Singers Unlimited, The

Vocal quartet formed by Gene Puerling and Don Shelton, a pair of Hi-Lo’s, and rounded out by Len Dresslar and Bonnie Herman. The group was put together to record commercial jingles, but found themselves having commercial success.

Oscar Peterson recommended them to MPS, a German record company, which subsequently inked them to a recording contract. He even recorded an album with them, In Tune, released in 1971.

Early on, it was obvious that Gene Puerling was an arranging whiz, and he, in tandem with Hans George Brunner-Schwer, combined to create a unique sound, based on sixteen-track recording. The result was that four singers could be made to sound like an entire chorus. Hence “The Singers Unlimited” turned out to be an appropriate moniker for the group.

They released three albums in 1975 alone: A Cappella II, Feeling Free, and Special Blend. In 1976, they collaborated with composer/conductor Robert Farnon on Eventide, the title track of which was written by Gene Puerling. Their last album was Easy to Love, which hit the shelves in 1980. An eponymous album was released in 1982, but it was a re-issue of earlier material.

There have been several re-issues and re-packagings since, the biggest of which is Magic Voices, a seven-CD, comprehensive set of their recordings with MPS. Other recordings include Compact Jazz: The Singers Unlimited, The Singers Unlimited (With Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass) and The Complete A Cappella Sessions.

Members:
Len Dresslar
Bonnie Herman
Gene Puerling
Don Shelton

The Oscar Peterson Trio and The Singers Unlimited Recordings
Sesame Street (Bruce Hart/Joe Raposo/Jon Stone)

The Singers Unlimited recordings
Michelle (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)

Sources:

Singers Unlimited, The

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