The Three Suns
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1939 |
| Founder | Al Nevins, Morty Nevins, Artie Dunn |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Pop music recordings, musical performances |
The Three Suns were a prominent American pop ensemble, achieving their greatest acclaim throughout the 1940s and 1950s.
Career history
Established in 1939 by siblings Al Nevins (guitar) and Morty Nevins (accordion), along with their cousin Artie Dunn (vocals, electronic organ), the trio initially gained recognition performing in New York nightclubs. By 1944, they secured a contract to produce nine brief musical films for the Soundies jukeboxes.
A 1942 review in Billboard praised their distinctive blend of electric organ, accordion, and guitar, describing it as creating "sensational musical effects."
Their breakthrough came with the 1944 instrumental hit "Twilight Time," which sold more than four million copies and was awarded a gold record. In November 1946, their instrumental "Rumors Are Flying" reached number one on U.S. charts, followed by the successful 1947 track "Peg o' My Heart." The group also appeared in films such as Alfred Hitchcock's Rope (1948) and Two Gals and a Guy (1951), and were reportedly favorites of former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower.
Throughout the 1950s, although they maintained live performances, studio musicians frequently replaced them during RCA Victor recording sessions due to Artie Dunn’s inability to read music and Al Nevins’ transition into production roles. With the rise of rock and roll, The Three Suns evolved by incorporating additional instruments and stereophonic effects into their recordings, catering to audiences interested in lounge music and exotica. Al Nevins continued producing for RCA Victor until his death in 1965; following this, Morty Nevins engaged studio artists Fred Mendelssohn and Vinnie Bell to create a stereo album released under The Three Suns name on Musicor in 1966.
Additionally, Al Nevins co-founded Aldon Music, a significant songwriting firm associated with the Brill Building.
Members
- Original lineup
- Artie Dunn — vocals, organ (passed away January 15, 1996, aged 73)
- Al Nevins — guitar (passed away January 25, 1965, aged 49)
- Morty Nevins — accordion (passed away July 23, 1990, aged 73)
- Subsequent members
- George Barnes — guitar
- Johnny Buck (Bucky Pizzarelli) — guitar
- Joe Negri — guitar
- Joe Vento — accordion, piano
- Johnny Romano — guitar
- Tony Lovello — accordion
- Del Casher (Del Kacher) — guitar
- Vincent Bell — guitar
- Fred Mendelsohn — organ
- Eddie Layton — organ
Discography
The Three Suns initially issued 78 rpm records during the 1940s and 1950s. From 1950 to 1954, RCA Victor released several 10-inch long play albums. Their first full-size 12-inch LP was Soft & Sweet in 1955, followed by their debut stereo LP in 1958.
During the 1940s, they recorded numerous tracks for V-Disc, which were exclusively distributed to USO personnel abroad. These recordings were later re-released as a two-CD collection by IMC Licensing in 1997, though not arranged in their original order.
- Albums
- Twilight Time (Majestic, M2, 1944) (10 inch)
- Beyond the Blue Horizon / Crazy Rhythm (Decca, 1947) (10 inch)
- Twilight Time (Varsity, 6001, 1950) (10 inch)
- Midnight Time (Varsity, 6048, 1950) (10 inch)
- You and the Night and the Music (RCA Victor, 47-4202A, 1951) (7 INCH 45 RPM)
- Yours is My Heart Alone (RCA Victor, 47-4202B, 1951) (7 INCH 45 RPM)
- Three Quarter Time (RCA Victor, LPM-3, 1951) (10 inch)
- Hands Across the Table (RCA Victor, LPM-28, 1951)(10 inch)
- Twilight Moods (RCA Victor, LPM-3012, 1952) (10 inch)
- The Three Suns Present (RCA Victor, LPM-3034, 1952) (10 inch)
- Busy Fingers (RCA Victor, LPM-3040, 1952)
- Christmas Party (RCA Victor, LPM-3056, 1952) (10 inch)
- Soft and Sweet (RCA Victor, LPM-1041, 1955) U.S. #13
- Sounds of Christmas (RCA Victor, LPM-1132, 1955)
- Twilight Time (RCA Victor, LPM-1171, 1956)
- My Reverie (RCA Victor, LPM-1173, 1956)
- Slumber Time (RCA Victor, LPM-1219, 1956)
- High Fi and Wide (RCA Victor, LPM-1249, 1956) U.S. #19
- Easy Listening (RCA Victor LPM-1316, 1956)
- Midnight for Two (RCA Victor, LPM-1333, 1957) U.S. #16
- Malaguena (RCA Victor LPM-1220, 1956)
- Things I Love in Hi-Fi (RCA Victor, LPM/LSP-1543, 1958)
- Let's Dance with the Three Suns (RCA Victor, LPM/LSP-1578, 1958)
- Happy Go Lucky Sound (RCA Camden, CAL-454, 1958)
- My Reverie (RCA Victor, LSP-1173, 1958)
- Love in the Afternoon (RCA Victor, LSP-1669, 1959)
- Having a Ball with the Three Suns (RCA Victor, LSP-1734, 1958)
- Swingin' on a Star (RCA Victor, LPM/LSP-1964, 1959)
- A Ding Dong Dandy Christmas! (RCA Victor, LPM/LSP-2054, 1959)
- At the Candlelight Cafe (RCA Camden, CAL-513, 1959)
- Twilight Memories (RCA Victor, LPM/LSP-2120, 1960)
- On a Magic Carpet (RCA Victor, LPM/LSP-2235, 1960)
- Twilight Time (RCA Victor, LPC-110, 1961) (COMPACT 33 DOUBLE)
- Dancing on a Cloud (RCA Victor,LPM/LSP-2307 ,1961)
- Fever & Smoke ( RCA Victor ,LPM/LSP -2310 ,1961 )
- Fun in the Sun ( RCA Victor ,LPM/LSP -2437 ,1961 )
- In Orbit (Tops,9756 ,1962 )
- Movin' 'N' Groovin' ( RCA Victor ,LPM/LSP -2532 ,1962 )
- Warm and Tender ( RCA Victor ,LPM/LSP -2617 ,1962 )
- Everything Under the Sun( RCA Victor ,LPM/LSP -2715 ,1963 )
- One Enchanted Evening( RCA Victor ,LPM/LSP -2904 ,1964 )
- A Swingin' Thing( RCA Victor ,LPM/LSP -2963 ,1964 )
- Country Music Shindig( RCA Victor ,LPM/LSP -3354 ,1965 )
- Continental Affair( RCA Camden CAL573 )
- The Best of the Three Suns( RCA Victor ,LPM/LSP -3447(e),1966 )
- 16 Greatest Hits (Musicor, MM2090/MS3090 ,1966 )
- This Is the Three Suns( RCA Victor VPS6075 ,1971 )
- Mean To Me( RCA Camden ACL1–0085 ,1973 )
- Pure Gold ( RCA ANL1–1779(e),1976 )
Filmography
- Nine musical shorts for Soundies jukeboxes produced in 1944
- A non-visible musical performance featured during a radio sequence in Alfred Hitchcock's Rope, released in 1948
- A featured appearance in Two Gals and a Guy, released in 1951
In Popular culture
- A performance on Cavalcade of Stars, episode 1.65 in 1950
- Aired twice on The Ed Sullivan Show, episodes 3.38 and 3.39 in 1950
- Mentioned on The Kate Smith Hour, December 29 episode of 1953
- "Stumbling" was used as the theme music for Captain Chesapeake, played from an adapted recording between 1971–1990
- "Worry Worry Worry" was included in Bethesda's role-playing video game Fallout 4.