The Ames Brothers Biography
This family group from Malden, Massachusetts, USA, was consistently popular from the late 40s through the 50s. Brothers Joe Urick (3 May 1924), Gene Urick (b. 13 February 1925), Vic Urick (b. 20 May 1926, d. 23 January 1978, Nashville, Tennessee, USA) and Ed Urick (b. 9 July 1927, Malden, Massachusetts, USA) started singing together in high school and won several amateur contests in their home town. They first sang professionally in Boston, and later in clubs and theatres in New York, Chicago and Hollywood. After recording "A Tree In A Meadow" with Monica Lewis, for the independent Signature label, they signed for Coral Records, later switching to RCA-Victor Records. After minor successes with "You, You, You Are The One" and "Cruising Down The River", they hit number 1 in 1950 with the novelty "Rag Mop"/"Sentimental Me" (a million-seller). During the 50s they were extremely popular in stage shows and on US television, with their skilful blend of comedy and an uncomplicated singing style on bouncy numbers and ballads. They also had four more million-selling records: "Undecided" (backed by Les Brown and his orchestra), "You You You", "The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane" and "Melodie D'Amour". Their other US Top 20 hits were "Can Anyone Explain? (No, No, No!)", "Music! Music! Music!", "Stars Are The Windows Of Heaven", "Oh Babe!", "Wang Wang Blues", "I Wanna Love You", "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart", "String Along", "My Favorite Song", "The Man With The Banjo", "My Bonnie Lassie", "It Only Hurts For A Little While", "Tammy", "A Very Precious Love" and "Pussy Cat". Around the late 50s the group disbanded, but Ed Ames continued as a solo act, appearing frequently on US television. He also had hit singles in 1967 with "My Cup Runneth Over" and "Who Will Answer?", plus several 60s US chart albums.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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