tenor Gaines Steele was brought in to replace Owens. In the mid 1960s, Frank Dawes (tenor and piano) was also brought on board, as a utility singer. The recording career of the 4 Tunes wound down with an LP on the ARA label in 1969 (which not only contained a version of "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons," but also "Whole Lot Of Shaking Going On"). The personnel were: Pat Best, Jimmy Gordon, Billy Wells, Frank Dawes, and Chuck Hampton (drums and vocals).
The group kept going throughout subsequent decades, although Wells left in the 1980s for medical reasons and was replaced by Andre Williams, who in turn made way for Rufus McKay. Pat Best and Jimmy Gordon finally wound the group up in the late 1990s.
in 2004.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
vocal quartet during the 1950s. The members at the peak of their fame were William "Pat" Best, Jimmy Gordon, Jimmie Nabbie, and Danny Owens.
Career
The group originated from The Brown DotsThe Brown Dots
The Brown Dots were initially formed in late 1944, when second tenor Ivory "Deek" Watson left the Ink Spots. He immediately put together a competing Ink Spots group consisting of lead tenor Joe King, bass Jimmy Gordon, and an unknown baritone...
, a quartet started in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
by Ivory "Deek" Watson (born July 18, 1909, Mounds, Illinois
Mounds, Illinois
Mounds is a city in Pulaski County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,117 in the 2000 census.-Geography:Mounds is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
- died November 4, 1969, Washington, DC) after he split from the Ink Spots in late 1944. The other original members were William "Pat" Best (baritone and guitar) (born June 6, 1923, Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
- died October 14, 2004, Roseville, California
Roseville, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Roseville had a population of 118,788. The population density was 3,279.4 people per square mile...
), Joe King (tenor), and Jimmy Gordon (bass).
Best and Watson were co-credited with the song "For Sentimental Reasons
(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
" for Sentimental Reasons" is a popular song written by William "Pat" Best, later a founding member of The Four Tunes. The credits list Deek Watson, former founding member of The Ink Spots, as a co-writer, though Best has stated that Watson had nothing to do with the creation of the song...
", which became The Brown Dots' first single (Best has been quoted as stating that Watson had nothing to do with the creation of the song, apart from being the group founder). Later it became a 1946 hit for Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
and was recorded by many other artists. Soon afterwards, King was replaced by Jimmie Nabbie (tenor) (b. USA, d. September 1992) and, in late 1946, Nabbie, Best, and Gordon recruited Danny Owens to replace Watson. They called themselves The Sentimentalists (after "For Sentimental Reasons") and started recording for Manor
Manor Records
Manor Records was a United States based record label of the 1940s.A small label founded in NYC by Irving Berman, Manor Records later moved its headquarters to New Jersey....
, backing Savannah Churchill
Savannah Churchill
Savannah Churchill was a successful American singer of pop, jazz, and blues music in the 1940s and 1950s.-Career:...
on her 1947 # 1 R&B hit "I Want To Be Loved (But Only By You)".
After bandleader 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...
asked them to stop calling themselves the Sentimentalists, also the name of his vocal group, they changed their name to The Four Tunes. Nabbie later stated that the name was derived from the fact that all they had left were four tunes that they hadn't yet recorded. Manor reissued all their Sentimentalists recordings as by the Four Tunes.
They continued recording for Manor through the Spring of 1949, when they switched over to RCA Victor, where they had 18 records released between May 1949 and November 1953. They then switched to Jerry Blaine's Jubilee
Jubilee Records
Jubilee Records was a record label specializing in rhythm and blues along with novelty records. It was founded in New York City in 1946 by Herb Abramson. Jerry Blaine became Abramson's partner. Blaine bought out Abramson's half of the company in 1947. The company name was Jay-Gee Recording...
label, where they achieved their greatest popularity. Their first Jubilee recording, "Marie" was released in September, and reached #2 on the R&B charts (#13 Pop). This Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
tune had been a #1 smash for 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...
(with Jack Leonard on vocal) in 1937, and was later a hit for Irish group The Bachelors
The Bachelors
The Bachelors are a popular music group, originating from Dublin, Ireland.-Career:The founding members of the group were Conleth Cluskey , Declan Cluskey , and John Stokes...
.
The Four Tunes' next Jubilee release, "I Understand Just How You Feel" was a bigger hit, climbing to #7 R&B, but even higher (#6) on the Pop charts, a notable achievement for 1953. By this time, the group had leaned closer to rhythm & blues and now had swung back to pop. The group played the black theater circuit and also many white clubs. When they were on a tour with pop singer Joni James
Joni James
Joni James is an American singer of traditional pop music and jazz standards.-Biography:...
, she asked Jimmie Nabbie to write a song for her. The result, "You Are My Love
You Are My Love (1955 song)
"You Are My Love" is a popular song. It was written by Jimmie Nabbie and was published in 1955.The song was written by request by Nabbie for Joni James, for whom it was a major hit. The song was released by MGM Records as catalog number 12066...
", was her big hit of 1955 (which the Four Tunes covered). In late 1959, there were two releases on Crosby (a Las Vegas label that Jimmie Nabbie partly owned). Then, there was a single release on Robin's Nest (as the "Four Tunes And One") in 1962.
After 18 years with the group, Jimmie Nabbie left in 1963, to become a soloist (in 1965, he joined an Ink Spots group to come full circle; he would remain with them until his death); Danny Owens left about the same time. Billy Wells was tapped to fill Nabbie's place and tenor Gaines Steele was brought in to replace Owens. In the mid 1960s, Frank Dawes (tenor and piano) was also brought on board, as a utility singer. The recording career of the 4 Tunes wound down with an LP on the ARA label in 1969 (which not only contained a version of "I Love You For Sentimental Reasons," but also "Whole Lot Of Shaking Going On"). The personnel were: Pat Best, Jimmy Gordon, Billy Wells, Frank Dawes, and Chuck Hampton (drums and vocals).
The group kept going throughout subsequent decades, although Wells left in the 1980s for medical reasons and was replaced by Andre Williams, who in turn made way for Rufus McKay. Pat Best and Jimmy Gordon finally wound the group up in the late 1990s.
Awards and recognition
The Four Tunes were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of FameVocal Group Hall of Fame
The Vocal Group Hall of Fame was organized to honor outstanding vocal groups throughout the world. It is headquartered in Sharon, Pennsylvania, United States. It includes a theater and a museum....
in 2004.