The group was formed in 1939 by brothers Al Nevins (guitar) and Morty Nevins (accordion) and their cousin, radio and vaudeville veteran Artie Dunn (vocals, electronic organ). They became a popular nightclub attraction around New York; during an engagement in 1944, they were signed to appear in short musical films for the Soundies movie jukeboxes. They performed nine songs for the cameras.
A review in Billboard in 1942 addressed the group's potential. Referring to a December 13, 1941, remote broadcast from New York's Hotel Piccadilly on NBC Red, Dick Carter wrote: "Here was something out of the ordinary, and very welcome, too. The Three Suns are an electric organ, an accordion and guitar, and they produce some sensational musical effects."[1]
In 1944, the Three Suns scored their first hit record, "Twilight Time"; their version was strictly instrumental and did not feature the lyrics written later by Buck Ram.[2] "Twilight Time" sold over four million copies and was awarded a gold record.[3]
This was followed by "Peg o' My Heart", which was one of the biggest hits of 1947 in the United States. The group was featured in the Alfred Hitchcock film Rope (1948) performing an off-screen "radio sequence", and in Two Gals and a Guy (1951). The band is also notable in that they were reputed to have been the favorite musical group of former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower.[4]
During the 1950s, the group continued to make live appearances with the same personnel, but their RCA Victor recording sessions would often have studio musicians substituting for one or another, because keyboardist Artie Dunn did not read music and guitarist Al Nevins became much more interested in the production end of the record business. The group's popularity began to wane as rock and roll became popular in the mid 1950s, but the group reinvented itself by using its RCA Victor recording sessions as an audio laboratory, employing additional instruments and novel stereophonic effects. These new arrangements became popular among fans of lounge music and exotica.[2] Al Nevins remained with RCA Victor as a producer and arranger until his death in 1965; Morty Nevins then hired studio musicians Fred Mendelssohn and Vinnie Bell and recorded a new stereo album for Musicor in 1966, using the Three Suns name.
The first records released by the Three Suns, during the 1940s and 1950s, were 78 rpm discs. Between 1950 and 1954, RCA Victor issued several 10-inch long play albums. In 1955, the Three Suns released their first 12-inch LP, Soft & Sweet and in 1958, their first stereo LP.
The Three Suns recorded a number of sides for V-Disc in the 1940s, which were only issued by the US Government to the USO units overseas. These sides were reissued on a two-CD set in 1997 by IMC Licensing. Most of the titles were not sequenced on the CD as they appeared on the original 78s.
Albums
Twilight Time (Majestic, M2, 1944) (10 inch)
Beyond the Blue Horizon (Fox Trot Vocal Chorus by Artie Dunn) / Crazy Rhythm (Instrumental Fox Trot) - (DECCA, 69638 & 69636, 1947) (10 inch)
Twilight Time (Varsity, 6001, 1950) (10 inch)
Midnight Time (Varsity, 6048, 1950) (10 inch)
You and the Night and the Music (RCA Victor, 47-4202A, 1951) (7 INCH 45 RPM)
Yours is My Heart Alone (RCA Victor, 47-4202B, 1951) (7 INCH 45 RPM)
Twilight Time (Royale, 1, 1951) (10 inch)
Midnight Time (Royale, 29, 1951) (10 inch)
Three Quarter Time (RCA Victor, LPM-3, 1951) (10 inch)
Hands Across the Table (RCA Victor, LPM-28, 1951)(10 inch)
The Kate Smith Hour (1953) December 29, 1953 episode,[7] which mentions them as having appeared on previous episodes
Captain Chesapeake (1971 to 1990) The theme song was the Bob Crosby tune "Stumbling" by The Three Suns. This theme was played from a 33 rpm at 45 rpm speed.[citation needed]
