Ames was born in Malden, Massachusetts to Russian Jewish immigrant parents. He was one of nine children, five boys and four girls. Ames grew up in a poor household, but was educated in Classical and Opera music, as well as in Literature, such as Shakespeare. Ames was very athletic as a child and teenager, but he always knew that music would one day become his future destiny, as well as for his brothers; Gene, Mac, Vic and Joe. Together, while still in high school, the brothers formed a quartet and often won competitions around the Boston area in Massachusetts. Three of the brothers later formed the Amory Brothers quartet and went to New York, where they were hired by bandleader Art Mooney. Abe Burrows, a playwright entertainer at the time who helped the brothers along the way, had suggested the brothers change their names to the Ames Brothers.
They were first signed on with Decca Records in 1948. However, because of the Musician Union's ban, their records from Decca were never released. Instead, they signed on with another label, Coral Records, a subsidiary of Decca. They had their first major hit in the 1950s with the double-sided "Ragg Mopp" and "Sentimental Me". Following this, the Brothers continued to have success throughout the 50s with many hits like "It Only Hurts For a Little While", "Man With The Banjo" and "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane". The brothers also made appearances regularly on variety shows, and even for a short period of time had their very own 15 minute variety show in 1955.
In 1960, The Ames Brothers disbanded, and Ed Ames, pursuing a career in acting, studied at the Herbert Berghoff School. His first starring role was in an Off-Broadway production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, going on to starring performances in The Fantasticks and Carnival!, which was on Broadway. He was also in the national touring company of Carnival.
Although Ames was Jewish, his dark complexion led to his being cast regularly as an American Indian. His greatest success as a stage actor came when he played Chief Bromden in the Broadway production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, opposite Kirk Douglas. Talent scouts at 20th Century Fox saw Ed in the production and invited him to play the Native American Mingo on the television show Daniel Boone.
While playing Mingo on television, Ames developed some skill in throwing a tomahawk. This led to one of the most memorable moments of his career, when he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on April 29, 1965. During the course of the show, Ames and Johnny Carson were discussing Ames' tomahawk throwing abilities. When Ames claimed that he could hit a target from across the room, Carson asked Ames if he could demonstrate this skill. Ames agreed, and a wood panel with a chalk outline of a cowboy was brought on to the stage. Ames proceeded to throw the tomahawk, which hit the "cowboy" in the tip of the crotch. This led to a very long burst of laughter from the audience and Carson's famous ad-libs; "I didn't even know you were Jewish!" and "Welcome to Frontier Bris."
During the 1960s, Ed returned to singing, this time however as a solo artist. He released his first single, "Try to Remember", in 1965. The song barely made the charts. However, a bigger success came in 1967 with "My Cup Runneth Over". The song was both a Pop hit and an Adult Contemporary hit. He had less success on the Pop charts soon after, and only had Adult Contemporary hits. The hits were "When the Snow Is On the Roses", "Time Time" and "Timeless Love". He did make the Pop Top Twenty one last time in his singing career with the song "Who Will Answer" in 1968.
Ames's distinctive baritone is a regular radio presence during Christmas season, too, thanks to his version of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" Written originally in response to the Cuban missile crisis, the song received its best-selling treatment from Bing Crosby in 1962, but Ames's version--recorded a few years later, during the peak of his solo recording career, is in frequent holiday rotation.
