Name Ernie Hare Children Marilyn Hare | Role Bass Grandchildren Stephen Parker | |
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Died March 9, 1939, Queens, New York City, New York, United States Albums The Happiness Boys : Don't Bring Lulu People also search for Billy Jones, Al Bernard, Ada Jones | ||
Thomas Ernest Hare (March 16, 1883 - March 9, 1939, Queens, New York) was a bass/baritone who recorded prolifically during the 1920s and 1930s, finding fame as a radio star on The Happiness Boys radio program.
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Career
Hare's recording career began in 1918. He was Al Jolson's understudy in the Broadway musical Sinbad during 1919-20. He recorded with the Cleartone Four, the Crescent Trio, the Harmonizers Quartet, and the Premier Quartet. He made a series recordings with Al Bernard in the late 1910s and the start of the 1920s. As a soloist, he worked under a variety of names (Wallace Daniels, Arthur Grant, Henry Jones, Robert Judson, Walter Lang, Walter Leslie, Roy Roberts, Bob Thomas, Bob Thompson, "Hobo" Jack Turner, and Frank Mann).
After he met Billy Jones in 1919, they teamed in 1920 when Brunswick executive Gus Haenschen had them sing an accompaniment on a Brunswick recording. They went on to do numerous recordings together for Brunswick, Edison and most other major U.S. record companies of the era. Similarities between the two singers were often noted: same height, same weight, and birthdays a few days apart.
They began on radio October 18, 1921 on WJZ in Newark, New Jersey. Sponsored by Happiness Candy, they were heard as the Happiness Boys beginning August 22, 1923 on New York's WEAF, moving to NBC for a run from 1926 to 1929. As the Happiness Boys, they sang popular tunes, mostly light fare and comic songs, with jokes and patter between numbers.
By 1928, they were the highest-paid singers in radio, earning $1,250 a week. After Hare's death in 1939 of bronchopneumonia, Jones continued to perform, teaming in 1939-40 with Hare's 16-year-old daughter, Marilyn Hare (1923-1981). Jones died November 23, 1940. Marilyn Hare went on to a career as an actress in films, Soundies, and television, and she also toured as a vocalist.
Songs
Does the Spearmint Lose It's Flavor
Does the Spearmint Lose Its Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight
Santa Claus Hides in Your Phonograph
Old King Tut
Etiquette Blues
Don't Bring Lulu
Twisting The Dials
I Miss My Swiss
Santa Claus Hides in the Phonograph
I Can't Sleep In The Movies Any
Mr Gallagher and Mr Shean
You Tell Her - I Stutter
Henry's Made A Lady Out Of Lizzie
Down Yonder
The Village Blacksmith Owns The Village Now
I Want to Hold You in My Arms
I Like It
All She’d Say was “Umh-Hum”
Change Your Name - Malinda Lee
You’re My Gal
Nestle in Your Daddy's Arms
Beale Street Mama
In The Little Red School House
She's The Sweetheart Of Six Other Guys
Eddie Leonard Blues
Old Pal - Why Don’t You Answer Me?
My Little Bimbo
Henry Jones
If You Knew Susie
Santa Claus Proves There Is a Santa
Whose Izzy Is He
I Ain't Afraid of Nuthin' Dat's Alive