The Singing Sentinels

About The Group The Singing Sentinels were a quartet of guards at the Kaiser shipyard in Portland, Oregon during World War II. They got together for their own recreation but when Edgar F. Kaiser heard them sing, he had them perform at the many ship launchings there. They did record an album of American folk songs for the Sonora Records label. Herman Klick was the lead singer for the group. Herman's son, Dave, tells us they were singing ambassadors for the Kaiser Corporation from the groups inception in the early 1940's until it disbanded in the early 1950's. The quartet became nationally recoginized and performed with high profile stars such as Frank Sinatra, Burl Ives, Red Skelton, The Sons of the Pioneers and others. We found information about the Sonora 'album', which was actually a set of 4 78rpm records on Sonora MS-483: Blue Tail Fly Long Long Ago Hosen Johnny Skip To My Lou Lonesome Road Colorado Trail Brass Wagon Wait For The Wagon Down Mobile Way Down Yonder In The Cornfield Old Aunt Jemina Dinah's In The Kitchen I Told Her I Loved Her in the Moonlight My Lord What a Mornin' Golden Slippers Desert Blue and Silver After the war, they went to work for the Kaiser Automobile manufacturing company in Willow Run, Michigan. Steve Gilford tells us that a fourteen year old girl, Suzanne Lorraine Burce, sang with The Singing Sentinels at least once before her mother took her to Hollywood where, under her new name, Jane Powell, became a movie star. Timeline and Trivia Notes Group Members included: Chuck Farris, Tenor Del von Zuethen (the original baritone of the group)(not pictured) Bill Cryer, Baritone Herman Klick, Lead Ken Rogers Bass Credits & Sources Hillbilly-Music.com wishes to thank Dave Klick, son of Herman Klick for providing us with the photo and identification of the group's memebers as well as other information. Hillbilly-Music.com wishes to thank Steve Gilford for contacting us and providing the album cover image and notes from the album and other information. Read More About The Group Printer Friendly Version Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)   Sonora Rec. No. Side Song Title   1136 A Desert Blue And Silver   1136 B Lonesome Road Colorado Trail