The Dinning Sisters
This versatile close harmony vocal trio, popular in the late '40s and '50s, consisting of Lou (b. Lucille, 29 September 1922, Kentucky, USA; alto) and twins Ginger (b. Virginia; lead) and Jean (b. Eugenia; soprano)—(b. 29 March 1924, Oklahoma, USA). The trio, from a family of five daughters and four sons, were blessed with perfect pitch, and sang together in their church choir from an early age. In their teens, the girls had their own 15-minute local radio show, and later toured clubs and theatres in the mid-west with Herbie Holmes’ orchestra. After moving to Chicago in 1939, they won a five year contract with NBC, and during the early '40s were regulars on programmes such as the BOWMAN MUSICAL MILKWAGON, GARY MOORES’ CLUB MATINEE and the NATIONAL BARN DANCE, and headlined at venues such as the Chez Paree, the Chicago Theatre and the Latin Quarter. A trip to Hollywood led to an appearance with Ozzie Nelson's band in the movie STRICTLY IN THE GROOVE. They also provided vocals for two Walt Disney films, FUN AND FANCY FREE, and MELODY TIME, in which they sang Blame It On The Samba, accompanied by organist Ethel Smith. While on the west coast they signed for Capitol Records, and had several hits in the late '40s, including My Adobe Hacienda, I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now, Beg Your Pardon and the million-seller, Buttons And Bows (1948), accompanied by accordionist Art Van Damme's Quintet. Lou Dinning also made some records of her own, including The Little White Cloud That Cried, Trust In Me, Just Friends and Nobody Else But Me, with Paul Weston's Orchestra. By the mid-50s the Dinning Sisters’ appeal had waned, and they subsequently retired. In 1960 their brother, Mark Dinning, topped the US chart in a very different style, with Teen Angel.