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.
Remember
The Ames Brothers Lyrics
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When life was slow and oh, so mellow
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow
Try to remember and if you remember then follow
That no one wept except the willow
Try to remember when life was so tender
And dreams were kept beside your pillow
Try to remember when life was so tender
And love was an ember about to billow
Try to remember and if you remember then follow follow follow
Deep in December it's nice to remember
Although you know snow will follow
Deep in December it's nice to remember
Without a hurt the heart is hollow
Deep in December it's nice to remember
The fire of September that made us mellow
Deep in December it's nice to remember and follow
"Try to Remember" by The Ames Brothers is a nostalgic and reflective song that speaks to the bittersweet feelings of looking back at a past, simpler time. The song begins by recalling a September from the past, a time when life was slow and mellow. The lyrics paint a picture of a tranquil and idyllic world—of green grass, yellow grain, and sunny days—while highlighting the singer's youth and innocence at the time. The repeated refrain of "try to remember" encourages listeners to tap into their own memories of a bygone era, urging them to follow the song's lead in summoning the halcyon feel of the past.
As the song continues, it touches on the themes of lost love and lost innocence, painting them with a dark hue of melancholy. The phrase "life was so tender" is repeated, implying that the emotions the singer was feeling at the time were raw and real, and that the world was a different place then. The image of the willow tree weeping suggests that there was a quality of romantic sadness to the time—perhaps a lost love that was not yet forgotten.
As the song continues, it shifts into a wistful mode, noting that December is a time when it is nice to remember past times, even though the inevitability of snow and winter may be on the horizon. The "fire of September" that "made us mellow" is celebrated, and the listeners are encouraged to follow the song's lead in holding onto that feeling of warmth and contentment, even as winter approaches.
Line by Line Meaning
Try to remember the kind of September
Reflect on the memories of a September long gone by
When life was slow and oh, so mellow
When things moved at a leisurely pace and life was calm and serene
When grass was green and grain was yellow
When the fields were lush and ripe, the harvest was bountiful
When you were a tender and callow fellow
When you were young and inexperienced, yet full of life and hope
Try to remember and if you remember then follow
Recall these happy memories, and let them guide you in life
Try to remember when life was so tender
Think back to a time when life was gentle and fragile
That no one wept except the willow
When sadness was rare, only the weeping willow showed its sorrow
And dreams were kept beside your pillow
When our dreams were close to us, as we fell asleep each night
And love was an ember about to billow
When love was just starting to ignite, a small and smoldering flame
Try to remember and if you remember then follow follow follow
Recall these memories, and let them guide you in your life, always
Deep in December it's nice to remember
Even in December's chill, it's comforting to recall these memories
Although you know snow will follow
Remembering the past is a respite, even though winter will soon be here
Without a hurt the heart is hollow
If you don't have pain or sorrow, your heart is empty
The fire of September that made us mellow
The happiness and warmth of September had a calming effect on us
Deep in December it's nice to remember and follow
Even in winter, remember the past, and use it to guide you in the present
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARVEY SCHMIDT, TOM JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind