"DUPLICATS" ON TOUR

New Zealand Listener, Volume 20, Issue 500, 21 January 1949, Page 14

"DUPLICATS" ON TOUR

Broadcasts from the 7B Stations ,

NE afternoon ‘in June last year, three singers gathered round a piano in an Auckland suburban home. One hadn’t sung for some years, another had never sung at all, and the pianist had had no experience arranging for voices. Their stock-in-trade was enthusiasm. (As rehearsals progressed co-ordination came and an item was recorded and sent to an NZBS programme officer, Since then the "Duplicats," as they call themselves, have been heard o¢casionally during the last few months by Auckland radio listeners. The Duplicats make a point of singing nothing that is not at least 15 years old. They hold that most of the popular songs of to-day are of the slow, sentimental type, while those of 20 years ago were fast and amusing; and it is their aim to entertain amusingly. The leading parts are sung by Esme Stephens,- who started with Theo Walters’ 1ZB Band at, the opening of the new 1ZB studios. She was with Artie Shaw when his US Navy Band visited Auckland, and has also appeared with Freddie Gore, Len Hawkins, Ted Healey, Dorsey Cameron, Art Rosoman and Bobby Leach,

Esme Stephens is supported vocally by Ena Allen, who started with Red Beecham’s Band, and left it to join Johnnie Madden. Then she broadcast for some titme with Ossie Cheeseman ftom 1YA. Dale Alderton, the third singer, is one of Auckland’s best. trombonists and has played the lead trombone with several bands, The ideas, arrangements and piano accompaniments are supplied by Johnnie Thom son, who also writes the continuity spoken. by’ Alderton (with occasional interruptions from the two girls). Before the war, Thomson led bands at two of Auckland’s night. clubs? and when "he returned from service with the Air Force he joined Art Rosoman, For those interested in close harmony, here is the Duplicats’ playing schedule: 1ZB, Monday, January 24, at 6.45 p.m.; Wednesday, January 26, at 7.0 p.m.; Friday, January 28, at 3.0 p.m. and 645 pm. Station 2ZB: Monday, January 31, at 8.30 ‘p.m., Tuesday, February 1, at 6.45 p.m.; Wednesday, F ruary 2, at 8,30 p.m., and Thursday, February 3, at 3.0 p.m. Station 3ZB: Friday, February 4, at 3.0 pm. and 8.30 p.m; Saturday, February 5, at 8.45 p.m., and Mon. day, February 7, at 8.30 p.m. Station 4ZB: Wednesday,, February 9, at 8.30 p.m.; Thursday, February 10, at 6.45 p.m., and Friday, February 11, at 3.0 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. (See photograph on page 24)