The Ron Hicklin Singers
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The Ron Hicklin Singers were a group of Los Angeles studio singers contracted and organized by Ron Hicklin. They are mostly known as the real singers behind the background vocals on The Partridge Family recordings.
In Los Angeles studio circles in the 1960s through 1980s, they were the vocal equivalent of (and often worked with) The Wrecking Crew, performing backup vocals on thousands of songs, TV and movie themes, and as lead (while remaining anonymous) singers on thousands of radio and television commercials.
Members
[edit]The core group usually consisted of (by voice type):
- Ron Hicklin - lead tenor
- Tom Bähler - tenor
- John Bähler - tenor
- Stan Farber - tenor
- Jim Gilstrap - tenor
- Gene Morford - bass
- Al Capps - bass
- Sally Stevens - soprano
- Edie Lehmann - soprano
- Sandie Hall - soprano
- Carolyn Willis - soprano
- Jackie Ward - alto
- Debbie Hall - alto
- Myrna Matthews - alto
However, this core group was often augmented with other specialist vocalists such as:
- Jim Haas - tenor
- Gene Merlino - tenor
- Jerry Whitman - tenor
- Thurl Ravenscroft - bass (voice of Kellogg's Tony the Tiger[1] of Frosted Flakes cereal for 50 years, and the vocalist for "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch"[2])
- Mitch Gordon - bass
- Bob Tebow - bass
- Andra Willis - soprano
- Linda Dangcil - soprano
- Bob Zwirn - baritone
Motion pictures, television and radio work
[edit]The group performed themes for major motion pictures in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
- M*A*S*H (film)
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, "South American Getaway" written by Burt Bacharach[3]
- The Hunt For Red October, written by Basil Poledouris
- Dances With Wolves, written by John Barry
- Apollo 13, written by James Horner
- Glory, written by James Horner
- Hook, written by John Williams
- Dirty Harry, and Magnum Force, written by Lalo Schifrin
- Out of Africa, written by John Barry
- Death Game, "Dear Old Dad" written by Jimmie Haskell with lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart[4]
- The Mosquito Coast, "Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us" written by William Batchelder Bradbury
- Rosemary's Baby[5]
The group also sang the themes for major hit-TV shows of the period:
- Love, American Style, with lead vocalist John Bähler (opening theme)[6]
- Batman, (opening theme)[7]
- Alvin & The Chipmunks
- Flipper[8]
- That Girl, season 5 opening[9]
- Happy Days, for which Jim Haas sang lead (opening theme)[10]
- Laverne & Shirley, along with lead vocalist Cyndi Grecco (opening theme)[11]
- Wonder Woman, with John Bähler singing lead (season 2 opening)[12]
- Angie, along with lead vocalist Maureen McGovern (opening theme)[13]
In addition, they sang many commercial vocals, including United States advertising campaigns for:
- Kawasaki - "Kawasaki, Let the Good Times Roll"[14]
- Datsun - "Drive a Datsun, then Decide"
- McDonald's - "You Deserve a Break Today", written by Kenny Karen[15]
- Wheaties - "Go Tell Your Mama What The Big Boys Eat", Clio Award Winner
- California Raisins - "Yum, Yum", 2 Clio Awards
- Gatorade - "Gatorade Is Thirst Aid For That Deep Down Body Thirst"
Radio and television station-ID jingle companies throughout the last four decades of the 20th century used the group in their productions, including:
- The Heller Corporation[16]
- Killer Music Broadcast Division
- JAM Creative Productions
- TM Productions (now known as TM Studios, a division of Dial Global Media) on syndicated-radio ID jingle packages including:
- Hot Hits
- Fusion[17]
- The "You" campaign
- Good Feelings
Noteworthy recording work
[edit]The group also sang on recordings credited to:[5]
- Johnny Mandel - "Suicide Is Painless", Theme from M*A*S*H
- The Brady Kids
- Cher - "Dark Lady"
- The DeFranco Family - "Heartbeat - It's a Lovebeat"
- Climax featuring Sonny Geraci - "Precious and Few" (No. 1, U.S. Cash Box Top 100)
- Anita Kerr Singers - the group's mid-'60s-to-early '70s lineup featured Gene Merlino (tenor) and Bob Tebow (bass); Jackie Ward (alto) joined the group in 1969, replacing B. J. Baker
- Gary Lewis & the Playboys - "This Diamond Ring" (No 1, U.S. Billboard Hot 100), "Count Me In", "Save Your Heart For Me" (No 1, U.S. Billboard Easy Listening), "She's Just My Style", "Everybody Loves A Clown"
- Mark Lindsay - "Arizona" (RIAA Gold) and "Silver Bird"
- The Partridge Family - "I Think I Love You"
- Gary Puckett & The Union Gap - "Young Girl" (No. 1, U.S. Cash Box Top 100), "Woman, Woman" (No. 3, U.S. Cash Box Top 100), "Over You" (No. 5, U.S. Cash Box Top 100), and "Lady Willpower" (No. 1, U.S. Cash Box Top 100)
- Paul Revere & the Raiders - "Indian Reservation" (RIAA Gold)
- Sammy Davis Jr. - "The Candy Man" (RIAA Gold)
- Johnny Mathis - "There, I Said it Again"
- Neil Diamond - "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (RIAA Platinum), "Holly Holy", "In My Lifetime"
Works of selected members
[edit]The Bähler Brothers were part of the singing group hired by Ron Hicklin on Hugo Montenegro's Albums.
