1… Read Full Bio ↴Musical groups in three genres have shared the name The Four Aces.
1. The Aces, initially known as "The Four Aces" were a Jamaican vocal group who are best known for their work with Desmond Dekker, but who also recorded without him. The initial line-up of the Aces was Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. The producer employed the group as backing singers for Dekker, recording many hits with him including "The King of Ska" (where they were credited as His Cherry Pies), "Get Up Adinah" (on which they were credited as the Four Aces"), huge hits such as "007 (Shanty Town)" and "Israelites", and the winner of the 1968 Festival Song Contest, "Music Like Dirt". By 1967 the only remaining original member was Barry Howard, along with Winston Samuels. Dekker's international success led to overseas tours, but the Aces were not taken along, Samuels refusing to fly, stating "Rastas did not fly on iron birds", and Barry Howard having already decided to emigrate to the United States. Instead they stayed in Jamaica and recorded without Dekker. They had a Jamaican hit in 1970 with "Mademoiselle Ninette", and by 1971 the line-up had again changed, with Barry now rejoined by Carl Howard. A string of hits followed with "Reggae Motion", "Take a Look", "Oh I Miss You", Call Me Number One", "Be My Baby", and "Sad Sad Song", and they had a near hit in the pop charts in 1973 with "Working on it Night and Day". Little more was heard from the group until 1982 when they released "One Way Street".
2. An American singing quartet which was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001. The group is well-known for a plethora of hits, including: "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing", " Three Coins in the Fountain", "Stranger in Paradise", "Shangri-La", "Perfidia". All of the group's major hits were first performed by the original four members: Al Alberts (originally Albertini), Dave Mahoney, Lou Silvestri, and Rosario "Sod" Vaccaro. Although all were from Chester, Pennsylvania, Alberts and Mahoney actually met in the Navy. They formed a duo, with Alberts singing and Mahoney playing behind him. Later adding Vaccaro on trumpet and Silvestri on drums, the group played in the Philadelphia area. When they could not find a label which would release their record, "(It's No) Sin," Alberts started his own label, Victoria Records. "(It's No) Sin" sold a million copies! DECCA Records soon signed the group, billing them as The Four Aces Featuring Al Alberts. In 1956, Alberts left The Four Aces to try to make it as a soloist, but never made the charts. He was replaced as lead singer by Fred Diodati, another Philadelphia product. Over the years, as the remaining original members left, Diodati chose new singers to replace them. The right to "The Four Aces" name eventually landed in court. In 1975, Diodati was awarded the right to the name and continued to tour under it. The founding members, who again wanted to tour, were allowed to use the name, "The Original Four Aces, Featuring Al Alberts." The latter group retired in 1987. The Four Aces are still touring. (A link to their appearances is listed below.)
3. Cajun fiddler Leo Soileau was the second Cajun musician to record his works. This occurred in the late 1930s. The Four Aces was the name of his second string band (the first had been The Rhythm Boys). Soileau reitred from music in the 1940s with the demise of the string band sound.
Tell Me Why
The Four Aces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me why, why I think of you yet
I know I'll never be free
What has happened to me?
Tell me why, when we danced until three
Tell me why, why my heart couldn't see
I never dreamed of romance
When I think of how you looked that day
In your gown of silk and lace
Should have known the day you came my way
That this was the time and the place
Tell me why I keep fooling my heart
When I know it was love from the start
Why don't we give it a try?
If you know, tell me why
When I think (why) of how (why) you looked that day (why)
In your gown of silk and lace
Should have known (why) the day (why) you came my way (why)
That this was the time and the place
Tell me why I keep fooling my heart
When I know it was love from the start
Why don't we give it a try?
