Southernaires

The Southernaires

Ray Yeates (tenor, far left), Lowell Peters (second tenor), Jay Stone Toney (baritone), William W. Edmonson (bass, center), and Spencer Odom (accompanist/arranger, far right).
Background information
Origin United States
Years active 1930–1950s

The Southernaires, organized ca 1930, were an American popular vocal group in radio broadcasting of the 1930s and 1940s. They were known for their renditions of spirituals and work songs.[1] In 1942, they won a widely publicized case of hotel discrimination.[2]

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.[3]

In 1948-49, they hosted a 30-minute show, The Southernaires Quartet, Sundays at 7:30pm ET on the American Broadcasting Company television network.

Work with Frank Buck

In 1950, the Southernaires provided the vocals for the Frank Buck record album Tiger.[4]

See also

References

  1. Southernaires and Anne Brown. New York Times. Mar 10, 1941
  2. "Negroes Win Judgment In Hotel Discrimination", Christian Science Monitor (December 18, 1942)
  3. "Southernaires Heard; Feature Spencer Odom, Pianist, on Program at Town Hall", The New York Times (January 12, 1948), p 15.
  4. Lehrer, Steven (2006). Bring 'Em Back Alive: The Best of Frank Buck. Texas Tech University press. pp. x–xi. ISBN 0-89672-582-0.