The assembling of the Pied Pipers,
Frank Sinatra and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra was the most formidable of the
Big Band Era.
The
Pied Pipers officially joined Dorsey in January 1940, just before Sinatra, who
was the new boy singer with the band. Both Sinatra and the Pied Pipers
made their recording debut with the Dorsey Orchestra on February 1, 1940.
Much
of the success of the Pied Pipers was due to their distinctive modern harmony
and phrasing which prompted Paul Weston to state that, "The Pied Pipers
were truly ahead of their time.
In April 1940, the Dorsey
Orchestra, combined with the historic Pipers, struck gold with their song
"I'll Never Smile Again." It was a hit for 15 weeks and
remained on the charts for an additional 25 weeks. This memorable song
was the very first hit for Frank and the Pipers. Many more hits followed
such as ....This Love Of Mine, There Are Such Things, Oh, Look At Me Now,
Stardust, The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else, Let's Get Away From It All,
and Put Your Dreams Away For Another Day, which later became Sinatra's theme
song.
The Pied Pipers have
come full circle from the Dorsey / Sinatra Era to today under the skilled
management of lead singer Nancy Knorr. They still carry on the tradition
of vocal expertise with television appearances and national tours throughout
the country. And, most recently they recorded a new album at Capitol
Records...after all these years.