Air Week: May 26-June 1, 2025

The Larks are one of the most influential and best sounding vocal groups of the early 1950s and yet, they are never remembered quite as well as many of their contemporaries. Last week in part 1 of our 2 part series, we showcased The Larks’ early recordings from 1950-52, including their only 2 charting singles, “Eyesight To The Blind” and “Little Side Car.” This week, as we pick it back up in 1952, the original Larks group disintegrates and members go off on their own. Allen Bunn leaves to pursue a solo career and will soon be know as Tarheel Slim. Bass singer David McNeil joins The Dominoes and Eugene Mumford joins the Golden Gate Quartet. In less than a year, Gene Mumford would return to secular music and form a few group out of members of the Golden Gate Quartet and beyond, calling it The Larks. This new Larks group bears little resemblance to the original, but they are loaded with talent. However, Bess Berman at Apollo Records was looking for more of a pop group, so the material the new Larks were presented with wasn’t very strong and they failed to score any hits. Still the music is captivating and worth hearing as Matt The Cat presents The Larks, Pt. 2 – 1952-55 on this week’s “Juke In The Back.”

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