The Serendipity Singers

The Serendipity Singers were a 1960s American folk group, similar to the New Christy Minstrels.

The nine-piece band was initially formed as a trio at the University of Colorado; the original three members were Bryan Sennett, Mike Brovsky, and H. Brooks Hatch. Influenced by the success of the New Christy Minstrels, they added multi-instrumentalist John Madden, guitarist Jon Arbenz, bassist Bob Young, and singer Lynn Weintraub. In 1963 they moved to New York City in hopes of signing a recording deal; while there they picked up two more members, Diane Decker and Tommy Tiemann. They played in Greenwich Village and landed spots on the weekly ABC TV show "Hootenanny". [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jpftxqr5ldke~T1 Serendipity Singers] at Allmusic]

Philips Records signed them in 1964 and released their debut album to considerable sales success. The debut single "Don't Let the Rain Come Down (Crooked Little Man)" hit #2 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart and #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1964 (and even managed to top the 17 April 1964 WLS Silver Dollar Survey, right in the middle of Beatlemania); the follow-up, "Beans in My Ears", hit #5 on the AC chart and #30 on the Hot 100 a few months later. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jpftxqr5ldke~T51 Billboard Singles] , Allmusic.com] Their initial success, however, was dampened by the continuing impact of the British Invasion, and within a few short years the group's sound seemed dated to younger audiences. They released five albums on Philips before the end of 1965; United Artists released one LP in 1967, which was the group's final. All of the initial members had left the group by 1970, but modified versions of the group have continued touring into the 2000s. In 1999, eight of the original nine members united for a concert.

The Serendipity Singers' novelty material continues to be played on the Dr. Demento radio show such as "Beans In My Ears" and the Shel Silverstein song "Plastic."

Discography

*"The Serendipity Singers" (Philips, 1964) U.S. #11 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jpftxqr5ldke~T2 Billboard] , Allmusic.com]
*"The Many Sides of the Serendipity Singers" (Philips, 1964) U.S. #68
*"Take Your Shoes Off with the Serendipity Singers" (Philips, 1965) U.S. #149
*"We Belong Together" (Philips, 1965)
*"The Serendipity Singers Sing of Love, Lies, and Flying Festoons" (Philips, 1965)
*"Love Is a State of Mind" (United Artists, 1967)

References