A Proper Introduction

In the '30s and '40s pure harmonizing male vocal groups were predominantly the domain of black artists such as the Mills Brothers and the Ink Spots with the Golden Gate Quartet leading the way in terms of gospel music. After the war, the Ravens and the Orioles were soon making an impression. The fifties would see the explosive rise of rock'n'roll and with it the meteoric ascent of doo-wop groups, initially black, then mixed and eventually white. However before all this happened there was a vocal quartet that redressed the balance between black and white male harmony groups. The group in question was the Four Aces, who followed in the initial successful footsteps of the Ames Brothers, in the process selling over 20 million records. Hit songs that they recorded in the early '50s such as "Stranger In Paradise", "Three Coins In The Fountain", "La Rosita" and "Mr Sandman" (all included here) placed them firmly in the mainstream of pop aristocracy; a group who always put their heart and soul into their performances.