The Merry Macs
The Merry Macs were an American close-harmony pop music quartet active from… Read Full Bio ↴The Merry Macs were an American close-harmony pop music quartet active from the 1920s till the 1960s and best known for the hits “Mairzy Doats,” “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition” and "Sentimental Journey." They also sang on recordings with Bing Crosby.
Formed to play proms in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the group originally consisted of the three McMichael brothers: tenors Judd (1906-1989) and Joe (1916-1944), and baritone Ted (1908-2001). They were discovered by singer-bandleader Eddie Dunstedter. In 1930 the McMichaels, after performing as The Mystery Trio and The Personality Boys, added a female lead singer, Cheri McKay, and changed their name to The Merry Macs.
In 1936 they appeared on several national radio programs, and Cheri McKay was replaced by Helen Carroll. (McKay trained her successor in the group's singing style.)
Vocal quartets had customarily harmonized like barbershop quartets. The Merry Macs revolutionized vocal harmony with closer harmonic chords. This style inspired other groups, like The Modernaires and Six Hits and a Miss. In 1938 The Merry Macs signed with Decca Records and recorded “Pop Goes the Weasel.” The Merry Macs (with Carroll) sang a swing version of "Down by the Old Mill Stream" in the 1939 Vitaphone musical Seeing Red, Red Skelton's first film.
In 1939 Mary Lou Cook (b. 1910) replaced Helen Carroll. This is the foursome that most listeners know from film appearances. The McMichael brothers and Cook appeared as a specialty act in Hollywood movies, including 1940's Love Thy Neighbor, and Universal Pictures gave The Merry Macs their own feature-film series in 1941. Their most famous film is Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942), an Abbott and Costello comedy in which The Merry Macs offer musical interludes. At the time, Mary Lou was married to actor Elisha Cook, Jr.; evidently there were problems because Mary Lou ended both her marriage and her affiliation with The Merry Macs at about the same time.
Marjory Garland (1923-1991) replaced Mary Lou Cook after Ride 'Em Cowboy was filmed. The Merry Macs continued to score on the hit parade; their rendition of "Mairzy Doats" was a best-seller. Garland, who later married Judd McMichael, remained with the group until the 1960s.
Youngest brother Joe McMichael served in the armed forces and was killed in 1944. He was replaced by Clive Erard, then Dick Baldwin, and finally Vern Rowe. The foursome of Judd, Ted, Marjory and Vern continued performing until they retired from show business in 1964.
Formed to play proms in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the group originally consisted of the three McMichael brothers: tenors Judd (1906-1989) and Joe (1916-1944), and baritone Ted (1908-2001). They were discovered by singer-bandleader Eddie Dunstedter. In 1930 the McMichaels, after performing as The Mystery Trio and The Personality Boys, added a female lead singer, Cheri McKay, and changed their name to The Merry Macs.
In 1936 they appeared on several national radio programs, and Cheri McKay was replaced by Helen Carroll. (McKay trained her successor in the group's singing style.)
Vocal quartets had customarily harmonized like barbershop quartets. The Merry Macs revolutionized vocal harmony with closer harmonic chords. This style inspired other groups, like The Modernaires and Six Hits and a Miss. In 1938 The Merry Macs signed with Decca Records and recorded “Pop Goes the Weasel.” The Merry Macs (with Carroll) sang a swing version of "Down by the Old Mill Stream" in the 1939 Vitaphone musical Seeing Red, Red Skelton's first film.
In 1939 Mary Lou Cook (b. 1910) replaced Helen Carroll. This is the foursome that most listeners know from film appearances. The McMichael brothers and Cook appeared as a specialty act in Hollywood movies, including 1940's Love Thy Neighbor, and Universal Pictures gave The Merry Macs their own feature-film series in 1941. Their most famous film is Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942), an Abbott and Costello comedy in which The Merry Macs offer musical interludes. At the time, Mary Lou was married to actor Elisha Cook, Jr.; evidently there were problems because Mary Lou ended both her marriage and her affiliation with The Merry Macs at about the same time.
Marjory Garland (1923-1991) replaced Mary Lou Cook after Ride 'Em Cowboy was filmed. The Merry Macs continued to score on the hit parade; their rendition of "Mairzy Doats" was a best-seller. Garland, who later married Judd McMichael, remained with the group until the 1960s.
Youngest brother Joe McMichael served in the armed forces and was killed in 1944. He was replaced by Clive Erard, then Dick Baldwin, and finally Vern Rowe. The foursome of Judd, Ted, Marjory and Vern continued performing until they retired from show business in 1964.
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The Merry Macs Lyrics
Clap Your Hands Come on, you children, gather around, Gather around, you ch…
Do You Ever Think Of Me When love in to my dreams was creeping I gave…
Dolores How I love the kisses of Dolores Aye-aye-aye Dolores Not Mar…
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles I'm forever blowing bubbles Pretty bubbles in the air They f…
Jingle Jangle Jingle [Chorus:] I've got spurs that jingle jangle jingle As I go r…
Johnson Rag Johnson Flood Mississippi Mud Black Bottom I got 'em Lindy …
Laughing on the Outside The crowd sees me out dancing Carefree and romancing Happy w…
Ma He's Makin' Eyes at Me Little Lilly was oh! So silly and shy And all the…
Ma He's Making Eye's At Me Little Lilly was oh! So silly and shy And all the…
Ma Hes Makin Eyes At Me Little Lilly was oh! So silly and shy And all the…
Ma' He's Makin' Eyes at Me Little Lilly was oh! So silly and shy And all the…
Mairzy Doats I know a ditty nutty as a fruitcake Goofy as a…
Mairzy Doats and Dozy Doats I know a ditty nutty as a fruitcake Goofy as a…
Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition Down went the gunner, a bullet was his fate Down went…
Pretty Kitsy Blue Eyes PRETTY KITTY BLUE EYES The Merry Macs When she walks along…
Sentimental Journey Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease …
Ta-Hu-Wa-Hu-Wai There's a sunny little funny little melody That was started …
The Hut-sut Song In a town in Sweden by a stream so clear…
The Way You Look Tonight Someday, when I'm awfully low And the world is cold I will…
Way You Look Tonight Someday, when I'm awfully low And the world is cold I will…
You Made Me Love You You made me love you I didn't want to do it I…
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on Jingle, Jangle, Jingle
People bop their heads and hum along to these oldies, often not realising what the song's actually about.