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April 3, 2008
Gene Puerling - Obituary
San Francisco Chronicle:
Gene Puerling, the Grammy-winning vocal arranger whose intricate, harmonically rich arrangements for the Hi-Lo's and The Singers Unlimited influenced many ensembles, including the Beach Boys, Manhattan Transfer and Take Six, died March 25 in a Marin County hospital of complications from diabetes. He was 78.
Mr. Puerling, who lived in San Anselmo, was one of the great jazz and pop vocal arrangers who expanded the sound of harmony singing. The Hi-Lo's, a quartet formed in Los Angeles in 1953 with Mr. Puerling singing bass-baritone and writing the arrangements, became the most popular jazz-based vocal group of the period. They were heard widely on record, in concert and on TV shows hosted by Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Steve Allen and Nat Cole.
"Any vocal group that didn't listen to the Hi-Lo's was remiss," said jazz singer Jon Hendricks of the legendary vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks and Ross.
"Gene broadened the harmonies, like Bird did with bebop," said Hendricks, comparing Mr. Puerling to pioneering saxophonist Charlie Parker. "The sound of the Hi-Lo's was choral, even though there were only four of them. The way the chords were spread out, they sounded like a choir."
In late 1950s, when the Hi-Lo's were performing at Birdland in New York, Hendricks, Dave Lambert and Annie Ross would sit up front, soak up the sound and try to figure out who was singing lead. "Because the blend was so marvelous, we couldn't find the lead half the time," Hendricks recalled with a laugh.
Born in Milwaukee in 1929, Mr. Puerling took a few piano lessons but was a largely self-taught musician. A fan of vocal groups like Mel Torme's the Mel-Tones, the Modernaires and the Four Freshmen, Mr. Puerling formed a series of vocal groups in high school. One of them, the Shades, featured baritone Bob Strasen, who would become one of the original Hi-Lo's (with baritone Bob Morse and tenor Clark Burroughs, the latter replaced in 1959 by tenor Don Shelton).
Mr. Puerling worked as a Milwaukee disc jockey for a spell before moving to Los Angeles, where he sang on recordings by Les Baxter and Gordon Jenkins. With a push from bandleader and film composer Jerry Fielding, the Hi-Lo's began recording for the small Starlite label, performing Mr. Puerling's arrangements of standards like "She's Funny That Way" and "Have You Met Miss Jones?" Their breakthrough year was 1956, when the quartet became the house vocal group for the nationally televised Rosemary Clooney show and was signed to Columbia Records.
Over the next few years, the Hi-Lo's appeared on the tube with Sinatra, Benny Goodman and other stars, toured with Judy Garland, played major halls like Madison Square Garden and recorded commercial jingles for Hertz Rent a Car and other advertisers. After being dropped from Columbia, the group was signed to Sinatra's Reprise label in the early '60s, recording some of the folk songs and bossa nova numbers popular at the time. But with the advent of rock 'n' roll, the Hi-Lo's, like other older pop groups, went out of vogue, and split in 1964.
Mr. Puerling went to work in the Chicago studios writing and singing commercial jingles. Working with fellow singers Shelton, Len Dresslar and Bonnie Herman, Mr. Puerling began experimenting with the new multi-track recording technology to create a rich, layered choral sound by overdubbing the voices. Called The Singers Unlimited, the quartet made a recording of the Beatles' "The Fool on the Hill" that inspired pianist Oscar Peterson to recommend the group to his record label, MPS of Germany, which put out more than a dozen Singers Unlimited albums.
Mr. Puerling, who was nominated for 14 Grammys, won the award in 1982 for his arrangement of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" for Manhattan Transfer. He also wrote arrangements for Chanticleer, Linda Ronstadt and other artists.
In the late 1970s, Mr. Puerling reunited the Hi-Lo's, with whom he recorded a couple of CDs and performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival and elsewhere around the country. In recent years, he taught workshops at the Marin-based Harmony Sweepstakes.
"As a craftsman of the art of blending and harmonizing the human voice in song, Gene has no equal," said Harmony Sweepstakes producer John Neal.
Mr. Puerling is survived by his wife, Helen. No funeral plans have been announced.
Posted by acapnews at April 3, 2008 7:26 AM
Comments
As a long-time fan of the Hi-los, as well as the Singers Unlimited, I was saddened to hear of Gene's passing. My heartfelt condolences to his wife and family members. I have several of the Hi-lo's CD re-releases--some from many of the original LP's that I have in my collection. Plus, I also purchased the complete "Box Set" of the Singers Unlimited releases. I play them often, and will continue to do so. Gene's artistry and genius will be sorely missed. But, his harmony styles will live forever. As a former musician, I can truly attest to the tremendous talent that Gene possessed. May God Bless his soul and bring comfort and solace to those loved ones mourning his loss.
Sincerely, Bob Pici
Westland, Michigan
Posted by: Bob Pici at April 13, 2008 5:53 PM
From 1989 to 2001, I was one of The Four Freshmen. What led me to this was my obsession
not only for the Freshmen but The Hi-Lo's and
The Singers Unlimited. I mean I have EVERYTHING
all 3 of these groups recorded and I studied them
relentlessly. I guess it paid off given my career path. I had a chance to know Gene fairly
well and his comments to me regarding the solo
album I recorded after leaving the Freshmen meant
the world to me. He was the crown jewel of jazz
vocal groups. I wish he had never stopped recording---we've missed so much. I'm heart broken.....
Posted by: Greg Stegeman at May 8, 2008 1:07 PM
Although I was preparing myself for this news, I am still extremely saddened to hear of Gene Puerling's passing. When I first discovered the Singers Unlimited in 1978, I was so blown away by the genius of the arrangements that I got Gene's phone number from 'Information' and called him up to inquire about how I could get every album they made. He was a perfect gentleman and was very helpful. He even explained how he didn't even have control over most of his Hi-Lo's charts because of copyrights, etc.
In 1983, as a singer with the Dallas Vocal Majority barbershop chorus, I again called Gene and offered to send he and his wife Helen tickets to one of our shows in Berkeley, where we would be performing. I met him at the front door before the show and introduced him to our director. After the show, I had the honor of introducing him to the chorus. We corresponded by mail for a short time afterward. The chance to meet Gene remains one of my greatest thrills. As a self-taught arranger, I have always regarded Gene Puerling as my arranging idol, and I always will. But not only was he an incredible musical genius, he was a very soft-spoken, unassuming, and humble man.
Although I and thousands of other admirers will miss him greatly, he has left his genius for us to enjoy for all time. There will never be another Gene Puerling. God rest his soul. Well done, Gene.
Posted by: Pete Rupay at June 22, 2008 11:16 PM
