Juke-box Wurlitzer 2104 (1957) repertoire performers

Compositions in the repertoire of jukebox Wurlitzer 2104 represent popular music of the mid-twentieth century period. These songs belong to various musical styles - jazz, country, rock'n'roll, R&B. The voices of outstanding vocalists are recorded - Nat King Cole, Jo Elizabeth Stafford, Johnnie Ray, Doris Day, Dick Haymes, Perry Como and many others. They were popular singers from Great Britain, Germany, France, and the USA; their names were familiar to everyone, and the songs that they performed were heard from every radio receiver and juke-box.

Perry Como is an American singer who was widely well-known in the 1940’s - 1950’s. He exclusively collaborated with RCA Records, enlisted in the Top 10 of the American charts in the period from 1943 to 1958 for 42 times. A ballad "Till the End of Time" (1945) contributed to his first serious success and promoted his further solo career. Subsequently, Perry Como hits, such as "Prisoner of Love", "Hoop-De-Doo", "No Other Love", "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)", "Catch A Falling Star" brought him wide popularity.

The level of popularity of a popular vocalist of the mid-twentieth century, Dick Haymes was equal with the fame of Frank Sinatra and Perry Como. Born in Argentina, he moved to the United States at the age of 17. Beginning from 1937, he was working as a vocalist in several big bands. Como collaborated with the orchestras of Tommy Dorsey and Harry James, singer Helen Forrest and The Andrews sisters band. His first solo hit, which brought him major commercial success, was the song "You'll Never Know" (1943). Later he released hits "The More I See You", "Love Letters", "It Might As Well Be Spring" and "Little White Lies".

The peak of the American singer, composer and conductor Johnny Ray creative career was in the 1950’s. Tony Bennett called him "the father of rock'n'roll"; Johnny Ray was considered the pioneer of the genre that made an important contribution to its development. The song "Cry" (1951) from Ray debut album contributed greatly to his development and quite of a sudden raised the young performer to the musical Olympus.

Compositions from the Great American songbook - the best works created in America in the period from 1920 to 1960, the Broadway musicals, works of Tin Pan Alley studios and movies comprised the repertoire of the famous American pop singer Tony Benтett. He studied the art of bel canto with aim to develop his vocal apparatus after returning from soldiering in the World War II. He began his singing career performing swing standards, and the first successful hit by Bennett was the composition "Because of You" (1951). "Cold, Cold Heart" - a hit of the same year, strengthened his fame. The song "Stranger in Paradise" (1954) written to the music of "Polovtsian Dances" by Borodin was the last significant composition in his musical career. The peak of the artist's career was in the 50's, hence with the advent of the rock'n'roll era, the singer’s former popularity was gone.

American vocalist of the 20th century, Jo Stafford, who had a charming deep voice pitch and musicality, was a favorite with the public. Stafford's career was preceded by participation in various musical groups, including The Stafford Sisters and The Pied Pipers ensemble. In 1951, she recorded her main hits - "Make Love to Me" and "You Belong to Me". The singer performed not only pop repertoire, but the compositions containing country music elements as well. Thus, the composition Jumbalaya by Hank Williams became her landmark. When the rock'n'roll era emerged, Stafford performed various musical burlesques, having received the Grammy Award for one of her albums in 1961.

The Platters is an American musical group formed in 1952. One of the most successful vocal groups of the early rock'n'roll era that complied the transition from the music style of the Tin Pan Alley era with the emerging genre. The group performed compositions "Only You", "The Great Pretender" that won first places in the charts. The group popularity in the Soviet Union was promoted by their interpretation of the popular song of the Great Depression period - "Sixteen Tons". The ensemble's lineup was constantly changing.

Frank Robinson nicknamed "Sugar Chile" – an American vocalist and pianist, wunderkind that performed jazz. He received the nickname in the family earlier than his musical career began, later he used it as a stage name. From his early age, Frank demonstrated amazing musical abilities, independently accompanying himself and singing the blues motifs. A self-taught musician, he played the piano, beating the rhythm with his hands and singing in a sonorous, childish voice. When he was three years old, he won Talent competition in Detroit, and in 1946 starred in Hollywood movie "No Leave, no Love". The same year, the young musician took part in the Gala concert in honor of the President Truman. In 1949, Frank received a special permission to join the American Federation of Musicians and recorded his hits at the Capitol Records - "Numbers Boogie" and "Caldonia". In 1952, he stopped his busy musical career, because he decided to devote himself entirely to studying.

The Ames Brothers is a vocal quartet from Massachusetts, the peak of its popularity was in the 50’s. Four brothers - Joe, Gene, Vic and Ed created the vocal group. The hit of 1950 "Sentimental Me” brought them their first success. In 1953 they recorded the song "You, You, You" that made them widely popular. The composition gained the 5th place in the final hit chart of the year in the USA. In 1961, with the imminence of the rock'n'roll era, the group disbanded.

Repertoire of jukebox Wurlitzer allows us to emerge in the atmosphere of the 50’s of the last century. The warm sound of the hits reproduced by the juke-box that brought the world fame to the performers, gives the opportunity to imagine the scenes of everyday life of the mid-20th century and to get into the mood of the era.