The Bähler Brothers, Jackie Ward, and Ron Hicklin joined David Cassidy as the singers on the Partridge Family.
- Hugo Montenegro's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Theme[18]
- "MacArthur Park"
- "Suicide Is Painless", Johnny Mandel's theme to the 1970 film M*A*S*H, sung by Ian Freebairn-Smith, Ron Hicklin, John Bähler, and Tom Bähler[19]
- Ron Hicklin did 4 decades as part of the Chipmunks
Member Jackie Ward also had a hit on her own as Robin Ward with the 1963 hit "Wonderful Summer".[20]
Where are they now?
[edit]Below information current as of August, 2023.
John Bähler lives in Branson, Missouri and conducts the "new" Lawrence Welk orchestra as well as running Portraits By Bähler.
Bähler's wife, Janet Lennon-Bähler of the Lennon Sisters, still tours in casinos and resorts around the country as part of an extensive nostalgia circuit, bringing music of the 1940s and 1950s to a new audience.
Tom Bähler, a long-time close associate of composer Quincy Jones as well as being associate producer and arranger of "We Are the World",[21] lives in California's Santa Ynez Valley north of Los Angeles and continues to occasionally produce as well as record. He is also a songwriter of renown, having penned the Bobby Sherman hit "Julie, Do Ya Love Me"[22] and Michael Jackson's "She's Out of My Life".[23]
Ron Hicklin himself retired from the business in the mid-1990s, and lives in Vonore, Tennessee and Ko Olina (on Oahu) with his wife, Trudi.
Discography
[edit]Partial chronological list of albums containing one or more cuts with one or more Ron Hicklin Singers:[24]
There were in addition multiple albums for each below:
- Percy Faith Orchestra and Chorus
- Henry Mancini Orchestra and Chorus
- Ray Conniff Singers (20 additional albums)
References
[edit]- ^ Many Voices of Thurl Ravenscroft (Animated Tribute - Tony the Tiger - Disneyland), 22 August 2018, retrieved 2022-04-11
- ^ You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch, 26 July 2018, retrieved 2022-04-11
- ^ "High Fidelity/Musical America". High Fidelity/Musical America. Vol. 28, no. 2. Billboard Publications. 1978. p. 122.
- ^ Muir, John Kenneth (August 20, 2002). Horror Films of the 1970s. New York, NY: McFarland & Company. p. 463. ISBN 0-786-41249-6.
- ^ a b Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Ron Hicklin Singers Demo - TM Productions - 1974". YouTube. 18 October 2010.
