Edmund Dantes Urick(July 9, 1927 – May 21, 2023), known professionally asEd AmesorEddie Ames,was an American pop singer and actor.[1]He was known for playing Mingo in the television seriesDaniel Boone,and for hisEasy Listeningnumber #1 hits of the mid-to-late 1960s including "My Cup Runneth Over","Time, Time",and"When the Snow Is on the Roses".He was also part of the popular 1950s singing group with his siblings, theAmes Brothers.[1]
Ed Ames | |
|---|---|
 Ames in 1959 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Edmund Dantes Urick |
| Also known as | Eddie Ames |
| Born | July 9, 1927 Malden, Massachusetts,U.S. |
| Died | May 21, 2023(aged 95) Beverly Hills, California,U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actor |
| Years active | 1947–2023 |
| Labels | Decca,Coral,RCA Victor |
| Formerly of | Ames Brothers |
Early life and career
editAmes was born inMalden, Massachusetts,on July 9, 1927,[2]toJewishparents Sarah (Zaslavskaya) and David Urick, a.k.a. Eurich, who had emigrated from Ukraine.[3][4]He was the youngest of nine children, five boys and four girls.[4]
Ames grew up in a poor household.[4]He attended theBoston Latin Schooland was educated inclassicaland opera music, as well as literature. While still in high school, the brothers formed a quartet and often won competitions around theBostonarea. Three of the brothers later formed the Amory Brothers quartet and went to New York City, where they were hired by bandleaderArt Mooney.PlaywrightAbe Burrowshelped the brothers along the way, suggesting the siblings change their group's name to the Ames Brothers.[4]
The Ames Brothers were first signed on withDecca Recordsin 1947, but because of the Musician Union's ban in 1948, a holdover from the1942–1944 musicians' strike,Decca released only three singles by the brothers, and one backing Russ Morgan. As the ban was ending, they signed withCoral Records,a subsidiary of Decca. They had their first major hit in the 1950s with the double-sided "Rag Mop"and" Sentimental Me ". The brothers later joinedRCA Victorrecords and continued to have success throughout the 1950s with many hits like "It Only Hurts For a Little While", "You, You, You", and "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane".The brothers made regular appearances on network television variety programs, and in 1955 briefly had a 15-minute show of their own.[4]
Acting career
edit
In the early 1960s, the Ames Brothers disbanded, and Ed Ames, pursuing a career in acting, studied at the Herbert Berghof School.[2]His first starring role was in anoff-Broadwayproduction ofArthur Miller'sThe Crucible,going on to starring performances inThe Fantasticksoff-Broadway andCarnival!,which was onBroadway.[2]
Ames was in the national touring company ofCarnival.His dark complexion and sharp facial features led to his being cast regularly as a Native American. He played Chief Bromden in the Broadway production ofOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,oppositeKirk Douglas.[5][6]
Talent scouts at20th Century Foxsaw Ames in the production and invited him to play the Cherokee tribesman, Mingo on theNBCtelevision seriesDaniel Boone,[2]withFess Parker.His character's father was an English officer, the Fourth Earl of Dunmore, played in the show byWalter Pidgeon.In that show, Mingo was the Earl's eldest son and thus entitled to claim the title as the fifth Earl, but decided to remain part of theCherokee Nation.[citation needed]
In an episode of Season One, Ames also portrayed Mingo'sevil twinbrother, Taramingo. Ames' main character was actually named Caramingo, but went by Mingo throughout the entire series.[citation needed]
Ames played a wanted murderer holed-up in a hotel during a smallpox quarantine on a 1962The Riflemanepisode ( "Quiet Night, Deadly Night" ), and guest-starred as Kennedy in the 1963 episode "The Day of the Pawnees, Part 2" onABC'sThe Travels of Jaimie McPheeters,withKurt Russellin the title role. He guest-starred in 1963 onRichard Egan's NBC modern western series,Redigo.[citation needed]
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
editWhile playing Mingo on television, Ames developed some skill in throwing atomahawk.This led to one of the most memorable moments of his career, when he appeared onThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonon April 27, 1965.
During the course of the show, Ames andJohnny Carsonwere discussing Ames' tomahawk throwing abilities. When Ames claimed that he could hit a target from across the room, Carson asked Ames if he could demonstrate this skill. Ames agreed, and a wood panel with a chalk outline of a cowboy was brought on to the stage. As the studio band played a bar of the theme music fromAdventures of Pow Wow,Ames proceeded to throw the tomahawk, which hit the drawn cowboy square in the groin with the handle pointing upward. This led to a very long burst of laughter from the audience.
After a moment, Ames proceeded to walk toward the target to retrieve the tomahawk but Carson stopped him and allowed the situation to be appreciated for its humor. Ames then said to Carson: "Think I'm going into another business, John." To which Carson ad-libbed: "I didn't even know you were Jewish!" and "Welcome toFrontierBris."[citation needed](It's not known whether Carson was aware that Ames actually was Jewish.)
