Gene Puerling

Eugene Thomas Puerling (March 31, 1929 – March 25, 2008) was an American vocal performer and arranger. Puerling created and led two prominent vocal quartets, The Hi-Lo's and The Singers Unlimited. He was nominated for 14 Grammys and awarded the Grammy Award for Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices in 1982.

Early life, musical education and influences

Born in Milwaukee in 1929 to a family of musicians, Puerling had piano lessons but was a largely self-taught musician. A fan of vocal groups like Mel Torme's The Mel-Tones, the Modernaires and the Four Freshmen, Puerling formed a vocal of his own during this time (The Shades), featuring baritone Bob Strasen who would become one of the original Hi-Lo's. After high school Puerling worked as a disc jockey in Milwaukee WI.

Move to Los Angeles, The Hi-Lo's

Moving to Los Angeles in 1950, Puerling got his start by singing on recordings of Les Baxter and Gordon Jenkins. Bandleader and film composer Jerry Fielding encouraged Puerling to arrange for voices and start his own group. Formed in 1952, Puerling's male vocal quartet (The Hi-Lo's) began recording for the small Starlite label in 1953 (became Trend Records and then Trend/Discovery). John Neal of Harmony Sweepstakes said after Puerling's death: "As a craftsman of the art of blending and harmonizing the human voice in song, Gene has no equal." In fall 2014, The University of North Texas College of Music and Music Library acquired the library of arrangements from Gene Puerling's estate.

Works (partial list)