- ^ "Ron Hicklin Singers: "Love American Style" Theme". YouTube. 28 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ Old Batman TV Show Theme Song, 9 December 2007, retrieved 2022-04-11
- ^ FLIPPER THEME, 10 July 2009, retrieved 2022-04-11
- ^ "That Girl Theme last season with vocals". YouTube. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Happy Days Theme song". YouTube. 30 November 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Laverne & Shirley Show Opening". YouTube. 5 May 2007. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Wonder Woman Season 2 - Opening Theme 2". YouTube. 19 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "ANGIE : Season Two Musical Intro - "Different Worlds"". YouTube. 3 October 2008. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Kawasaki Lets The Good Times Roll! Jingle master". YouTube. 19 October 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Ron Hicklin Singers: McDonald's "You Deserve a Break Today"". YouTube. 27 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "REELRADIO Golden Gift - WMAL Heller-Hamilton Music Machine Jingles Composite". Reelradio.com. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Fusion". Studiodragonfly.com. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ The good the bad and the ugly - Theme, 4 July 2009, retrieved 2022-04-10
- ^ Johnny Mandel - Suicide Is Painless (Audio), 30 October 2015, retrieved 2022-04-10
- ^ Robin Ward - Wonderful Summer 1963, 3 October 2006, retrieved 2022-04-10
- ^ WE ARE THE WORLD - Original - 1985, 11 November 2010, retrieved 2022-04-11
- ^ Bobby Sherman - Julie, Do Ya Love Me (1970), retrieved 2022-04-11
- ^ She's Out of My Life, 13 February 2017, retrieved 2022-04-11
- ^ "Discogs - Music Database and Marketplace". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
- ^ Gene Vincent - Crazy Times!, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Eligibles - Along The Trail, 1960, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Eligibles - Love Is A Gamble, 1960, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Lettermen - When I Fall In Love / Smile, 1961, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Eligibles - Mike Fright, 1962, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Zip-Codes - Mustang!, 1964, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Gary Lewis & The Playboys - This Diamond Ring, February 1965, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Gary Lewis & The Playboys - Everybody Loves A Clown, November 1965, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Gary Lewis And The Playboys - A Session With Gary Lewis And The Playboys, August 1965, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Gary Lewis & The Playboys - She's Just My Style, 1966, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Monkees - The Monkees, 1966, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Monkees - More Of The Monkees, 15 August 2006, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Yellow Balloon - The Yellow Balloon, 1967, retrieved 2022-04-20
- ^ The Union Gap Featuring Gary Puckett - Woman, Woman, 10 January 1968, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Gary Puckett & The Union Gap - The New Gary Puckett And The Union Gap Album, December 1969, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Gary Puckett And The Union Gap - Incredible, 9 October 1968, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Hank Thompson And The Brazos Valley Boys - On Tap, In The Can, Or In The Bottle, 1968, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Stan Kenton - Hair, 1969, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Hugo Montenegro - Moog Power, 1969, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Neil Diamond - Touching You, Touching Me, 1969, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Bud Shank With The Bob Alcivar Singers - Let It Be, 1970, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Partridge Family - The Partridge Family Album, 1970, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Ralph Carmichael And The Young People - Young, 1970, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones Featuring David Cassidy - Up To Date, 1971, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Partridge Family - The Partridge Family Sound Magazine, 1971, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones Featuring David Cassidy - A Partridge Family Christmas Card, 1972, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Gabor Szabo - His Great Hits, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Dominic Frontiere - On Any Sunday, 1971, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Raiders - Indian Reservation, 1971, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Beaver & Krause - Gandharva, 21 December 2019, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Michel Colombier - Wings, 1971, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Jack Daugherty - The Class Of Nineteen Hundred And Seventy One, 1971, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Partridge Family - Shopping Bag, 1972, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Partridge Family Starring Shirley Jones Featuring David Cassidy - The Partridge Family Notebook, 1972, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Climax Featuring Sonny Geraci - Climax Featuring Sonny Geraci, 1972, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ B.J. Thomas - Billy Joe Thomas, 1972, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ P.F. Sloan - Raised On Records, 1972, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ David Wagner - D/B/A Crow, 1972, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Sarah Vaughan - Orchestra Arranged And Conducted By Michel Legrand, 1973, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Ray Conniff And The Singers - Without You, 1972, retrieved 2022-04-14
- ^ Ray Conniff - After The Lovin', 1977, retrieved 2022-04-14
- ^ Ray Conniff And The Singers - Love Theme From "The Godfather" (Speak Softly Love), 1972, retrieved 2022-04-14
- ^ The Partridge Family - Crossword Puzzle, 1974, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Gram Parsons - GP, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Ringo Starr - Ringo, 2 November 1973, retrieved 2022-04-14
- ^ Vikki Carr - Live At The Greek Theatre, 1973, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Austin Roberts - The Last Thing On My Mind, 1973, retrieved 2022-04-14
