Tune Twisters

The Tune Twisters was an American jazz vocal trio founded in 1934 as The Freshmen by Andy Love, Robert "Bob" Wacker, and Jack Lathrop, who also played guitar. They were featured on radio broadcasts and recorded with jazz artists that included (i) Ray Noble in 1935 (with Noble, the Tune Twisters were initially known as "The Freshmen"), (ii) Bob Crosby in 1935, (iii) Glenn Miller in 1937, and (iv) Adrian Rollini in 1938. The Tune Twisters performed in the 1937 Broadway production, Between the Devil, singing "Triplets." The production ran from December 22, 1937, to March 12, 1938 (93 performances). During the audition, the Tune Twisters were known as the Savoy Club Boys. Lathrop was a member of the Tune Twisters in 1939 when they recorded the first radio jingle of its kind for Pepsi – "Pepsi-Cola Hits the Spot" (aka "Nickel, Nickel"). The trio also performed in two 1935 films, Sweet Surrender and Melody Magic, the latter directed by Fred Waller. Gene Lantham, in 1940, replaced Lathrop, who went on to become guitarist and vocalist with Glenn Miller.

History
Andy Love, Jack Lathrop, and Bob Wacker began singing as a trio around 1928 or 1929 while attending a prep school near New York. Lathrop attended college in New York and Wacker got a job. Around 1933, Love suggested – to Lathrop and Wacker – commercializing their trio. Their launch was unsuccessful, and Love, discouraged, began singing as a soloist with Paul Whiteman. Eventually, the three auditioned for NBC Radio. After the audition, an NBC executive asked, "What do you call yourselves?" "You sure are some tune twisters." Love responded with a grin, "That's our name."

The Tune Twisters made their radio broadcast debut in 1935 as guest artists on a show hosted by Ray Noble, who discovered them in a Westchester County roadhouse nightclub. They continued to work with Noble until he moved to Hollywood to form a new until for the Burns and Allen programs. The trio subsequently performed in vaudeville on their own. They also performed with Fred Allen and Rudy Vallée hours.

In 1938, the Tune Twisters signed with NBC to perform the for the Jell-O Summer Series, starring Jane Froman and her husband, Don Ross (né Donald McKaig Ross; 1899–1971), with the Alfonso D'Artega Orchestra. NBC's Red Network (radio) broadcast the show nationwide, beginning July 4, 1938. The show had previously been hosted by Jack Benny.

Members



 * Love was one of three children born to Andrew Jackson Love, M.D. (1861–1948), and Anita Florence Hemmings (née Annie Williamson Hemmings; 1872–1960).






 * Gene re-married, on June 18, 1947, in Los Angeles, to Miriel Eloise King (maiden; 1917–2001). Dorothy re-married, on December 17, 1947, in Manhattan, to Andy Love.


 * Gene Lanham and Dorothy Lanham – under the name Dorothy Lanham – and also Robert Wacker, sang as members of the Ralph Brewster singers on Frank Sinatra's 1957 recording, "Mistletoe and Holly." In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Lanham served on the board of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Lanham remarried – on June 18, 1947, in Los Angeles – to Miriel Eloise King (maiden; 1917–2001).



Radio (1930s)

 * 1940–1942: WOR; Ramona and the Tune Twisters – broadcast three times a week; sponsored by R&H Brewing Company – Rubsam & Hormann Brewing Co., found by Joseph Rubsam and August Horrmann in Staten Island. The sponsor was known for its theme song sang by the Tune Twisters, the "R&H Beer Song" (©1941), composed by Clarence Gaskill.

