Meet The

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

Norma Hames: piano, vocals
Marjorie Hames: bass, vocals
Jean Hames: vibes, vocals

Produced by Art Snider
Engineered by Dave Newberry and Art Snider
Recorded at Newberry Sound Studios, Toronto, Ontario

Artwork
Cover Photo by Robert Ragsdale

Liner notes
MEET THE HAMES SISTERS

Each Friday evening for the past five years, millions of Canadians have been “meeting the Hames Sisters” on Canada’s top rated TV musical show “Country Hoedown”. Another look at the beautiful cover of their first record album will identify them positively for you. From left to right, I have the pleasure of introducing Norma, Marjorie and Jean . . . The Hames Sisters.

Although Norma, the oldest, and Jean the youngest, are married, the girls still meet at the comfortable home of their parents to rehearse. As Marjorie put it, “I still live with Mom and Dad, and anyway, the neighbours are used to the noise!” The “noise” Marjorie refers to is really quite pleasant to hear, and is not confined to singing. In the Hames rec room you’ll find a collection of instruments including: one piano, two bass fiddles, three banjo uks, three standard ukes, one set of vibes, one violin, one saxaphone, one clarinet, and one guitar. A second piano is available, however it is upstairs where it forms a central part of the living room.

The girls’ solid background in music is well founded. Their Dad had his own dance band in Regina back in the thirties. An accomplished musician, himself, he owns the sax and clarinet. It was “Poppa Hames” who arranged the girls’ first three part harmony song. In their own right, the girls are truly professional musicians. Each studied piano for ten years, and then added additional instruments. As an instrumental trio, you’ll find Norma at piano, Marjorie playing bass, and Jean with vibes. Although they’re known primarily as singers, there is no question about their ability as musicians. Marjorie, who still studies bass viol, is the bass player on many Chateau recording sessions.

It is this broad knowledge of music which has helped to make them Canada’s best known girls’ trio. From it they have developed the ability to learn quickly, and to maintain the self discipline necessary to prepare anywhere up to six new pieces of material a week. As a result, their repertoire would take days of non-stop singing to finish.

Since their father did their first vocal arrangement some thirteen years ago the Hames Sisters’ career has moved steadily upwards. From initial appearances in amateur shows, to performances at church and school functions, upon the completion of school, the girls moved through a series of night club appearances which took them throughout the province of Quebec, and into the United States to Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. Back in Canada, their hard work paid off, and led to guest appearances on CBC television in Toronto. These included Pick the Stars, and The Denny Vaughan Show. When they heard that auditions for a new summer show were taking place in 1955, they joined the many hopeful auditionees and were accepted for the show which began as a thirteen-week replacement but is still running as Canada’s top musical variety show after five years, Country Hoedown.

The three young red heads, who started out on “Hoedown” five years ago as three rather nervous girls, have become a polished act whose versatility has broadened them into accomplished performers. A natural for comedy has made them a highlight when a Hoedown script calls for some of the “natural corn” for which the show is known. Just as successfully, the girls can move into a sincere song of a spiritual nature, or swing along with a bright novelty number.

For the past eight years, the Hames Sisters have been working with one arranger and coach. To him belongs a great deal of the credit for their success. A member of one of Toronto’s best known musical families, Art Snider is “the man behind the scene” who is responsible not only for the girls’ vocal arrangements, but also for the fine orchestrations used for this album. It is only natural that Art also acted as orchestra leader and producer of the album and to him goes a great deal of the credit for its success.

Choosing the material for an album is always a difficult task for a singer, but when three singers are involved the choice is even more involved. A chance suggestion that they let their many fans make the choice for them was the final guide in their selection. In five years of network television and hundreds of public appearances, the girls’ fan mail can be counted in the tens of thousands. It was from these letters the songs were chosen, along with three which are personal favourites.

Since the album itself is in answer to many requests, it seems appropriate to use the back cover to answer some of the questions that fans ask the girls. In order of the number of times asked:

Are the girls really sisters? . . . Definitely yes!
Is their hair really red? . . . Naturally so . . . no tint or rinse needed.
Which ones are married? . . . Norma and Jean. Marjorie goes steady with the bass.
Which one is the oldest? . . . Norma. Next is Marjorie, Jean is the baby.
Have they ever appeared on American TV. Yes, The Arthur Godfrey Show, and The Red Foley Show.
Do they ever fight? . . . Naturally . . . they’re sisters aren’t they!
Who is the leader of the group? . . . Norma sometimes, Marjorie sometimes, and Jeannie sometimes.
Have they any brothers or sisters? . . . No . . . just a cat called Clem.
What are their hobbies? . . . Sewing, music, dancing, knitting and cats!

In the four years that I have had the pleasure to be associated with the Hames Sisters, I have always found them a pleasure to be with, considerate of their fellow workers, and conscientious about their own responsibilities. Believe me, it has been a real pleasure to help you Meet the Hames Sisters. I’m sure you will get as much pleasure in listening to their album.
-Dave Thomas.