+ Vocal Jazz Arrangements by Gene Puerling (a partial list) Song title Songwriter(s) Arranged for... Album Premiere Sheet Music Publisher Sheet Music Anthology A Child Is Born Thad Jones The Singers Unlimited with Oscar Peterson In Tune (1973) A Foggy Day (In London Town) Gershwin Glad A Cappella Gershwin (1995) A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square Manning Sherwin Manhattan Transfer Mecca For Moderns (1981) Hal Leonard All The Things You Are Jerome Kern / Oscar Hammerstein The Singers Unlimited A Capella III A Time For Love The Singers Unlimited & The Pat Williams Orchestra Feeling Free (1975) Am I Blue Grant Clark, Harry Akst The Gene Puerling Sound Angel Eyes The Singers Unlimited Sentimental Journey (1976) Anything Goes Cole Porter The Singers Unlimited A Capella III April In Paris E. Y. Harburg, Vernon Duke The Singers Unlimited A Capella II (1975) Shawnee Press The Gene Puerling Sound As Time Goes By The Singers Unlimited Sentimental Journey (1976) Autumn In New York Vernon Duke The Singers Unlimited A Capella II (1975) Shawnee Press The Gene Puerling Sound Both Sides Now Joni Mitchell The Singers Unlimited A Capella (1972) Brahms' Lullaby Johannes Brahms Cantabile - The London Quartet Madrigal to McCartney Breathe on Me, Breath of God Acoustix O Worship The King But Beautiful The Singers Unlimited (with...) Invitation (1974) But Not for Me Gershwin Glad A Cappella Gershwin (1995) Button Up Your Overcoat CPP Belwin The Best of Gene Puerling Catherine Patrick Williams The Singers Unlimited with Oscar Peterson In Tune (1973) Cherry The Singers Unlimited (with...) Invitation (1974) Children's Game Billy Blanco, Antonio Carlos Jobim The Singers Unlimited with Oscar Peterson In Tune (1973) Clair Gilbert O' Sullivan The Singers Unlimited A Capella II (1975) Dancing in the Dark Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz Shawnee Press The Gene Puerling Sound Deck The Hall Traditional Welsh Carol The Singers Unlimited Christmas (1972) Shawnee Press Deep Purple The Singers Unlimited Sentimental Journey (1976) Du Ar Det Vackra Jag Ser I Mitt Liv Real Group Varfor Far Man Inte Bara Vara Som Man Ar? Ectasy The Singers Unlimited (with...) Invitation (1974) Embraceable You Glad A Cappella Gershwin (1995) Emily Johnny Mercer The Singers Unlimited A Capella (1972) Shawnee Press The Sound of The Singers Unlimited Fairest Lord Jesus Trad. Hymn Glad Acapella Hymns Feeling Free With Patrick B The Singers Unlimited & The Pat Williams Orchestra Feeling Free (1975) Foreign AffairTom WaitsThe Manhattan TransferExtensions (The Manhattan Transfer album)Unpublished Georgia On My Mind Hoagy Carmichael Hi-Lo's CPP Belwin The Best of Gene Puerling Girl Talk Bobby Troup The Singers Unlimited A Capella II (1975) Green Dolphin Street The Singers Unlimited & The Pat Williams Orchestra Feeling Free (1975) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas The Singers Unlimited Christmas (1972) Here, There And Everywhere Lennon / McCartney The Singers Unlimited A Capella (1972) Shawnee Press Here's That Rainy Day Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen The Singers Unlimited with Oscar Peterson In Tune (1973) How Beautiful is Night The Singers Unlimited Sentimental Journey (1976) I Don't Know Where I Stand Joni Mitchell The Singers Unlimited A Capella II (1975) I Get Along Without You Very Well The Singers Unlimited Sentimental Journey (1976) I Wish You Love Charles Trenet The Singers Unlimited A Capella III I'll Never Smile Again Gold Company 25 I'll Remember April The Singers Unlimited Sentimental Journey (1976) I'm Shadowing You The Singers Unlimited & The Pat Williams Orchestra Feeling Free (1975) If The Singers Unlimited Four of Us (1973) If I Didn't Care The Singers Unlimited Sentimental Journey (1976) In the Still of the Night The Singers Unlimited Sentimental Journey (1976) Indian Summer Al Dubin, Victor Herbert The Singers Unlimited A Capella II (1975) Shawnee Press The Gene Puerling Sound Invitation The Singers Unlimited (with...) Invitation (1974) It Came Upon a Midnight Clear The Singers Unlimited Christmas (1972) It Could Happen to You The Singers Unlimited Four of Us (1973) It Never Entered My Mind Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers The Singers Unlimited with Oscar Peterson In Tune (1973) Ja Da The Singers Unlimited & The Pat Williams Orchestra Feeling Free (1975) Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair Stephen Foster The Singers Unlimited A Capella III Chanticleer Silver Jubilee Anthology (pub. Hinshaw Music) Jennifer's Rabbit The Singers Unlimited Four of Us (1973) Johnny One Note P.M. Singers Jubilee Just In Time Soundsation Sugar & Spice Killing Me Softly with His Song Fox / Gimball The Singers Unlimited A Capella II (1975) Let There Be Love The Singers Unlimited (with...) Invitation (1974) Like Someone In Love Van Huesen / Burke The Singers Unlimited A Capella II 1975) London By Night Carol Coates The Singers Unlimited A Capella (1972) Look Around The Singers Unlimited Four of Us (1973) Lost In The Stars Kurt Weill The Singers Unlimited A Capella II (1975) Chanticleer Silver Jubilee Anthology (pub. Hinshaw Music) Love Is Here To Stay George & Ira Gershwin The Singers Unlimited A Capella III Love Walked In Chanticleer Our American Journey Lullaby Gene Puerling The Singers Unlimited The Complete A Cappella Sessions A Capella (1972) Michelle Lennon / McCartney The Singers Unlimited A Capella (1972) Shawnee Press Mona Lisa The Singers Unlimited Sentimental Journey (1976) More I Cannot Wish You Frank Loesser The Singers Unlimited A Capella (1972) My One and Only Love The Singers Unlimited (with...) Invitation (1974) My Romance Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart The Singers Unlimited A Capella II (1972) My Ship The Singers Unlimited Four of Us (1973) Shawnee Press The Sound of The Singers Unlimited Nature Boy Eden Ahbez The Singers Unlimited A Capella II (1972) On a Clear Day The Singers Unlimited & The Pat Williams Orchestra Feeling Free (1975) Shawnee Press The Sound of The Singers Unlimited Once Upon a Summertime Eddie Barclay, Michel Legrand, Eddy Marnay, Johnny Mercer The Singers Unlimited with Oscar Peterson In Tune (1973) One More Time Chuck Corea Gene Puerling The Singers Unlimited A Capella III Over the Rainbow Alfred Put Your Dreams Away for Another Day The Singers Unlimited Sentimental Journey (1976) Rockin' Chair CPP Belwin The Best of Gene Puerling Sentimental Journey The Singers Unlimited Sentimental Journey (1976) Sesame Street The Singers Unlimited with Oscar Peterson In Tune (1973) Silent Night Franz Xaver Gruber The Singers Unlimited Christmas (1972) Shawnee Press Since You Asked Judy Collins The Singers Unlimited The Complete A Cappella Sessions A Capella (1972) Skylark The Singers Unlimited & The Pat Williams Orchestra Feeling Free (1975) Sleepy Time Gal The Singers Unlimited Sentimental Journey (1976) Snowfall G. Thornhill The Singers Unlimited Four of Us (1973) Shawnee Press So Many Stars The Singers Unlimited & The Pat Williams Orchestra Feeling Free (1975) Someone To Light Up My Life Jobin The Singers Unlimited A Capella III Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child Traditional The Singers Unlimited A Capella III Soon It's Gonna Rain The Singers Unlimited Four of Us (1973) Spring Is Here The Singers Unlimited (with...) Invitation (1974) Stardust Hoagy Carmicheal Vocal Majority I'll Be Seeing You Sweet Lorraine Burwell / Parish The Singers Unlimited A Capella III Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Acoustix O Worship The King The Christmas Song Mel Torme / Robert Wells Notre Dame Glee Club In Dulci Jubilo The Christmas Song Mel Torme / Robert Wells Singers Unlimited? Voice Trek? Chanticleer? The Spirit Of Christmas Hal Leonard The Entertainer Scott Joplin The Singers Unlimited A Capella III The Fool On The Hill Lennon / McCartney The Singers Unlimited A Capella (1972) Hal Leonard The Gentle Rain Luiz Bonfá, Matt Dubey The Singers Unlimited with Oscar Peterson In Tune (1973) The More I See You The Singers Unlimited Sentimental Journey (1976) The Shadow of Your Smile Johnny Mandel, Paul Francis Webster The Singers Unlimited with Oscar Peterson In Tune (!973) CPP Belwin The Best of Gene Puerling The Way We Were Marvin Hamlisch The Singers Unlimited A Capella III Through The Years Ambassadors of Harmony Applause Try To Remember Tom Jones / Harvey Schmidt The Singers Unlimited A Capella (1972) Shawnee Press The Sound of The Singers Unlimited Unforgettable Acoustix All The Best Unforgettable Acoustix Jazz, Jazz, Jazz Violets for Your Furs The Singers Unlimited (with...) Invitation (1974) Wave The Singers Unlimited (with...) Invitation (1974) We Could Be Flying The Singers Unlimited (with...) Invitation (1974) We've Only Just Begun Roger Nichols The Singers Unlimited Four of Us (1973) Shawnee Press The Sound of The Singers Unlimited What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life? Real Group Get Real (1997) & Unreal (2006) Where Is Love? The Singers Unlimited Four of Us (1973) Shawnee Press The Sound of The Singers Unlimited Where Is the Love The Singers Unlimited & The Pat Williams Orchestra Feeling Free (1975) While We're Young Wilder / Palitz Gold Company While We're Young Yesterday Lennon / McCartney The Singers Unlimited A Capella II (1975) Shawnee Press You Are the Sunshine of My Life The Singers Unlimited & The Pat Williams Orchestra Feeling Free (1975) You Made Me Love You James V. Monaco Beachfront Property Beachfront Property You've Got a Friend The Singers Unlimited Four of Us (1973)

