~ Celebrating Malden’s Jewish History ~ Ed Ames, a legendary singer and actor – Part 2

By Inna Babitskay

In the 1940s, the Urick brothers played for the troops at US Army and Navy bases and performed at charity events. Their harmonic singing was noted, and they got a one-week engagement at one of the prestigious nightclubs in Boston, The Fox and Hounds. However, they could easily win the hearts of the club’s patrons and owners, so their contract was extended for several months. Though Ed was still a high school student, he looked older than 21, which allowed him to sing at clubs.

In 1946, brothers performed at the popular Boston’s Latin Quarter nightclub, which was founded by Lou Walters (the father of outstanding TV journalist Barbara Walters) and later belonged to media magnate Michael Redstone.

When cousin Lennie left the group, Joe Urick had to join it. According to Joe’s daughter Joellen, his mother Sarah asked him to stay with brothers, “Because if they made it, that was four kids out of the ghetto.” And Joe “made a very difficult decision,” forfeiting his dream because “opera was his true love.”

Thus, was born the famous family singing group, later known as the Ames Brothers.

They were not only very musically talented but also unusually tall (all six-footers), athletically built, and good-looking. From the very beginning, they easily charmed their audience with their beautifully sounding voices, natural acting talents, graceful movements on stage, and outgoing personalities.

Quartet’s national-wide career

They decided to try themselves in New York, moved to Woodside in Queens, and began to seek auditions. As Ed recalled, “We were so poor that we walked from our home most every day to New York City because we didn’t have the forty cents in round-trip subway fare. Although our clothes were torn and tattered, they were clean as we visited agencies seeking work.” However, no club owner wanted to hire a male singing group without tenors. Show business’ stereotypes prevented the perception of a vocal magic that was created by the smooth baritones Gene, Vic, and Ed (who often sang the leading part) and Joe’s rich bass. It is interesting that, according to musicologists, siblings can create the best vocal harmony.

They continued their attempts, but were turned down again and again. Sometimes they felt despair but didn’t surrender. The Urick brothers were taught to be resilient, persistent, and courageous and to meet difficulties with humor. Vic’s jokes, as an acknowledged family’s comedian, helped them a lot.

Finally, their efforts were rewarded when they got a job with popular singer and bandleader Art Mooney (1911–1993). Among Mooney’s biggest hits were “I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover,” “Baby Face”, “Bluebird of Happiness” (1948), “Nuttin’ For Christmas” and “Honey-Babe” (1955). Originally from Lowell, Massachusetts, Mooney wanted to help the talented young singers from his native state.

Later, the brothers had a meeting with another prominent person in a musical world, Jacques L. Wolfe (1896–1973). He was a Romanian-born Jewish-American songwriter, who composed music in African American style. Wolfe helped brothers to find a job at the all-African American Apollo Theater in Harlem. Keen observers, very soon they were able to successfully perform African American spiritual songs, being the only Caucasian group who could do it.

The final step in transformation into the popular singing group happened after the meeting with the famous Jewish-American humorist, songwriter, shows’ host, and stage director Abe Burrows (1910–1985). It was Burrows, who advised brothers to change their group’s name to the shorter and easier-pronounced version, Ames. (It is interesting that Ames means “truth” in Yiddish, and there were a few Ames Yiddish newspapers in Boston, NY, and abroad.) Under that name brothers went into the musical history of the USA.

The Ames Brothers sang so charismatically that they could conquer not only the patrons of the Strand and Roxy theaters and Leon and Eddie’s nightclub but even the most serious musical critics. At the beginning of their career, they toured a lot, performing in Hollywood, Washington, Baltimore, Chicago, and other places.

In 1949, the Ames Brothers signed with Coral Records and became the first group to record for this company.

Their first hit, “Forever and Ever,” with the popular orchestra of an American big band leader and arranger Russ Morgan (1904–1969), was recorded in 1949.

The Ames Brothers recorded their great double-sided hit “Rag Mop/Sentimental Me” in the 1950s (with a million records). Later, they made 2.5 million records for “Sentimental Me.”

As Ralph W. Emerson said, “Every artist was first an amateur.” The Ames Brothers had no formal musical or acting education, and, understanding that harmonic singing was not enough, they studied the basics of drama and dancing, making their performances really enchanting.   They combined solo songs, elements of comedy, and impersonations that drew the audience even more.

To be continued…

(Inna Babitskaya is a Malden Historian; a Member of Malden Historical Commission, and Author of historical books “From Maldon to Malden”, “Time of Converse” & “Fellsmere Park – Emerald of Malden”)