The Ames Brothers got their beginning in Malden, where all four were born. The act consisted of Joe (born 3 May 1921), Gene (born 13 February 1923), Vic (born 20 May 1925 - died 23 January 1978) and Ed (born 9 July 1927).
Born into a non-professional but musical family, the boys were brought up on classical and operatic music. Their parents, David and Sarah Urick, were Russian Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine who read Shakespeare and semi-classics to their nine children from the time they were old enough to listen.
The brothers formed a quartet with a cousin Lennie, and had been touring United States Army and Navy bases entertaining the troops and were offered a job at the Foxs and Hounds nightclub, one of the fanciest clubs in Boston. This one week engagement turned into several months when the word got around of their appearance. At the time, they were going by the name of the Amory Brothers, a name taken from Vic's middle name and they were becoming quite popular in the area. It was at this time that Joe decided to rejoin the group. He said they were just having too much fun together for him to miss out. Taking their act to New York they got a job with bandleader Art Mooney. One day while at Leeds Publishing Company in search of a song called "Should I" that their mother had asked them to sing, Milt Gabler of Decca Records heard them singing it and had them cut a few sides for Decca Records just before the ban which started in January, 1948.
A year later when the ban was lifted, the Ames Brothers were the first artists to record for Coral Records. The name Amory was shortened to Ames. They were swept into national top billing with their first hit record, "Rag Mop," in January, 1950. Doing radio shows for free at times just for the experience, they later became regulars on such shows as The Arthur Godfrey Hour. One of the first acts to appear on the original Ed Sullivan Show when it was known as Toast of the Town, they made their debut with him when the show was telecast live from Wanamaker's Department Store.
Soon, they were the top paid group in nightclubs and supperclubs everywhere and their popularity on television was nationwide. In 1956 they starred in their own show, The Ames Brothers Show, which was seen on Friday nights. It was the first syndicated television show to be shown in foreign countries.
Over their fifteen year career the prolific Brothers notched up 50 U.S. chart entries, 21 of them on the Coral label before signing with RCA Victor. The group disbanded in the 1960s but Ed Ames went on with a successful singing and acting career, including playing Daniel Boone's sidekick, Mingo, on the successful Daniel Boone television series (1964-1970).
They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998.
Melody D'amour
The Ames Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shoo shoo little bird, go and find my love
Melodie d'amour, serenade at her window
Shoo shoo little bird, sing my song of love
Oh tell her I will wait, if she names a date
Tell her that I care, more than I can bear
For when we are apart, how it hurts my heart
This lovers melody will bring her back to me
Melodie d'amour, take this song to my lover
Shoo shoo little bird, go and find my love
Melodie d'amour, serenade at her window
Shoo shoo little bird, tell her of my love
Oh tell her how I yearn, long for her return
Say I miss her so, more than she could know
For when we are apart, how it hurts my heart
So fly oh fly away and say that I hope and pray
This lover's melody will bring her back to me
Melodie d'amour, serenade at her window
Shoo shoo little bird, tell her of my love.
The lyrics to The Ames Brothers' song "Melodie D'amour" are a plea to a little bird to take a message of love to the singer's beloved. The song's simple melody complements its heartfelt lyrics as it tells the story of a deep longing for a loved one.
As the singer begs the bird to find his love and serenade her at her window, he explains the depth of his feelings for her. He promises to wait for her if she chooses to name a date, tells the bird to let her know just how much he cares, and then goes on to express the pain he feels whenever they are apart.
The theme of separation and longing is a classic one, and "Melodie D'amour" is one of many songs that have explored it over the years. However, the Ames Brothers' rendition of the song remains one of the most touching and evocative, thanks to the emotion that they bring to the lyrics and their distinctive vocal style.
Line by Line Meaning
Melodie d'amour, take this song to my lover
Please deliver this love song to my partner
Shoo shoo little bird, go and find my love
Bird, please go and find my lover
Melodie d'amour, serenade at her window
Sing this love song outside my partner's window
Shoo shoo little bird, sing my song of love
Bird, please sing my love song to my partner
Oh tell her I will wait, if she names a date
Let my partner know that I'll wait for a specific date
Tell her that I care, more than I can bear
Inform my partner how much I care for them
For when we are apart, how it hurts my heart
Express the pain I feel when separated from my partner
So fly oh fly away and say that I hope and pray
Please convey my hope and prayers for a reunion
This lovers melody will bring her back to me
I believe this song of love will reunite us
Oh tell her how I yearn, long for her return
Let my partner know how much I long for their return
Say I miss her so, more than she could know
Communicate how much I miss my partner
Melodie d'amour, serenade at her window
Sing this love song outside my partner's window
Shoo shoo little bird, tell her of my love
Bird, please inform my lover of my love for them
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LEONA GABRIEL SOIME, HENRI GABRIEL SALVADOR, JEAN ALCIDE MARIE MARCLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hamilton59840
Not only he's one of the greatest crooners still living today,
Ed also has a sense of humor, especially back in 1965,
when he was teaching Johnny Carson a
"scientific" method of throwing a tomahawk....
The moment the tomahawk landed between the legs
of the silhouetted target, a blushing Ed Ames
(and everybody in the audience) was in stitches.
Ed was about to pull the tool from the wooden prop,
but Johnny Carson pulled Ed back,
to prevent further embarrassment,
and simply roll with the flow of laughs and inside jokes.
Here's the link to this classic gem:
https://youtu.be/0L5QC9ZJkM8
@seventiesmemories5116
This is CLASSIC early stereo mixing. They always overdid it and isolated the vocals on one speaker, and instrumentals on the other. The result is a song that sounds as if it was recorded on both coasts at the same time.
For some Broadway cast albums, such as Funny Girl, the vocals move from speaker to speaker to mimic the invisible action on a non-existent stage.
And the "beheaded" style graphics against blood-red hearts only adds to the oddness.
Great rendition of a classic 50's song - stick to the mono version!
@WhoDaresWins-B20
I am in tears. I purchased this record with the Ten Shillings my Gran and Grandpa gave me for my 11th Birthday in 1957, and I remember playing it over and over on a new Bush Radiogram my father had not long purchased. I loved the Ames Brothers, The Four Lads et at. Brings back so many good memories.
@nessuno7510
this song is extremely popular in my country, with Hungarian lyrics as well. every time I listen to this, I have goosebumps from head to toe.
@trafikuty
Biz" régen volt az már, amikor Németh Lehel ezt énekelgette...
@TheChitown5
Rest in peace Ed. Class act and fine singer.
@8176morgan
I was down at Fisherman's Warf yesterday when I passed by a guy who was hitting some cymbals with a couple of mallets and had this song playing in the background but without any lyrics. Just the tune. He was earning his daily bread by doing this. I said to myself what a wonderful tune and I know I've heard it before but couldn't place it. Later that night I finally remembered what it was. "Melodie D' Amour", so I decided to listen to the original version of it. A truly great and very catchy song. Hadn't heard it in a long time.😊
@oldwhippersnapper3
I'm just newly learning about the Ames Brothers. What a lovely legacy they have left the world.
@uscgccampbell
Mingo had a great voice. Only older people will get that one. Beautiful song i first heard at age 8. 1957. Beautiful harmony.
@davidlogansr8007
I think Mingo is the only one still alive! Yes, just checked, as of 13 May 2021 he is alive and 93 years old!
@uscgccampbell
Loved Fess Parker both as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. Great shows.
@oliviahackshaw5267
E too !