| Biography | This vocal group was formed in 1942 when four army servicemen in Panama started touring together. The group consisted of Bob Sprague (first tenor), Harry Gedicke (second tenor), Harry Shuman (baritone) and George Becker (lead). When the war ended the group returned to Detroit, Michigan, where Gilda Maiken joined as lead singer. Band leader Woody Herman invited the group to join his orchestra and they made their debut recording with Herman in 1946 with Stars Fell On Alabama. While in New York the Herman Orchestra broke up, but the Skylarks then met Bing Crosby, with whom they recorded two singles, Ko Ko Mo Indiana and Chaperone. Afterwards they joined Jimmy Dorseys orchestra and made several recordings for MGM before that orchestra broke up too. Undeterred, they moved to California where they were hired by the band leader and trumpet player Harry James. With trombonist Russ Morgan, the Skylarks had two number 1 singles with Cruisin Down The River and Forever And Ever. Following this they played live with Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye, Dinah Shore, Dean Martin and others, although by this time only Maiken and Becker remained of the original formation. The replacements for Gedicke, Shuman and Sprague were Joe Hamilton, Earl Brown and Jackie Gershwin. In the 50s the Skylarks signed a new contract with RCA Records and reached number 28 with I Had The Craziest Dream, taken from the film Springtime In The Rockies. Jackie Gershwin replaced Carol Lombard as lead. From the 50s television shows of Danny Kaye and Dinah Shore they progressed to Sonny And Chers 60s shows. The band finally broke up in 1979 with a farewell appearance at the Hollywood Palladium. {allmusic.com} (26 November 2013) |