Although I was born in 1958, my mother raised me on the music she loved. I had a portable plastic record player and listened to her old albums; The Four Freshmen, Ella, Stan Kenton, and so many more including my all-time, any genre singer, Mel Torme.
Absolutely, they are ALL so very talented, each play more than one instrument, their harmony is to die for, their phrasing and breath control obviously practiced to perfection! I enjoy everything they sing. They also have performed with some great orchestras over the years.
These guys turned the clock back 60 years for me. I was a disc jockey in New Orleans and had the privilege to Emcee this great group on stage. Unfortunately It was one of the most. embarrassing things to happen to me In my career. I came out on stage to do the introduction and tripped...ooooooooh and fell flat out. After a brief intermission I came out to intro the second half of the Concert and ask the audience to me a hand For making it standing up. The crowd roar with laughter.
I was 14! Most of my friends were listening to Early rock and roll, My father bought our first stereo Record player, along with it was collection of LP Albums. To my great fortune this very album was one in the bundle. I was hooked on Jazz and the Four Freshmen.
I caught this concert at the Charlotte, N.C Colosseum in the Summer of 1958; Sonny Rollins was the lead-in artist, What a great show for a young man to see.
LOVE IT! What a talented bunch of guys! I know it was in the 1950's when they first hit it bigtime, but I didn't hear them until quite a few years later, but I am certainly addicted to their music now!
I have been a Freshmen fan since 1958 and have many of their albums, especially those from the early years. I am a bit disappointed in the recent groups who don't seem to have the "sound" that I have become addicted to over the years. I long for the solid, tight harmony that was their forte during that time span. I guess you can never go home again, even with the fabulous frosh.
After The Four Freshmen became so popular, many groups of three, four, even five tried to duplicate them, but to no avail! They're inimitable! Thankfully, we have their recordings!
I had this album when it first came out, when I was in high school. One year later I saw them in Raleigh as a Freshman at NC State. The program was, I think, this exact album. They looked exactly like this cover, and the sound was this precise program. I was, and am still, amazed at the simplicity of the entire show....a very simple drum set, a few instruments...and the entire thing could not have been more perfect. I was smitten, as it turns out, for life.
The harmonies of The Four Freshmen are timeless, and the boys started a musical movement in 1948 that continues to this day. Their current group continues to carry on their harmonic and instrumental legacy. (They all PLAY as well as SING, and are completely self-contained!) Catch them anywhere you can! I DO!
When I first heard this album, I thought it was just four singers being backed up by a big band. Imagine my reaction when I learned that the Freshmen were playing those instruments and singing live...
Superb Music and sound .... Romantic. It was the perfect compliment to Peter Gunn, The Playboy Club, Jazz, Stan Kenton, New York and Tuxedoes. Music that built a mood, the sound so smooth and perfectly offered. Much reminds memories of College , first loves, second loves, travels to exotic places like Paris, Reo, SanFancisco, Hawaii, Miami Beach, and Aspen. Seasons accentuated with music sounds that encouraged thoughts of each as a cherished time in wonderful times of life and love.
I started listening to the 4F back in the late 1950's (as one of the young folks). Just found the recording Old Folks, meaning I qualify and am now waiting for them to take me away, but before I go; thanks to Ilaylnivag for the music.
I managed to buy "Four Freshmen and Five Trombones" - On a vinyl copy from a small specialist record shop . It is probably available these days on a C.D. . They can be hunted down if you search hard enough..But then again, in these RU-vid days why should you bother? They are just a click away with your mouse!
Haha, no technology involved! That's Ross Barbour's "Leroy" character, you can find some clips of him doing the Leroy bit here on RU-vid. He makes his voice sound like that by contorting his face and mouth a certain way.
It is called buckle speech. It is air in the cheek, not vocal. The singing is done by tightening or loosening the cheek. Very difficult to learn as an adult, he began practicing it as a child.