- ^ Vikki Carr - Ms. America, 1973, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Sherman Hayes - Vagabonds Roost, 1973, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Judy Lynn - Naturally, 1973, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Gram Parsons - Grievous Angel, 1978, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Chér - Dark Lady, May 1974, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Mac Davis - Stop And Smell The Roses, 1974, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Paul Williams - A Little Bit Of Love, 1974, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ John Davidson - Touch Me, 1974, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Elkie Brooks - Rich Man's Woman, 1975, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Jack Jones - What I Did For Love, 1975, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ John R. Cash - John R. Cash, 1975, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Sparks - Introducing Sparks, 1977, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Paul Williams - Ordinary Fool, 1975, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Paul Williams - Un Tonto Común, 1975, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Keith Moon - Two Sides Of The Moon, 1975, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Al Kooper - Act Like Nothing's Wrong, 1976, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Cyndi Grecco - Making Our Dreams Come True, 1976, retrieved 2022-04-14
- ^ Shaun Cassidy - Shaun Cassidy, 1977, retrieved 2022-04-19
- ^ Donovan - Slow Down World, May 1976, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Nils Lofgren - Cry Tough, 1976, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Elton John - Blue Moves, 1976, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Tubes - Young And Rich, 1976, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Deanna Edwards - A Song Is A Gentle Thing, 1976, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Jim Weatherly - Pictures & Rhymes, 1976, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Paul Williams - Bugsy Malone (Original Soundtrack Recording), 1976, retrieved 2022-04-14
- ^ Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart - Dolenz, Jones, Boyce & Hart, 1976, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Tennessee Ernie Ford - He Touched Me, 1977, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Wayne Parker - Crepusculo En Oklahoma = Oklahoma Twilight, 1977, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Dominic Frontiere - Washington: Behind Closed Doors (Original Music From), 1977, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Jack Jones - The Full Life, 1977, retrieved 2022-04-14
- ^ a b Shaun Cassidy - Born Late, 1977, retrieved 2022-04-14
- ^ Shaun Cassidy - Under Wraps, 1978, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Leif Garrett - Leif Garrett, 1977, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Marshall Chapman - Jaded Virgin, 1978, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Various - Grease (The Original Soundtrack From The Motion Picture), 1978, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Neil Diamond - You Don't Bring Me Flowers, 1978, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Ray Conniff - Ray Conniff Plays The Bee Gees & Other Great Hits, 1978, retrieved 2022-04-14
- ^ Harvey Mason - Groovin' You, 1979, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Lalo Schifrin - No One Home, 1979, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Westside Strutters - Gershwin '79, 1979, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Alan Price - Lucky Day, 1979, retrieved 2022-04-18
- ^ Jon Byron - Portrait Of Love, 1979, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Carmine Coppola & Francis Coppola - Apocalypse Now - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 1979, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Jerry Lee Lewis - Jerry Lee Lewis, 1979, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Outlaws - Ghost Riders, 1980, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Various - Roadie (Original Motion Picture Sound Track), 1980, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Johnny Van Zant Band - No More Dirty Deals, 18 August 1980, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Reba Rambo & Dony McGuire - The Lord's Prayer - Teach Us To Pray, 1980, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Alan Price - Rising Sun, 1980, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Captain & Tennille - Make Your Move, 1980, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Paul Johnson Vocal Band - Rise Again...He's Alive, 1980, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Frank Sinatra - Trilogy: Past, Present & Future, 1980, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Carpenters - Made In America, 1981, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Sammy Nestico - Dark Orchid, 1981, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ David Essex - Be-Bop The Future, 1981, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Various - The Dukes Of Hazzard, 1982, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Stella Parton - So Far...So Good, 1982, retrieved 2022-04-19
- ^ Jerry Lee Lewis - The Best Of Jerry Lee Lewis Featuring 39 And Holding, 1982, retrieved 2022-04-14
- ^ Reba Rambo, Dony McGuire - Messiah Bright Morning Star, 1982, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Carpenters - Voice Of The Heart, 1983, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Johnny Koonce - Got My Eye On You, 1983, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Howard Keel - And I Love You So, 1984, retrieved 2022-04-14
- ^ Howard Keel - With Love: For Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, 1985, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Harry Connick, Jr. - When My Heart Finds Christmas, November 1993, retrieved 2022-04-19
- ^ Various - Swing Kids (Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack), 1993, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ The Chipmunks - When You Wish Upon A Chipmunk, 1995, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ James Horner - Casper (Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack), 1995, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ James Horner - Apollo 13 (Music From The Motion Picture), 1995, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Elvis Presley - Live A Little, Love A Little & The Trouble With Girls & Charro! & Change Of Habit, 1996, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Vince Gill With Patrick Williams And His Orchestra - Breath Of Heaven: A Christmas Collection, 1998, retrieved 2022-04-14
- ^ Various - Come To The Sunshine: Soft Pop Nuggets From The WEA Vaults, 11 May 2004, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Paul Williams - Here Comes Inspiration, retrieved 2022-04-13
- ^ Ray Conniff - Ray Conniff Plays The Bee Gees & Other Great Hits / I Will Survive, retrieved 2022-04-14
- ^ Jan & Dean - Carnival Of Sound, 16 November 2010, retrieved 2022-04-13
External links
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