Biography
Originating from a musical family of nine children who first honed their vocal harmonies in church before devoting Sunday afternoons to singing for pleasure, the Dinning Sisters formed a bright and harmonious vocal group in the tradition of the Boswell Sisters and the Andrews Sisters. Active across the Midwest throughout the 1940s and early 1950s, the trio of twins Jean and Ginger together with sister Lou captured amateur singing contests before any of them reached the age of ten and soon joined performances with their older brother Ace’s orchestra.
Despite scant experience, their considerable ambition led the young women to leave their Oklahoma hometown for Chicago, where they secured an NBC radio audition. Hired for a seven-year run, they eventually became the highest-paid radio act in the Windy City.
Although the lineup experienced several changes, with Lou replaced in 1946 by Jayne Bundesen and Jayne in turn replaced by Tootsie Dinning in 1952, the group’s Capitol albums sold consistently well; their debut release Songs by the Dinning Sisters held the top spot on the charts for 18 weeks. Marriages and children eventually claimed the act’s focus, yet the family stayed connected to music, ranging from Jean Dinning’s song “Teen Angel” to the sisters’ nephew Dean playing bass for alterna-rockers Toad the Wet Sprocket. In 1988 Collectors Choice issued an outstanding collection of the Dinning Sisters greatest hits that remains well worth exploring.
Despite scant experience, their considerable ambition led the young women to leave their Oklahoma hometown for Chicago, where they secured an NBC radio audition. Hired for a seven-year run, they eventually became the highest-paid radio act in the Windy City.
Although the lineup experienced several changes, with Lou replaced in 1946 by Jayne Bundesen and Jayne in turn replaced by Tootsie Dinning in 1952, the group’s Capitol albums sold consistently well; their debut release Songs by the Dinning Sisters held the top spot on the charts for 18 weeks. Marriages and children eventually claimed the act’s focus, yet the family stayed connected to music, ranging from Jean Dinning’s song “Teen Angel” to the sisters’ nephew Dean playing bass for alterna-rockers Toad the Wet Sprocket. In 1988 Collectors Choice issued an outstanding collection of the Dinning Sisters greatest hits that remains well worth exploring.
Albums
