Hames Sisters

The Hames Sisters were a Canadian vocal trio made up of Norma Hames (piano), Marjorie Hames (bass), and Jean Hames (vibraphone). They came from a musical family, and their father, who had led his own dance band in Regina in the 1930s, helped shape their early harmony style. Each of the three sisters studied piano for ten years before adding other instruments. The trio began performing around 1946, first gaining attention after winning a Ray Purdy amateur show. Before joining CBC-TV, they appeared at amateur shows, church and school functions, and nightclub dates, later working in Quebec, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. They also made television appearances in Toronto on Pick the Stars and The Denny Vaughan Show, and were credited with appearances on the Arthur Godfrey Show and the Red Foley Show. When auditions were held in 1955 for a new summer CBC television program, the Hames Sisters were selected for what began as a 13-week replacement series and became the long-running Country Hoedown. By 1958 they were already established as regular performers on the program, where they were noted not only as singers but as accomplished musicians. Their first clearly documented single was “Hey Boy” / “One More Kiss” on Regency (R-725X) in 1958, with Art Snider directing the orchestra. The same year, “Hey Boy” was listed at #5 in a Canadian artists’ hits roundup. A Felsted issue of “Hey Boy” / “One More Kiss” was also released in 1958. Other known singles include “For Always” / “Tiger Rag” on Regency (R-772 / R-772X, 1959), “We Were Walking” on Apex (9-76138), and two 1960 Chateau releases: “I Promise” (C102) and “One Song” / “I Smell Something Burning” (C-110). By the time of their LP recordings, the trio had been working with Art Snider for about eight years. He handled their vocal arrangements and orchestrations and also produced their album sessions. Their main LP release was Meet The Hames Sisters, issued as Chateau CLP1004 and also as Canatal CTLP 4019, the two labels being sister companies. The album was recorded at Newberry Sound Studios, Toronto, with Dave Newberry and Art Snider credited as recording engineers, and Art Snider also credited as producer. The LP notes state that their television schedule sometimes required them to prepare as many as six new pieces of material in a week. The LP notes also state that Marjorie Hames played bass on many Chateau recording sessions. In 1964, Meet The Hames Sisters was still being listed in Canadian LP roundups. In RPM’s Annual Music Awards issue dated January 17, 1966, the Hames Sisters placed #3 in the Top Female Vocal Group category, behind The Girlfriends and The Allan Sisters. They were still active in 1968, when they received featured billing on the Canadian Talent Library LP Ray St. Germain with The Hames Sisters (CTLS-1098). The Hames Sisters joined Ray in six of the 12 numbers. The album was recorded at RCA Studios, Toronto in February 1968, with orchestra conducted by Bob McMullin. -Robert Williston Related acts: With Ray St. Germain: https://citizenfreak.com/titles/302110-ray-st-germain-with-the-hames-sisters-orchestra-conducted-by-bob-mcmullin