Discography (as arranger) + Discography (as arranger) Album Title Label Release Year Performers Listen! Starlite 1954 The Hi-Lo's I Presume Starlite 1955 The Hi-Lo's On Hand Starlite 1956 The Hi-Lo's Under Glass Starlite 1956 The Hi-Lo's The Hi-Lo's And The Jerry Fielding Orchestra Kapp Records 1956 The Hi-Lo's And The Jerry Fielding Orchestra Ring Around Rosie Columbia 1957 Rosemary Clooney And The Hi-Lo's Now Hear This Columbia 1957 The Hi-Lo's With Frank Comstock Suddenly It's The Hi-Lo's Columbia 1957 The Hi-Lo's With The Frank Comstock Orchestra Under Glass London Records 1957 The Hi-Lo's, Frank Comstock And His Orchestra Love Nest Columbia 1958 The Hi-Lo's with Frank Comstock And His Orchestra And All That Jazz Columbia 1958 The Hi-Lo's With The Marty Paich Dek-Tette Reflections in Rhythm with The Hi-Lo's! Tiara Spotlight Series 1958 The Hi-Lo's The Hi-Lo's In Stereo Omega Disk 1959 The Hi-Lo's With The Frank Comstock Orchestra Broadway Playbill Columbia 1960 The Hi-Lo's All Over The Place Columbia 1960 The Hi-Lo's This Time It's Love Columbia 1961 The Hi-Lo's The Hi-Lo's Happen To Folk Songs Reprise Records 1962 The Hi-Lo's With Billy May And His Orchestra The Hi-Lo's Happen To Bossa Nova Reprise Records 1963 The Hi-Lo's Back Again MPS Records 1979 The Hi-Lo's Now Pausa Records 1981 The Hi-Lo's Cherries And Other Delights Hindsight Jazz 1993 The Hi-Lo's Christmas MPS Records, BASF 1972 The Singers Unlimited A Capella MPS Records, BASF 1972 The Singers Unlimited Four Of Us MPS Records, BASF 1973 The Singers Unlimited In Tune BASF, MPS Records 1973 The Oscar Peterson Trio + The Singers Unlimited Invitation MPS Records, BASF 1974 Art Van Damme & The Singers Unlimited A Capella II MPS Records, BASF 1975 The Singers Unlimited Feeling Free MPS Records, BASF 1975 The Singers Unlimited / The Pat Williams Orchestra Sentimental Journey MPS Records 1976 The Singers Unlimited A Special Blend MPS Records, BASF 1975 The Singers Unlimited Friends Pausa Records 1977 The Singers Unlimited Just In Time Pausa Records 1978 The Singers Unlimited Eventide MPS Records 1978 The Singers Unlimited The Singers Unlimited With Rob McConnell And The Boss Brass Pausa Records 1979 The Singers Unlimited With Rob McConnell And The Boss Brass A Capella III MPS Records 1980 The Singers Unlimited Easy To Love Pausa Records 1981 The Singers Unlimited