Southernaires
The Southernaires, organized in 1929, were an American popular vocal group, popular in radio broadcasting of the 1930s and 1940s.[1] They were known for their renditions of spirituals and work songs.[2] In 1942, they won a widely publicized case of hotel discrimination.[3]
The Southernaires | |
|---|---|
 Ray Yeates (tenor, far left), Lowell Peters (second tenor), Jay Stone Toney (baritone), William W. Edmunson (bass, center), and Spencer Odom (accompanist/arranger, far right). | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | United States |
| Years active | 1929–1950s |
Their best known recording, "Nobody Knows De Trouble I've Seen", was released by Decca (2859-B) in 1939. Pianist-arranger Spencer Odom replaced their previous accompanist, Clarence M. Jones, the same year.[4]
In 1948–49, they hosted a 30-minute show, The Southernaires Quartet, on Sundays on the American Broadcasting Company television network.[1]
Work with Frank Buck
In 1950, the Southernaires provided the vocals for the Frank Buck album, Tiger.[5]
Key personnel
- Homer Smith (tenor)
- Lowell Peters (second tenor)
- Jay Stone Toney (baritone)
- William W. Edmunson (bass/narrator)
- Clarence M. Jones (pianist from 1933)
- Ray Yeates (tenor, replacing Smith from 1945 onwards)[1]
- Spencer Odom (pianist/arranger, replacing Jones in 1939)
By 1951, they had only one original member, Edmunson, in their line-up[1]
References
- Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2334. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- Southernaires and Anne Brown. The New York Times. March 10, 1941
- "Negroes Win Judgment In Hotel Discrimination", Christian Science Monitor, (December 18, 1942)
- "Southernaires Heard; Feature Spencer Odom, Pianist, on Program at Town Hall", The New York Times, (January 12, 1948), p 15.
- Lehrer, Steven (2006). Bring 'Em Back Alive: The Best of Frank Buck. Texas Tech University press. pp. x–xi. ISBN 0-89672-582-0.