They Call The Wind Maria
Ed Ames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For rain and wind and fire
The rain is Tess, the fire is Joe
And they call the wind Maria
Maria blows the stars around
And sends the clouds a flying
Maria makes the mountain sound
Maria, Maria
They call the wind Maria
Before I knew Maria's name
I heard her wail and whining
I had a girl and she had me
And the sun was always shining
But then one day I left my girl
I left her far behind me
And now I'm lost, so God damn lost
Not even God can find me
Maria, Maria
They call the wind Maria
Out here they've got a name for rain
For wind and fire only
But when you're lost and all alone
There ain't no world but lonely
And I'm a lost and lonely man
Without a star to guide me
Maria blow my love to me
I need my girl beside me
Maria, Maria
They call the wind Maria
Maria, Maria
Blow my love to me
Maria
Maria
Maria
" They Call The Wind Maria" is a song written by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe for their 1951 musical play "Paint Your Wagon." This song features a haunting ballad, sung by a lonely miner who calls upon Maria, the mythical wind, to bring back his lost love. In the song, the singer is casting about, lost and alone, and the wind is the only thing that seems to care about his plight. At times, the wind seems almost demonic, sweeping through the mountains and making the trees howl. At other times, it is a gentle and soothing presence, blowing the clouds away and revealing the stars above.
The singer describes how the wind has taken on human qualities in his world. Rain is "Tess" and fire is "Joe," but the wind is Maria. According to him, Maria has the power to move the stars and rattle the mountains like people are dying. The ballad reveals the deep sense of loneliness of the singer, whose only hope is that the wind will help him find his lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
A way out here, they've got a name
For rain and wind and fire
In this remote place, they have a specific name for each natural calamity such as rain, wind and fire.
The rain is Tess, the fire is Joe
And they call the wind Maria
They name the rain Tess, fire Joe and the wind Maria, making Maria unique from the others.
Maria blows the stars around
And sends the clouds a flying
Maria makes the mountain sound
Like folks were up there dying
Maria is exceptionally powerful; she can move the stars and clouds around and creates such a forceful wind that the mountains sound like they could be screaming in agony.
Before I knew Maria's name
I heard her wail and whining
I had a girl and she had me
And the sun was always shining
Even before knowing her name, Ed Ames was aware of Maria's presence through her wailing, while he and his love were still happily living and enjoying the shining sun.
But then one day I left my girl
I left her far behind me
And now I'm lost, so God damn lost
Not even God can find me
Eventually, he left his girl and lost his way, feeling extremely lost that he doesn't believe even God could have found him.
Out here they've got a name for rain
For wind and fire only
But when you're lost and all alone
There ain't no world but lonely
Even though they have different names for natural disasters out here, when lost, lonely, and out of all options, those names are useless against the feeling of emptiness and isolation.
And I'm a lost and lonely man
Without a star to guide me
Maria blow my love to me
I need my girl beside me
Feeling lost and lonely without any guidance, Ed aims his wishes towards Maria, requesting her to blow his love towards him, hoping his girl is by his side once again.
Maria
Maria
Maria
Repeating her name three times shows the significance and impact of her power.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN JAY LERNER, FREDERICK LOEWE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jschuler53
I like this rendition but love Harve Presnell's performance in Paint Your Wagon.
@lanslay7342
Absolutely beautiful and very beautifully done!!🛐👏👍✝️🌹🎆🇺🇸🌄❤️
@lindaspinks8509
I love his voice.. Now the singers scream at you or just fake singing.. He is the real deal!!!! !!!!! I grew up width my mom playing his record's.. So I am hooked on him..just brought 4 of his albums. On CD !!👍👍👍
@delorisames6763
Now i will have to get cds! Love hearing him as a kid! Hard to understand modern-day singers when your half deaf!
@peggybeckwith3479
That makes two,of us. Big fan.
@shriaingnama
@Peggy Beckwith Ed sure sounds manly to me.
@annekress4116
An amazing and powerful voice, I miss hearing him sing. I even miss his appearances on "Daniel Boone". . .I thought he was one handsome hunk all those years ago. . . . .still do, come to think of it!
@lorihoffmann8602
Anne Kress Oh yes!!
@UncleMikeNJ
R.I.P. Ed Ames, 1927-2023. With that voice, he should be remembered for more than just an errant tomahawk throw.
@barryosullivan8697
I always enjoyed Ed Ames. This is a good version of Mariah - also noticed the Robert Goulet version recently. Ed’s single “My Cup Runneth Over” is also great. And Daniel Boone was my favorite show throughout its run!