The Mellomen were a popular singing quartet active from the late 1940s through the mid-1970s. The group was founded by Thurl Ravenscroft and Max Smith in 1948. The Mellomen recorded under a variety of names, including Big John & The Buzzards, The Crackerjacks, The Lee Brothers, and The Ravenscroft Quartet. They were sometimes credited as The Mellowmen, The Mello Men, or The Mellow Men. They sang backup to some of the best-known artists of the day, including Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Arlo Guthrie, Frankie Laine, Peggy Lee, Elvis Presley, and Jo Stafford.
In addition to backing up popular singers, their solo work is part of many Disney films such as Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp and The Jungle Book as well as numerous animated shorts, including Trick or Treat (1952), Pigs is Pigs (1954), Paul Bunyan (1958), and Noah's Ark (1959). Their work for Disney also led to numerous television appearances, beginning with the Disneyland television show episode Cavalcade of Songs, originally broadcast February 16, 1955. The Mellomen were also featured frequently on Disneyland Records, which released their 1958 album Meet Me Down on Main Street. They also sang the ballad to "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh", Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier and the introduction of Zorro. They performed the elephant's singing voice in Jungle Book.
The quartet sang on several films with Elvis Presley, beginning with It Happened at the World's Fair. Elvis wanted the Jordanaires to perform for the film but they were unavailable, so The Mellomen were called in to sing One Broken Heart For Sale and Cotton Candy Land. The Mellomen later backed up Elvis on the title song for the film Roustabout as well as on most of the sound track for Paradise, Hawaiian Style. In 1969, The Mellomen appeared with Elvis in the film The Trouble with Girls, as a gospel group called The Bible Singers. As of 2009, The Mellomen can still be seen as the singing busts in The Haunted Mansion ride in Walt Disney World.
Members
The members of the Mellomen were Thurl Ravenscroft (bass), Bill Lee (baritone), Max Smith (2nd tenor, 1948-1966), Bob Hamlin (lead tenor, 1948-1955), Bob Stevens (lead tenor, 1955-1961), Bill Cole (lead tenor, 1961-1970s), and Gene Merlino (2nd tenor, 1966-1970s).
Sources
- "The Mellomen" at All Things Thurl (an authorized fan site, to which Thurl Ravenscroft contributed)
- Elvis's Backup Singers
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