The Dinning Sisters

Biography

The Dinning Sisters were an American vocal trio formed by sisters Ella Lucille "Lou" Dinning, Eugenia Doy "Jean" Dinning, and Virginia Moy "Ginger" Dinning, who were born in Caldwell, Kansas and raised in Oklahoma. Coming from a family of nine children who sang harmony in church, the sisters began performing together in the late 1930s, quickly gaining attention for their close harmonies and winning amateur contests. By 1939, they had their own radio program in Chicago and soon gained national exposure on the NBC 'Blue Network' show 'National Barn Dance.'

Their career flourished in the 1940s as they signed with Capitol Records and became known as competitors to the Andrews Sisters, another popular harmony group of the era. The Dinning Sisters scored several hits, including the top-10 songs "My Adobe Hacienda" (1947) and "Buttons and Bows" (1948), and appeared in Hollywood films such as 'Throw a Saddle on a Star' (1946) and Disney's 'Melody Time' (1948). Over the years, the lineup changed: Lou left in 1946, replaced by Jayne Bundesen, and later their younger sister Dolores "Tootsie" Dinning joined the group. The trio continued recording and performing until 1955, after which Jean and Dolores pursued successful careers in songwriting and session singing, respectively.

Musically, the Dinning Sisters were known for their bright, intricate harmonies and a style that blended pop, swing, and jazz influences, reminiscent of the Boswell Sisters and Andrews Sisters. Their legacy includes not only their chart successes and film appearances but also their influence on later vocal groups and their continued work in the music industry, with Jean co-writing the hit "Teen Angel" and Dolores co-founding the renowned backing vocal group The Nashville Edition.

Fun Facts

• Jean and Ginger Dinning were twins, born on the same day in 1924.
• The Dinning Sisters appeared in several Hollywood films and provided vocals for Disney animated features, including 'Melody Time' and 'Blame It on the Samba.'
• Their biggest hits, 'My Adobe Hacienda' and 'Buttons and Bows,' both reached the top 10 on the charts in the late 1940s.
• The original trio reunited in the 1980s and performed together into the 1990s, decades after their initial success.

Members

• Jean Dinning
• Lou Dinning

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• The Boswell Sisters - Stylistic influence; the Dinning Sisters' harmonies and arrangements were modeled after the Boswell Sisters' pioneering jazz vocal style. (General repertoire and vocal approach) [1930s–1940s]

Key Collaborators

• Jayne Bundesen - Replaced Lou Dinning as a member of the group (Recordings and performances as The Dinning Sisters) [1946–1949]
• Dolores "Tootsie" Dinning - Younger sister who joined the group after Bundesen's departure (Recordings and performances as The Dinning Sisters) [1949–1953]
• The Jordanaires - Collaborated on a gospel album during the group's 1993 reunion (Gospel album (1993)) [1993]

Artists Influenced

• The Nashville Edition - Dolores Dinning co-founded this influential backing vocal group, shaping the sound of countless country and pop recordings (Backing vocals for Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, and others) [1960s–1980s]
• Mark Dinning - Jean Dinning co-wrote his hit song 'Teen Angel,' contributing to his success ('Teen Angel' (1959)) [1959–1960]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Streamlined Cannonball (Vintage Collections)
2. Blue Christmas
3. Shine on Harvest Moon (Fun and Fancy Free)
4. Christmas Island - Remastered 1997
5. Fun And Fancy Free (Fun and Fancy Free)
6. Fun And Fancy Free
7. Please Don't Talk About Me
8. Where Or When - 1992 - Remaster
9. Shine on Harvest Moon (Almost Sweet and Gentle)
10. Blue Christmas

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz