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.
Stella By Starlight
The Ames Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through years of endless springs
The murmur of a brook at eventide
That ripples through a nook where two lovers hide
That great symphonic theme
That's Stella by starlight
And not a dream
She's everything on this earth to me
That great symphonic theme
That's Stella by starlight
And not a dream
My heart and I agree
She's everything on this earth to me
The Ames Brothers' song "Stella By Starlight" is a romantic ballad that expresses the singer's deep love for his beloved, Stella. The lyrics use the imagery of nature and music to convey the depth of his feelings. For example, the song says that Stella is like "the murmur of a brook at eventide" and "that great symphonic theme." These images suggest that Stella is both peaceful and powerful, just like the natural elements they describe.
The song also implies that the singer and Stella have been together for a long time, as the lyrics refer to "years of endless springs." They have found a place of refuge where they can be alone together, hiding in a nook. The repetition of the line "my heart and I agree, she's everything on this earth to me" underscores the depth and intensity of the singer's love.
Overall, "Stella By Starlight" is a tender and heartfelt expression of love that uses nature and music as powerful symbols to convey the depth of feeling.
Line by Line Meaning
The song a robin sings
Like the song of a robin, this love is pure and innocent
Through years of endless springs
This love has lasted through many seasons and years
The murmur of a brook at eventide
The peaceful sound of a brook at twilight represents the calmness in their love
That ripples through a nook where two lovers hide
Their love is a secret, hidden away in a private place
That great symphonic theme
The love between them is like a beautiful, moving symphony
That's Stella by starlight
Their love is like Stella, shining bright in the night sky
And not a dream
Their love is real and not just a fantasy
My heart and I agree
Both his heart and his mind know that his love for Stella is true
She's everything on this earth to me
Stella is his world, his everything
Lyrics © Editora e Importadora Musical Fermata do Brasil Ltda., Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Ned Washington, Victor Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind