The Cats and the Fiddle was an African American singing group formed in 1937 in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

and active until 1951, releasing more than 30 gramophone sides during the period. Their instrumentation included a bass (the "fiddle" of the title),

tenor guitar The tenor guitar or four-string guitar is a slightly smaller, four-string relative of the steel-string acoustic guitar or electric guitar. The instrument was initially developed in its acoustic form by Gibson and C.F. Martin so that players o ...

, ukulele and Martin

tiple A tiple (, literally treble or soprano), is a particular type of guitar, typically with 10 or 12 strings but sometimes fewer, and is built in several distinct regional styles. A tiple player is called a ''tiplista''. The first written mention of ...

, a 10-string ukulele-family instrument.Warner, Jay. ''American Singing Groups: A History From 1940 To Today''. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2006; , 9780634099, p. 17 Their

signature song A signature (; from , "to sign") is a depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and intent. Signatures are often, but not always, handwritten or styliz ...

"I Miss You So" has been covered by many artists.

Members

Over the course of years the Cats and the Fiddle experienced a large change over in its members. Below is a list of every person who was a member at some point. * Jimmy Henderson (First Tenor) * Ernie Price (Second Tenor) * Chuck Barksdale (

Bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Wood * Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...

) * Austin Powell (Lead Singer, tenor guitar) * Herbie Mills (Lead Singer) * Lloyd "Tiny" Grimes (First Tenor (voice) and tenor (four-string) guitar) * George Stienbeck (

) * Mifflin "Pee Wee" Branford (First Tenor) * Hank Haslett (Lead Singer) * Emmitt Slay (First Tenor) * Johnny Davis (First Tenor) * Stanley Gaines (

) * Shirley Moore (Singer) * Doris Knighton (Singer)

Musical career

The original members consisted of Jimmy Henderson (First Tenor), Ernie Price (Second Tenor), Chuck Barksdale (

), and Austin Powell (Lead Singer). They were first discovered in 1939, when they were spotted by Lester Melrose, a representative for

Victor Records The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer, incorporated in 1901. Victor was an independent enterprise until 1929 when it was purchased by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and became ...

while performing in

. They were signed to

Bluebird Records Bluebird Records is an American record label best known for its low-cost releases, primarily of children's music, blues, jazz and swing in the 1930s and 1940s. Bluebird was founded in 1932 as a lower-priced subsidiary label of RCA Victor. Bluebi ...

and released their first single "Nuts To You" b/w "Killin' Jive" in August of that year. They were also featured in the film Going Places, singing the song "Jeepers Creepers" with

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. In 1940, their first real hit came with the song "I Miss You So", a mid-tempo ballad penned by Jimmy Henderson which was later redone by

the Orioles The Orioles were an American R&B group in the late 1940s and early 1950s. One of the first vocal groups in R&B, they were early pioneers of the doo-wop sound. Dubbing themselves after Maryland's state bird, the Orioles started the trend of b ...

at a slower tempo. At this time Jimmy Henderson died from

meningitis Meningitis is acute or chronic inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, collectively called the meninges. The most common symptoms are fever, intense headache, vomiting and neck stiffness and occasion ...

and was replaced briefly by Herbie Mills (a former member of the Harlem Harmony Hounds along with Austin Powell) in July 1940 until Tiny Grimes replaces him in January 1941. Shortly after, tragedy struck again and Chuck Barksdale died and was replaced by George Stienbeck. "I Miss You So" (written by Bertha Scott, Jimmy Henderson and Sid Robin) eventually became their best known song, it has been covered by many artists, like

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(1959 single release),

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(1965 single release), Charles Brown, Barry Young,

Nat King Cole Trio Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, alternatively billed as Nat "King" Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's career as a jazz and pop vocalist starte ...

, Tony Scotti, Earl Grant,

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(on ''

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''),

Connie Francis Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero ( ; born December 12, 1937), known as Connie Francis, is a retired American Pop music, pop singer, actress, and top-charting female vocalist of the late 1950s and early 1960s. She is estimated to have sold more th ...

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(on '' Love Scenes''),

Jermaine Jackson Jermaine LaJuane Jacksun (né Jackson; born December 11, 1954) is an American singer, songwriter and bassist. He is known for being a member of the Jackson family. From 1964 to 1975, Jermaine was second vocalist after his brother Michael of the ...

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(on ''Losers, Weepers''), Mel Carter,

Charlie Rich Charles Allan Rich (December 14, 1932July 25, 1995) was an American country singer. His eclectic style of music also blended influences from rockabilly, jazz, blues, soul, and gospel. In the later part of his life, Rich acquired the nickname t ...

, Mickey Gilley,

Chris Connor Mary Jean Loutsenhizer, known professionally as Chris Connor (November 8, 1927 – August 29, 2009), was an American jazz singer. Biography Chris Connor was born Mary Loutsenhizer in Kansas City, Missouri, to Clyde Loutsenhizer and Mabel Sh ...

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(on '' Lonely and Blue''), and

The Mills Brothers The Mills Brothers, sometimes billed The Four Mills Brothers and originally known as Four Boys and a Guitar, were an American jazz and traditional pop vocal quartet who made more than 2,000 recordings that sold more than 50 million copies and g ...

. In 1942, Grimes left the group and was replaced by Mifflin "Pee Wee" Branford for the spot of First Tenor. They did not record anything in 1942 but continued to make appearance for the next two years even after Austin Powell was drafted in 1943. While serving his country he was replaced by Hank Haslett briefly before Herbie Mills returned to the group. The lack of recordings may also be due to the 1942-1944 musicians' union strike. In 1944, the Regis/Manor group of labels signed the Cats and the Fiddle where they re-recorded "I Miss You So" led by Ernie Price. Austin Powell then returned in 1946 to lead the group in "That's My Desire", which was later redone by

the Channels The Channels were an American doo wop group from New York City. History An R&B/soul group of the 1950s, The Channels formed in 1955 around the singers Larry Hampden, Billy Morris, and Edward Dolphin, "Joe"(Bass) and "Rico"(Lead). But soon afte ...

in 1957. In 1947, Pee Wee Branford was replaced by Emmitt Slay briefly, until Johnny Davis took over the spot of First Tenor permanently. In 1948, a fifth member, Shirley Moore, was added to the group. Moore recorded four tracks with the group before being replaced by Doris Knighton.Rosalsky, Mitch. Encyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups. Scarecrow Press, 2002 , 9780810845923. p. 62-64 In 1950, the Cats And The Fiddle recorded "I'll Never, Never Let You Go" with

Gotham Records Gotham Records was an American record label formed by Sam Goode (Goody) and Ivin Ballen in New York City in 1946. In January 1948 Ballen acquired the interest of Goode and became the sole owner. He then moved the company to Philadelphia, Pennsylvani ...

and "Wine Drinker" with

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis after his acquisition of a gramophone manufacturer, The Decca Gramophone Company. It set up an American subsidiary under the Decca name, which bec ...

. They disbanded in 1951 and Powell formed the Austin Powell Quintet, which consisted of former Cats And The Fiddle members Johnny Davis, Stanley Gaines (

), Doris Knighton, as well as Beryl Booker, and Dottie Smith. They recorded two singles, "Some Other Spring" b/w "All This Can't Be True" and "Wishing Well" b/w "Please Consider Me" with Decca before disbanding about a year later.

Discography

BLUEBIRD *8216 Nuts To You/Killin' Jive - 8/39 *8248 Gang Busters/Please Don't Leave Me Now - 9/39 *10484 Killer Diller Man From The South/Thursday Evening Swing - 11/39 *10547 We Cats Will Swing For You/Till The Day I Die - 12/39 *8402 Chant Of The Rain/I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water - 4/40 *8429 I Miss You So/Public Jitterbug No. 1 - 5/40 *8443 When I Grow Too Old To Dream/Left With The Thought Of You - 5/40 *8465 Mister Rhythm Man/Gone - 6/40 *8489 That's On, Jack, That's On/Just A Roamer - 8/40 *8519 Hep Cats Holiday/In The Midst Of A Dream - 9/40 *8535 Nothing/That's All I Mean To You - 10/40 *8560 You're So Fine/Pig's Idea - 11/40 *8585 Hush-A-Bye Love/Swing The Scales - 12/40 *8639 I'll Always Love You Just The Same/One Is Never Too Old To Swing - 2/41 *8665 If I Dream Of You/I'm Gonna Pull My Hair - 4/41 *8685 I'm Singing (So Help Me)/My Darling - 5/41 *8705 Crawlin' Blues/Until I Met You - 5/41 *8847 I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire/Blue Skies - 11/41 *8870 Lawdy-Clawdy/Sighing And Crying - 12/41 *8902 Another Day/Stomp Stomp - 1/42 *8932 Part Of me/Life's Too Short - 2/42 MONTGOMERY WARD (Bluebird masters, leased from Victor) *8519 Killer Diller Man From The South/Thursday Evening Swing - 1940 *8520 We Cats Will Swing For You/Till The Day I Die - 1940 *8521 Chant Of The Rain/I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water - 1940 *8767 I Miss You So/Public Jitterbug No. 1 - 1940 *8768 When I Grow Too Old To Dream/Left With The Thought Of You - 1940 *8769 Mister Rhythm Man/Gone - 1940 *8770 That's On, Jack, That's On/Just A Roamer - 1940 *8904 You're So Fine/Pig's Idea - 1941 *8905 Hush-A-Bye Love/Swing The Scales - 1941 REGIS (subsidiary of Manor) *6000 I Miss You So/My Sugar's Sweet To Me - 2/46 MANOR *1023 Life's Too Short/Romance Without Finance - 6/46 *1037 Please Don't Leave Me Now/Shorty's Got To Go - 8/46 *1038 J.D Blues/Gin Misery Blues acking June Davis- 8/46 *1045 I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water/ alkie Talkie - Rudy Richardson Trio- 12/46 RCA VICTOR (Bluebird reissues) *20-2072 I Miss You So/ ig These Blues - 4 Clefs- 12/46 MANOR *1064 That's My Desire/When Elephants Roost In Bamboo Trees - 3/47 *1067 They Don't Understand/I'm Stuck With You - 3/47 *1078 Where Are You/I'm Gonna Pull My Hair - 7/47 *1086 You're So Fine/Darling Can't We Make A Date - 8/47 *6000 I Miss You So/My Sugar's Sweet To Me - ca. mid-47 RCA VICTOR (Bluebird reissues) *20-2794 Gang Busters/Please Don't Leave Me Now - 1/48 *20-2795 Chant Of The Rain/I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water - 1/48 MANOR *1112 Honey Honey Honey/I'm Afraid Of You - 2/48 *1140 That's What I Thought You Said/The New Look Blues - 9/48 RCA VICTOR (Bluebird reissues) *20-3260 If I Dream Of You/I'm Gonna Pull My Hair - 12/48 GOTHAM *197 I'll Never, Never Let You Go/Start Talking, Baby - 9/49 *239 Do You Love Me/Movin' Out Today - 4/50 ARCO (Manor reissues) *1265 I Miss You So/My Sugar's Sweet To Me - 1950 RCA VICTOR (Bluebird reissues) *50-0077 I Miss You So/ ig These Blues - 4 Clefs- 1950

*48151 Wine Drinker/Lover Boy - 5/50 Decca (as the "Austin Powell Quintet") *48206 Some Other Spring/All This Can't Be True - 4/51 *48251 Wishing Well/Please Consider Me - 9/51 RCA VICTOR (Bluebird reissues) *47-4393 I Miss You So/Another Day - 11/51 *447-0077 I Miss You So/ ig These Blues - 4 Clefs- 1955

References

{{authority control American vocal groups Musical groups from Chicago African-American musical groups Traditional pop music singers American rhythm and blues musical groups Jazz musicians from Illinois