Jingles

 * 1938: Pepsi-Cola Jingle (see also Sensory branding)
 * "Pepsi-Cola Hits the Spot" (aka "Nickel, Nickel")
 * The commercial, reportedly, aired over 1.5 million times

Broadway

 * 1937: Between the Devil, the Tune Twisters sang "Triplets," December 22, 1937 – March 12, 1938 (93 performances); during the audition, the Tune Twisters were known as the Savoy Club Boys

Filmography

 * The Tune Twisters performed "Love Makes The World Go 'Round," in the 1935 film, Sweet Surrender – music by Dana Suesse, lyrics by Edward Heyman

Discography

 * The Tune Twisters
 * matrix 38617
 * matrix 38648
 * Recorded September 13, 1934, New York
 * Decca (matrix 38617)
 * Recorded September 13, 1934, New York
 * Decca (matrix 38617)


 * The Tune Twisters
 * Decca 233 (matrix 38647)
 * Recorded September 13, 1934, New York
 * Decca 233 (matrix 38647)
 * Recorded September 13, 1934, New York


 * Victor Young and His Orchestra
 * Hal Burke, vocal
 * The Tune Twisters
 * Recorded March 21, 1935
 * Decca 426
 * Decca 426


 * Victor Young and His Orchestra
 * Featuring Hal Burke and the Tune Twisters
 * From the 1935 film, Go Into Your Dance
 * Decca 418 A
 * (audio via YouTube)
 * (audio via YouTube)


 * Johnny Green and His Orchestra, with Marjory Logan (vocalist) and the Tune Twisters
 * The songs:
 * "I'm Yours" (Tune Twisters)
 * "Body and Soul”
 * "I Wanna Be Loved" (orchestra)
 * Musicians: 2nd pianist (and arranger), Dave Terry
 * From Melody Magic, musical film directed by Fred Waller
 * (audio via YouTube)
 * Musicians: 2nd pianist (and arranger), Dave Terry
 * From Melody Magic, musical film directed by Fred Waller
 * (audio via YouTube)
 * (audio via YouTube)


 * The Decca All Star Revue – 2 two-part productions:


 * Recorded January 15, 1935, New York
 * Part One: "You're the Top," Cole Porter, from Anything Goes
 * Decca 345 A
 * Part Two: "You're the Top"
 * Decca 345 B; matrix 39253


 * Recorded May 20, 1935, New York
 * Decca 473 A; matrix 39529
 * Decca 473 B; matrix 39530
 * Decca 473 B; matrix 39530
 * Decca 473 B; matrix 39530


 * Tune Twisters
 * Side A: "Triplets"
 * Side B: "I'm Against Rhythm"
 * (audio via YouTube)
 * (audio via YouTube)


 * Adrian Rollini His Quintet
 * Recorded June 23, 1938, New York
 * (© 24 August 1938) Harry Bailey (né Harry Preston Bailey; 1909–1984) and Doris Fisher (w&m)
 * (© 10 May 1938) Frank Loesser (words), Hoagy Carmichael (music)
 * Vocalion 4212
 * (Discogs reference)
 * (© 10 May 1938) Frank Loesser (words), Hoagy Carmichael (music)
 * Vocalion 4212
 * (Discogs reference)


 * (© 8 June 1938) Bud Green (words), Albert Stillman (words), Claude Thornhill (music)
 * (© 21 June 1938) Al Hoffman, Al Lewis, Murray Mencher (de) (1898–1991) (w&m)
 * (© 8 June 1938) Bud Green (words), Albert Stillman (words), Claude Thornhill (music)
 * (© 21 June 1938) Al Hoffman, Al Lewis, Murray Mencher (de) (1898–1991) (w&m)
 * (© 21 June 1938) Al Hoffman, Al Lewis, Murray Mencher (de) (1898–1991) (w&m)
 * (© 21 June 1938) Al Hoffman, Al Lewis, Murray Mencher (de) (1898–1991) (w&m)


 * Victor Salon Orchestra, Nathaniel Shilkret (conductor)
 * Recorded June 5, 1940
 * Victor BS-051230
 * "Hello, 'Frisco!"
 * Victor BS-051232
 * Recorded June 5, 1940
 * Recorded June 5, 1940


 * Matrix 73578
 * Matrix 73577
 * Decca 18902
 * Recorded May 17, 1946
 * Matrix 73577
 * Decca 18902
 * Recorded May 17, 1946