If you know, tell me why
Tell me
Tell me why
The Four Aces's song "Tell Me Why" is a wistful ballad about a love that never came to be. The song begins with the singer trying to forget about their past love, but finding that they can't stop thinking about them. They know deep down that they'll never be free of this love, no matter how hard they try. The song continues to reminisce about a specific moment in time when the singer and their love were dancing until three, but the singer's heart couldn't see that they were meant to be together. They blame themselves for not recognizing it sooner, particularly when they think back to how beautiful their love looked in a gown of silk and lace.
The chorus is a plea for answers and action. The singer asks their love to tell them why they keep fooling their heart and not giving their love a chance. They know that it was love from the start and wonder why they don't at least try to make it work. "Tell Me Why" is a classic example of a love song that's tinged with regret and longing. The lyrics convey the pain of missed opportunities and the frustration of not being able to let go of a love that's passed.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me why, though I try to forget
Explain why I'm not able to forget you even though I try my level best to do so?
Tell me why, why I think of you yet
Can you tell me why you are still in my thoughts, even after all this while?
I know I'll never be free
I have come to the realization that I cannot escape the feeling of being in love with you
What has happened to me?
Why do I feel this way? What caused me to fall in love with you?
Tell me why, when we danced until three
Please explain to me why, after dancing together until late at night, I still can't get you out of my head
Tell me why, why my heart couldn't see
I don't understand why, even though we shared a special moment, I didn't recognize my true feelings for you
I never dreamed of romance
In the past, I never really thought about or considered having romantic feelings for someone
Never gave it a chance
I never allowed myself to experience it fully or give it a fair shot
When I think of how you looked that day
When I cast my mind back to the day I first saw you
In your gown of silk and lace
You were wearing a beautiful outfit made of high-quality fabric
Should have known the day you came my way
I should have realized on the day I first met you that you were going to be important to me
That this was the time and the place
That our meeting was providential, with perfect timing and location
Tell me why I keep fooling my heart
Explain why I can't see the truth about my feelings and continue to deny them
When I know it was love from the start
Deep down, I am aware that I was in love with you from the very beginning of our relationship
Why don't we give it a try?
I am asking whether we should take the next step in our relationship and see if we can make it work
If you know, tell me why
If you have any answers or insights into my confusion about my feelings, please share them with me
Tell me
Overall, this song is an emotional plea from the artist asking for insight into their feelings, specifically regarding a complicated romantic relationship
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Marty Gold, Al Alberts
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@d.od.3463
A great, great singing group. I was 9 years old at the time of this recording, and still, I loved to listen to their music. Of course, my Mom and Dad were great fans. We lived in Pennsylvania to where the Four Aces were from! Great music! I am 80 years old now, and my favorite song of theirs was "Love is a many splendored Thing"
@Pineapple9
In 1951 I was 6 years old. My parents and my older brothers were responsible for introducing this music to me and I will be forever grateful. I have been an entertainer in life and enjoyed very much doing songs by the Four Aces, Four Lads and solo artists. The VietNam War took a lot out of me and I haven't been the same since, but the memories that this music brings back to me is absolutely priceless.
@francisalanwormald6328
1951 I 13 & my 1st dance in cafeteria with my Dad as "DJ"..But I could sing along...4 Aces fan all my life... now at 79 yrs...they still thrill me.. as they did me & my classmates all thru high school....
@francisalanwormald6328
I 2nd my original laudatory sentiment...DISCOVER THE "ACES"!!!!
@rosemaryaloisio7125
Finally met someone older than me. <---78 yrs old. I too, always loved the 4 aces.
@jp3923
I enjoyed your comment immensely. Hope you are still with us. I am 79 also and have such great appreciation of the Four Aces and their music.
@joebiddy3699
Great song--Finally met 2 people older than me - 75
@rhynz0410
Francis Alan Wormald y
@vocalist898
What a lot of memories,In 1951 I was driving for Greyhound in Detroit,Michigan and when we were waiting to go out on a run we would go across the street from the garage to a resturant drink coffee and play this record.
@jeffryhammel3035
Just a cool story... thanks!