The Vikings, a radio program offering vocal renditions and light music

Light music

Light music is a generic term applied to a mainly British musical style of "light" orchestral music, which originated in the 19th century and had its heyday during the early to mid part of the 20th century, although arguably it lasts to the present day....

, was broadcast by NBC

NBC

The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...

 during the late 1920s and early 1930s.

The series starred the Vikings, a male quartet under the direction of William Wirges. The group featured Richard Miller and Robert Perry, tenors; Richard Maxwell, baritone; and Charles Pearson, bass.

Their earliest programs in 1926 aired at 8pm on Tuesday; by 1930, they were heard on Sunday evenings. In a broadcast of October 5, 1930, the Vikings performed "The Old Woman in the Shoe" from the musical comedy Lord Byron of Broadway. Later that month they opened the program with "Bye Bye Blues

Bye Bye Blues (song)

"Bye Bye Blues" is a popular and jazz standard written by Fred Hamm, Dave Bennett, Bert Lown, and Chauncey Gray and published in 1930.The year it was introduced it was sung by The Vikings on the NBC radio series, The Vikings. It has been recorded by many artists, but the best-known recording is one...

". In another program, they harmonized on songs from films.

They should not be confused with later music groups also known as the Vikings.