Jon Dodson

'Jon Dodson' (qv)'s association with 'The King's Men' (qv) quartet was his primary profession, beginning in 1930. From 1934 to 1937 'The King's Men' (qv) ('Ken Darby', Arranger & Bass; 'Rad Robinson' (qv), Baritone; 'Jon Dodson' (qv), Lead Tenor; 'Bud Linn' (qv), Top Tenor) were a feature of the 'Paul Whiteman' (qv) Orchestra on RCA records and the Kraft Music Hall. They subsequently appeared with many other orchestra leaders, including Rudy Vallee. They were heard, and sometimes seen, in many feature films, including _Sweetie (1929)_ (qv) (My Sweeter than Sweet), _Hollywood Party (1934)_ (qv) (Feelin' High), _Let's Go Native (1930)_ (qv) (title song), _Belle of the Nineties (1934)_ (qv) (Troubled Waters), _Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)_ (qv), _Murder at the Vanities (1934)_ (qv), (Lovely One) and notably _The Wizard of Oz (1939)_ (qv), in which they are the off screen voices for the Lollipop Guild. On screen they were remembered as the singing cowboys of the Hopalong Cassidy films. In the costume party scene of the film _Honolulu (1939)_ (qv) the King's Men play the Marx Brothers (Dodson plays Chico). For a few years they were associated with the Music Department at Disney Studios, and are heard in _Make Mine Music (1946)_ (qv) and _Pinocchio (1940)_ (qv). The quartet was a regular featured on the long-running radio show "Fibber McGee & Molly." 'The King's Men' (qv) group was the basis for the Ken Darby Singers, featured on 'John Charles Thomas' (qv)' "Westinghouse Broadcasts" and on many Decca phonograph records, such as Bing Crosby's original recording of "White Christmas."::pmintun@mac.com