The Swingle Singers

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The Swingle Singers is a vocal group formed in 1962 Paris, France with Ward Swingle, Anne Germain, Jeanette Baucomont, and Jean Cussac. Christine Legrand, the sister of composer Michel Legrand, was the lead soprano in the group. There were a total of 8 members in the group: two sopranos, two altos, two tenors, and two bass.

[edit] History

The group, directed primarily by the eponymous Ward Swingle (who once belonged to the famed French vocal group Double Six) began as session singers mainly doing background vocals.

The group can be heard during the instrumental passages from the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

They sang with French pop star Etienne Daho on his song "Timide intimité" from his 1996 album Eden, and with the Style Council on their song "The Story of Someone's Shoe" from the 1988 album Confessions of a Pop Group. (Style Council leader Paul Weller claims the song was inspired by the Swingle Singers' 1967 album with the Modern Jazz Quartet, Place Vendome.)^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Today

The group is now based in London, England. The Swingle Singers are an a cappella group that sometimes uses accompaniment by bass and drums. They produce complicated, technically impressive covers ranging from modern classics (The Beatles) to classical music (Tchaikovsky, Beethoven) to opera (Rossini). Their arrangements are often informed by jazz harmonies and stylings. Other influences included Nat King Cole, various smooth singers and pianists.

The Swingle Singers are also active in classical music. A hit for them was Bach's Air on the G String, recorded with the Modern Jazz Quartet. Luciano Berio wrote his postmodern symphony Sinfonia for eight voices and orchestra with them in mind. They also recorded Ben Johnston's Ci-Git Satie and Visions and Spels. In 2005, their recording of Bach's Prelude in F Minor was incorporated into the hit single They, by Jem Griffiths; the same piece was also used in the 2006 film The Gigolos. In the same year, their recording of Bach's Fugue in G Minor (BWV 578) featured in the film Thank You for Smoking.