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Freshmen fans mourn the death of Ken Albers Longtime group member had been ill for long time 4/21/2007 By Mike McCoy FFS Wisconsin Representative

(l to r) Ross Barbour, Bill Comstock, Ken Albers, Bob Flanigan (1960-73 lineup)

UPDATE 5-14-07: Now you can see Ken Albers in some vintage TV clips. Follow the link at the end.)

Ken Albers, 82, who joined the Four Freshmen in their early years and continued to sing with them for over 25 years before retiring, died April 19 in Simi Valley, California, after a long illness.

Original member Ross Barbour said in a statement to fans announcing Ken's death: "Your cards and letters warmed his final days. Thank you!" He was also quoted in a New Jersey newspaper as recalling Ken's "being so full of musical ability."

Long-time Four Freshmen fans remember Ken as the sixth Freshman, joining Bob Flanigan and Ross and Don Barbour in April 1956 -- 51 years ago this month -- when he replaced another Ken -- Ken Errair who was leaving the group. (Errair had replaced original member Hal Kratzsch.)

The 1956 lineup with Ken Albers is now known by fans as "Group 3," representing the third configuration of the group. Like the other members who sang and played instruments, Ken excelled on the trumpet, mellophone and fluegelhorn.

He continued with the Freshmen for an amazing and most productive 25 years and 9 months, retiring in January 1982. Even after that time, most fans didn't know his first name -- John. Kenneth was his middle name.

Kenny was the last change in the lineup for over 14 years, when Bill Comstock joined the group in 1960 when Don Barbour left for a solo career.

The Los Angeles Times story of his passing noted he was born Dec. 10, 1924, in Woodbury, N.J., and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He attended the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music.

Ross Barbour recalls in his book about the Freshmen, "Now You Know," that "it was Ken (Errair) who suggested Ken Albers to us."

"Albers was with that very talented Philadelphia group, the Stuarts. We agreed with Errair -- we would be lucky to get Ken Albers. The Stuarts sang and played together well. They were a charming group. They had plenty of places to work in the East, but they had no record contract and hadn't traveled broadly enough to gain fame and fortune.

"At first, Ken Albers hesitated and we held our breath. Then, in March, 1956, he said OK, and we celebrated."

Ken's first album with the Freshmen came soon after; "Four Freshmen and 5 Trumpets" was released in January, 1957. His last album recorded live was "Alive and Well in Nashville" (later reissued as "Graduation Day") in 1982. (Ken was billed in the liner notes as John Albers.)

The photo at left was used on the "Graduation Day" album cover. Albers is on the right. Others are Autie Goodman (left); Bob Flanigan (top); and Dennis Grillo (bottom).

Ross continues:

"Even Ken Albers would admit that he had it easy when he started with us. In 1956, the downbeat, Billbord, Playboy and Record Whirl magazine polls all chose us number one. With the multi-talented Albers on board we began a month long tour on April 1.

"The group included Nat King Cole, the Ted Heath band from England, June Christy, a pretty dancer named Patty Thomas, and a comic, Gary Morton, who got laughs everywhere he went...The tour began in San Antonio, Texas, and went on to Ft. Worth, Houston, College Station, Wichita Falls and Dallas -- all in the first week...

The Vocal Group Hall of Fame's tribute to the Freshmen notes:

"With Ken firmly in place, the Freshmen decided to break ground with new audiences and became one of the first groups to play college auditoriums and field houses. Now pursuing a younger audience, they came up with the relevant 'Graduation Day', their biggest chart hit at number 17 in the spring and summer of 1957....

"In 1960 the group recorded the masterful 'Their Hearts Were Full of Spring'. It so enchanted a young Brian Wilson that he lifted the vocal arrangement note for note, first as 'A Young Man Is Gone' (Little Deuce Coupe LP) and then under the original title for the Live Beach Boys '69 LP. (Wilson even dropped by the Freshmen's office in Hollywood during the Beach Boys' formative years to secure copies of their vocal charts.)"

One of the fans' favorite stories about Ken is about a time when Ross once introduced the group to the audience. Turning to Ken, Ross announced "Ken never says anything," then added "Ken, do you have anything to say?" Ken's response: "This girdle is killing me."

Ross reports that Ken's last night as a Freshmen was Jan. 30, 1982, at the Palomino in North Hollywood, Calif. (Ross earlier had left the group, but attended this show and sang on one or two numbers for fun.)

"There was always sadness...when a Freshman left....Kenny had been a part of the Freshmen for more than 25 years. Most people who knew us had discovered us with Ken singing, playing and arranging. His smiles was such an important part of the Freshmen picture."

"I think it was the song writer Roger Miller who said, 'Luck is some people's nickname for God.' We were really lucky to get Ken Albers in our group. He was so full of musical ability. He could write new Freshmen arrangements and rehearse us to the max. Man, we needed him."

Ross, Don and Bob weren't the only lucky ones to get Ken -- so were all the Freshmen fans then and to come.

Each of us who knew, or knew of, Ken Albers will choose our own way to mourn his passing. Mine will be to pull out my favorite album of all time, "Road Show," several times in the next few days, but this time I'll pay special attention to Ken's singing voice (he almost never talked on stage) and his great trumpet sounds.

Thank goodness we have so much recorded evidence of his great talent. His voice has not been stilled.

Meanwhile, here's that number the Freshmen used for many years (usually customizing the lyrics for each show), with words by Ross and the arrangement by Ken. While written as a "thanks" to the fans at the end of shows, perhaps it's a way today to express our thanks to Ken.

And so it's over
where did the moments go
Oh, it's over
we hoped you liked the show

You warmed our hearts
and we love you because
you filled each pause with applause

And may we mention
we hope we made you smile
It was our intention
to make it worth your while

May all your nites be restful
May all your days be bright
Good nite
Good nite
Good nite

Good night, Ken.

Click here for more about Ken.

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See and hear Ken Albers in performance on these vintage TV slow clips with the other Group 3 members. Click here and here.