The Song Spinners

The Song Spinners were an American vocal group which enjoyed a burst of popularity during the 1942–44 musicians' strike. They accompanied Dick Haymes on "You'll Never Know" and several other hits.[1] They had a #1 hit in 1943 with "Comin' In on a Wing and a Prayer".

The Song Spinners
OriginUnited States
GenresVocal
Years active1942 (1942)–1944 (1944)
Associated actsDick Haymes

They also had a hit with "Johnny Zero" (originally known as "Johnny Got a Zero") that peaked on #7 on Billboard chart. The song was inspired by John D. Foley (March 1, 1918 – December 21, 1999), who served in the United States Army Air Forces as a gunner during World War II amd was popularly known as Johnny Zero.[2] In the song, Johnny does poorly in school, with the other children mocking him with "Johnny got a zero" every time he fails a test. However, when he grows up and becomes a fighter pilot, the words take on an entirely different meaning.[3]

In 1948, The Song Spinners recorded "My Happiness" as an a cappella with Ella Fitzgerald.

Membership

Though the membership of The Song Spinners was likely fluid depending on singer availability, the leader of The Song Spinners was Margaret Johnson.

Margaret Johnson

Johnson was born Oct. 24, 1907 in La Grange, Missouri. After graduating from Baylor in 1928, she married fellow singer Travis Johnson and they moved to New York to get into the music business. Margaret did modeling before in 1936, she played Honey Chile on the Bob Hope radio show. She started The Song Spinners to perform background vocals on radio shows. During the 1942–44 musicians' strike, Decca Records hired Margaret to arrange and perform vocal accompaniment for Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, the Dick Haymes hit "You'll Never Know" and "Comin' In on a Wing and a Prayer". Margaret returned to radio after the musicians strike. And she appeared in the early days of TV. Then she got into jingles. Her most famous jingle was "Winston taste good like a cigarette should". Margaret and Travis Johnson retired in 1967 and moved to Dallas. After Travis died in 1970, Margaret performed in seniors homes as a volunteer pianist until her death on May 27, 2007.[4]

Discography

References
  1. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954.
  2. "Johnny Got a Zero". National Museum of the United States Air Force. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  3. Jones, John Bush (2006). The songs that fought the war: popular music and the home front, 1939-1945. Waltham, Massachusetts: Brandeis University. p. 175. ISBN 1-58465-443-0. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  4. "Dallas Morning News Margaret Johnson obituary".


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