Skylarks

This vocal group was formed in 1942 when four army servicemen in Panama started touring together. The group contains Bob Sprague (initial tenor), Harry Gedicke (second tenor), Harry Shuman (baritone) and George Becker (lead). When the battle finished the group came back to Detroit, Michigan, where Gilda Maiken became a member of as lead vocalist. Band head Woody Herman asked the group to become listed on his orchestra plus they produced their debut documenting with Herman in 1946 with ‘Celebrities Fell On Alabama’. While in NY the Herman Orchestra split up, however the Skylarks after that fulfilled Bing Crosby, with whom they documented two singles, ‘Ko Ko Mo Indiana’ and ‘Chaperone’. Later on they became a member of Jimmy Dorsey’s orchestra and produced many recordings for MGM before that orchestra split up as well. Undeterred, they shifted to California where these were hired from the music group innovator and trumpet participant Harry Wayne. With trombonist Russ Morgan, the Skylarks got two #1 1 singles with ‘Cruisin’ Down The River’ and ‘Forever And Ever’. Third , they performed live with Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye, Dinah Shoreline, Dean Martin while others, although by this time around just Maiken and Becker continued to be of the initial formation. The substitutes for Gedicke, Shuman and Sprague had been Joe Hamilton, Earl Dark brown and Jackie Gershwin. In the 50s the Skylarks authorized a new agreement with RCA Information and reached quantity 28 with ‘I Got The Craziest Fantasy’, extracted from the film Springtime In The Rockies. Jackie Gershwin changed Carol Lombard as business lead. Through the 50s tv shows of Danny Kaye and Dinah Shoreline they advanced to Sonny And Cher’s 60s displays. The music group finally split up in 1979 having a farewell appearance in the Hollywood Palladium.