Ames then asked Carson if he would like to take a turn throwing, to which Carson replied: "I can't hurt him any more than you did." The clip became a favorite of Carson's own yearly highlight show and subsequentbloopertelevision specials.[7][8]
Summer stock
editLater in his career, Ames became a fixture on theKenley Playerscircuit, headlining inShenandoah(1976, 1979, 1986),Fiddler on the Roof(1977),South Pacific(1980),Camelot(1981), andMan of La Mancha(1984).[9]
Singing career
edit
Ames recorded under the name "Eddie Ames" while still with the Ames Brothers, releasing the single "The Bean Song (Which Way to Boston?)" in January, 1957.[10]
Ames returned to singing as a solo artist in 1965. Ames is known for his baritone voice. He released his first RCA Victor chart single, "Try to Remember".[2]The song did respectably (#73 on the pop charts, #17 in theAdult Contemporarylisting). A bigger success came in 1967 with "My Cup Runneth Over".[2]The song was both a #8pophit and a #1adult contemporaryradio hit. Thereafter he had Adult Contemporary hits with "Time, Time","When the Snow Is on the Roses ", and" Timeless Love ", the latter written byBuffy Sainte-Marie.He did make the pop Top 20 one last time in his singing career with "Who Will Answer?"in 1968.[2]"Apologize" reached No. 47 in the CanadianRPMMagazinehot singles chart.
Ames's distinctive baritone is a regular radio presence during Christmas season, as well, thanks to his version of "Do You Hear What I Hear?"The song received its best-selling treatment fromBing Crosbyin 1962, but Ames' version, recorded a few years later, is in frequent holiday rotation.[4]
Ames also sang the "Ballad of the War Wagon" in theJohn Wayne/Batjac Productionsmovie,The War Wagonin 1967.[11]
Personal life
editEd Ames married Sarita (Sara) Cacheiro in 1947 and they had three children, Sonya, Ronald, and Linda (aka Marcila, who died in 2007). The couple divorced October 5, 1973 in Santa Monica, California.[12]Ames married Jeanne Arnold Saviano in 1998, the marriage lasted until his death in 2023.[citation needed]
While maintaining his career, he attendedUniversity of California, Los Angeles,receiving his degree in theater and cinema arts in 1975.
At the age of 77, Ames, saying "I am a secular Jew, but I feel strongly about Israel and the Jewish communities of Europe",[3]became president of the Los Angeles chapter of theZionist Organization of America.[13]
While appearing inDaniel Boone,Ames maintained homes inWoodland Hills, Los Angeles,andTeaneck, New Jersey.[14]
From 1968 until 1987, he also owned a percentage of thePhoenix Suns.[15]
Ames died ofAlzheimer's diseaseat hisBeverly Hills, California,home on May 21, 2023, at the age of 95.[16][17]He is buried atPierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuaryin Westwood, California.
Discography
editSingles
editThis sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(June 2023) |
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US AC |
US | CB | CA (RPM) |
CA (AC) |
AU | |||
| 1965 | "Try to Remember" | 17 | 73 | 83 | 39 | - | - | Try to Remember |
| 1967 | "My Cup Runneth Over" | 1 | 8 | 8 | 9 | - | 34 | My Cup Runneth Over |
| "Time, Time" | 1 | 61 | 66 | 60 | - | - | Time, Time | |
| "Timeless Love" | 2 | - | 109 | - | - | - | When the Snow Is on the Roses | |
| "When the Snow Is on the Roses" | 1 | 98 | 97 | - | - | - | ||
| 1968 | "Who Will Answer?" | 6 | 19 | 14 | 6 | - | 71 | Who Will Answer and Other Songs of our Time |
| "Apologize" | 10 | 79 | 66 | 47 | - | - | Apologize | |
| "All My Love's Laughter" | 12 | 122 | 106 | - | - | - | ||
| "Kiss Her Now" | 22 | - | 77 | 65 | - | - | The Hits of Broadway and Hollywood | |
| 1969 | "Changing, Changing" | 11 | 130 | 112 | - | 6 | - | A Time For Living, A Time For Hope |
| "Son of a Travelin' Man" | 21 | 92 | 94 | 81 | 14 | 61 | The Windmills of Your Mind | |
| "Think Summer"(withMarilyn Maye) | 17 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| "Leave Them a Flower" | 19 | - | - | - | 33 | - | Love of the Common People | |
| "A Thing Called Love" | 21 | - | 115 | - | 22 | - | ||
