(Week of 4/27/02 - 5/3/02)

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SPOTLIGHT ON THE STERLING LABEL!

"Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man"
by Dolores Brown and The Auditones
on Sterling 3002 A
released in 1947

"Always"
by Ace Harris and His Quartet
on Sterling 3008 A
released in 1948

[The above photo provided by Paul Ressler.]

Above Left: Photo of Dolores Brown.

Above: Sterling 3002, released in October 1947, and Sterling 3008, released in January 1948. Dolores Brown had been a vocalist with the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra. Ace Harris had also been a vocalist (and pianist) with the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra. Harris was the pianist and arranger for The Ink Spots in 1940-42. "Bill Doggert" (as shown on above left label) is actually Bill Doggett, who was also a pianist and arranger for The Ink Spots, replacing Harris in 1942.

The Auditones had a previous release with Brown on Sterling (#3001 - "Near You"). They re-recorded a different arrangement of "Near You", without Brown, for Rainbow. Harris had at least one more release on Sterling as Ace Harris Quintet (#3024 - "If You Coulda Then You Shoulda").

Sterling was a New York City label owned by Al Middleman. Their main claim to fame were the first two records by country and western singer, Hank Williams.

Listen to this week's selections:

A) Click on an option below to listen to Streaming Windows Media Player.

"Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" - Dolores Brown/Auditones - Sterling 3002 - 1947
"Always" - Ace Harris and His Quartet - Sterling 3008 - 1948
"BOTH SONGS" NOT FUNCTIONAL!

B) Click on an option below to listen to Downloading Windows Media Player.

"Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" - Dolores Brown/Auditones - Sterling 3002 - 1947 (file size=438KB)
"Always" - Ace Harris and His Quartet - Sterling 3008 - 1948 (file size=535KB)

DYNAMIC

Pittsburgh Courier (September 14, 1940): On the vocal beat as Erskine Hawkins brings his fine band to Chicago this week is lovely Dolores Brown, whose warbling is carrying her far up the theatrical bypaths... [Article provided by Richard Koloda.]

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