Just One of the Great Vocal groups from the 1950's, The Ames Brothers were A close-harmony vocal quartet with only a few equals during the '50s, they hit number one in 1950 with "Sentimental Me," and found their biggest hit three years later with "You, You, You."

Though they were indeed a family group, the Ames Brothers' surname was actually Urick. Joe, Gene, Vic and Ed were all born within four short years of each other in Malden, Massachusetts. After winning a few talent contests in their hometown, the group moved to Boston and began performing in area nightclubs. They soon made the leap to New York and even Los Angeles, and signed to the Coral label in late 1958. After a few moderate hits, they  hit big in early 1950 with a double-sided number one hit, "Rag Mop"/"Sentimental Me." The B-side eventually triumphed over its flip, and the group hit again later in 1951 with "Undecided." The biggest hit of the Ames Brothers' career was 1953's "You You You." Their hits continued during 1954 with "The Naughty Lady of Shady Land", they ended up  on their own television program.

Though the quartet continued to record throughout the '50s, the dawn of the rock era definitely damaged their career; the group managed two Top Ten hits in 1957 ("Tammy," "Melodie d'Amour"), but then folded in 1959. Ed, the youngest Ames brother, continued a performing career and appeared as an Indian named Mingo on the Daniel Boone TV series before hitting the Top Ten as a solo act with 1967's "My Cup Runneth Over." Other songs that significantly  charted by Ed as a solo act were: "Who Will Answer" (1967).  "Try To Remember" (1965) and "Edelweiss".  He also appeared on Broadway.

Over their fifteen-year career, their prolific work notched up 49 U.S. chart entries, 21 of them on the Coral label before signing with RCA Victor.They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998. Ed Ames, as the youngest brother, is the only surviving member of the group. Vic died in a car accident in 1978 at age 52, Gene died of cancer in 1997 at age 74, and Joe died of a heart attack in 2007 at age 86

   Hit singles  1949-1963
        (where available, click on the title to hear the song)

    "You, You, You Are the One" (1949)
    "Can Anyone Explain?" (1950)
    "Rag Mop" (1950)
    "Sentimental Me" (1950)
    "Hawaiian War Chant" (1951)
    "Undecided"/ "Sentimental Journey" (with the Les Brown Orchestra) (1951)
    "Wang Wang Blues" (1951)
    "I Wanna Love You" (1952)
    "String Along" (1952)
    "You, You, You" (1953)
    "The Man with the Banjo" (1954)
    "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane" (also a hit for Archie Bleyer) (1954)
    "My Bonnie Lassie" (1955)
    "Forever Darling" (1956)
    "I Saw Esau" (1956)
    "It Only Hurts for a Little While" (1956)
    "Melodie D'Amour" (1957)
    "Tammy" (a bigger hit for Debbie Reynolds) (1957)
    "Pussy Cat" (1958)
    "A Very Precious Love" (also a hit for Doris Day) (1958)
    "Red River Rose" (1959)
   "China Doll" (1960)
   "Washington Square" (1963, their last national chart song. UNAVAILABLE


          THE AMES BOYS...LIVE!

Be sure to check out our special music list for The Ames Brothers on spotify.com (link)