| 1970 | "Three Good Reasons" | 38 | - | - | - | - | - | Sing Away the World |
| "Think Summer"(with Marilyn Maye) | 38 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| "Chippewa Town" | 36 | - | - | - | - | - | ||
Albums
edit- Try to Remember,RCA Victor LPM/LSP 2781, 1963
- The Ed Ames Album,RCA Victor LPM/LSP 2944, 1964
- My Kind of Songs,RCA Victor LPM/LSP 3390, 1965
- It's a Man's World,RCA Victor LPM/LSP 3460, 1966
- More I Cannot Wish You,RCA Victor LPM/LSP 3636, 1966
- My Cup Runneth Over,RCA Victor LPM/LSP 3774, 1967
- Time, Time,RCA Victor LPM/LSP 3834, 1967
- Christmas with Ed Ames,RCA Victor LPM/LSP 3838, 1967
- When the Snow Is on the Roses,RCA Victor LPM/LSP 3913, 1968
- Who Will Answer?,RCA Victor LPM/LSP 3961, 1968
- Apologize,RCA Victor LPM/LSP 4028, 1968
- The Hits of Broadway and Hollywood,RCA Victor LSP 4079, 1968
- A Time for Living, a Time for Hope,RCA Victor LSP 4128, 1969
- The Windmills of Your MindRCA Victor LSP 4172, 1969
- The Best of Ed Ames,RCA Victor LSP 4184, 1969
- Love of the Common People,RCA Victor LSP 4249, 1969
- Sing Away the World,RCA Victor LSP-4381, 1970
- This is Ed Ames,RCA VPS-6023, 2 Record Set, 1970
- Christmas is the Warmest Time of the Year,RCA Victor LSP-4385, 1970
- Sings the Songs ofBacharachandDavid,RCA Victor LSP-4453, 1971
- Somewhere My LoveRCA Camden CAS 2598, 1972
- Ed Ames,RCA Victor LSP-4634, 1972
- Ed Ames RemembersJim Reeves,RCA Victor LSP-4683, 1972
- Songs from Lost Horizon and Themes from Other Movies,RCA Victor LSP-4808, 1972
- Do You Hear What I Hear?RCA Camden ACL1-0244, 1973
- The Very Best of Ed Ames,RCA/BMG 07863 69394–2, 2001
References
edit- ^ab"Joe Ames, the Eldest Member of the 1950s Singing Group the Ames Brothers, Dies at 86".The New York Times.January 17, 2008.
- ^abcdefgLarkin, Colin,ed. (1992).The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music.Vol. I (First ed.).Guinness Publishing.pp. 77–78.ISBN978-0-8511-2939-6.RetrievedJune 14,2022.
- ^abTugend, Tom (April 1, 2005)."Zionist Organization Sings Way to L.A."The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.Archived fromthe originalon April 7, 2005.Retrieved2006-12-13.
- ^abcdefBabitskaya, Inna (August 5, 2012)."Historical Perspectives Malden's Ed Ames: A life in music".Wickedlocal.RetrievedJune 14,2022.
- ^"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest – Broadway Play – Original".IBDb.RetrievedAugust 13,2021.
- ^"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Original Broadway Cast - 1963 Broadway".Broadway World.RetrievedAugust 13,2021.
- ^Ed Ames, throwing a tomahawk.VideoonYouTube.
- ^"Comedy Flashback - Singer Ed Ames Performs a" Bris "on The Johnny Carson Show".Jewish Humor Central.October 24, 2014.RetrievedDecember 17,2017.
- ^"Most Appearances by a Headliner".Kenleyplayershistory.RetrievedJanuary 11,2016.
- ^"Eddie Ames - The Bean Song (Which Way to Boston?)".45cat.RetrievedAugust 13,2021.
- ^Franklin, Mark (June 28, 2015)."The War Wagon (1967)".Once Upon a Time In a Western.RetrievedJune 14,2022.
- ^"People: Ed Ames Divorces".The Cincinnati Enquirer.October 7, 1973. p. 5A.RetrievedJune 14,2022.
- ^Tugend, Tom (March 31, 2005)."Zionist Organization Sings Way to L.A."Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.RetrievedJune 14,2022.
- ^"Daniel Boone's Pal; Actor's Family Lives in Contrasts".The Desert Sun.Palm Springs. July 3, 1965. p. 3.RetrievedJune 30,2019– via University of California at Riverside.
Ed Ames, who plays the half-breed Indian on the "Daniel Boone" series, is a two-house family man with homes in Teaneck, N.J., and Woodland Hills in the San Fernando valley of southern California. As a result, the Ames clan lives a life of contrasts. His east coast diggings are traditional and solidly conservative.
- ^Myer, Mike (November 1, 2017)."50 Years of the Suns".Phoenix.RetrievedJune 14,2022.
- ^"Ed Ames, pop singer and 'Daniel Boone' actor, dies at 95".The Washington Post.RetrievedAugust 1,2023.
- ^Hevesi, Dennis (26 May 2023)."Ed Ames, Singing Star Who Became a Familiar Face on TV, Dies at 95".The New York Times.RetrievedAugust 1,2023.
External links
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