Saturday, June 27, 2009

The Kirby Stone 4


In 1958, The Kirby Stone Four released their biggest hit, "Baubles, Bangles And Beads", on the Columbia label. This song, originally from the musical 'Kismet' earned a Grammy Award nomination, and was so closely associated with the group that they re-recorded it on two other occasions - firstly in 1964 on the Warner Bros Records label, and again in 1966, with The Tokens on the BT Puppy Records label, under the name 'The U.S. Double Quartet'.

The Kirby Stone Four were an American vocal ensemble popular in the 1950s and early 1960s.. Kirby Stone founded the group in the years after World War II and began playing clubs in the New York area. They won slots on local television, including The Ed Sullivan Show, and soon after signed to Columbia Records. Several LPs followed, including Baubles, Bangles and Beads; their version of the song "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" became a hit in the U.S. in 1958, reaching #25 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was also nominated for a Grammy award. On the strength of the single, the album reached #13 on the Billboard 200.
Among the backing musicians that played on Kirby Stone Four albums were Jimmy Carroll's orchestra, the Kai Winding Quartet, Alvino Rey, Shelly Manne, and Al Klink. Their style, which melded swing jazz, vocalese, and early rock & roll was referred to as "The Go Sound". They made many appearances on U.S. television shows such as The Judy Garland Show into the mid-1960s. By that time their sound had faded from popularity, and in 1966 they recorded a rock & roll album with The Tokens as the United States Double Quartet. During this time Stone directed several TV variety shows.

btw I think I found Herbert Stone in the 1920 census. Unfortunately he can't qualify as a who's almost who. He was living up in East Harlem.

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