Stardusters

History

The Stardusters were founded as a male trio in the mid 1930s. Glen Galyon, Curt Purnell, and Dick Wylder had already established themselves in 1936 as the Stardusters, and in 1939, were featured on NBC radio: The Vitalis Show, featuring George Jessel and his Celebrated Guests. They were also featured in late 1939 and early 1940 with Frank Novak and his Music Creators on the Chiclets program heard over NBC.

May McKim — who had been a singer with an orchestra when she met Curt Purnell, married him on August 10, 1936, in Boston, and settled down to a non-professional home life — eventually joined the trio as a permanent member sometime around 1939. May and Curt divorced in August 1941.

In 1941, Charlie Spivak hired the group, but added June Hutton. The arrangements featured Hutton backed by the trio. While with Spivak's Orchestra, the Stardusters recorded with Glenn Miller (1941), Jimmy Dorsey (1941), and Jack Teagarden and His Orchestra (1941). The group later went on to record with Billie Holiday (1948) and Stan Kenton (1957).

The Stardusters had two notable hits, Brother Bill, and This is no Laughing Matter. And, they sang backup for the Evelyn Knight's hit, A Little Bird Told Me, Decca Records, which became the subject of a landmark court case over covering.

see Federal court case over "covering"

Personnel

May McKim (née Arvilla May McKim; 1917–2004), vocal

June Hutton (1920–1973), vocal †

Harry Glen Galyon (1914–1988), vocal

Ira Curtis "Curt" Purnell (1911–1982), vocal

Harry Richard "Dick" Wylder (1910–1963), vocal

Sonny Burke (1914–1980), arranger

Also

Maureen O'Connor, vocal

Helen O'Connell (1920–1993), vocal

Irene Daye (1918–1971), vocal

† When Hutton left The Stardusters in 1944, Spivak brought in Gene Krupa's vocalist, Irene Daye, whom he later married.

Selected discography

The Stardusters, Swan 8000–8001 (1946)

1. Brother Bill
2. Crystal Paradise
3. Weekend In Havana
4. I Surrender Dear

The Stardusters, Swan 8002–8003 (1947)

1. What Happened, Joe?
2. I Wasn't Born in Ireland
3. Yes, Yes, Honey
4. When You're Not There

Billie Holiday with Bobby Tucker And His Trio, New York, December 10, 1948 Decca (original release)

Billie Holiday (vocal), accompanied by Bobby Tucker (piano), John Levy (bass), Denzil Best (drums), Mundell Lowe (guitar), The Stardusters (vocal quartet that included Johnny Eager, aka Johnny Parker)

Filmography

Pin Up Girl (1944 film) Wikipedia page

Re-released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (DVD) (2006); OCLC 63542807 Re-released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (DVD) (2007); OCLC 859424016

Trocadero (1944 film) Wikipedia page

Re-released by Mill Creek Entertainment (DVD) (2005); OCLC 182760657 Re-released by Mill Creek Entertainment (DVD) (2009); OCLC 688501088

Slightly Terrific (1944 film) IMDb: Slightly Terrific

Beauty Shoppe (1938 short feature) at the Internet Movie Database (currently a Lost Film); OCLC 79297256

Salt Shakers (1938 short feature) at the Internet Movie Database (currently a Lost Film)

Dave Apollon and His Club Casanova Orchestra (1939 short feature) at the Internet Movie Database; OCLC 82681200