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The Cherry Sisters
KRLD Dallas, TX
KWFT Wichita Falls, TX
WRR Dallas, TX

About The Group

Research shows that there were perhaps three groups of female singers using the name of "The Cherry Sisters." One was a vaudeville act prior to the 1940's. They were billed "Favorably Known as the Worst Act In Vaudeville." In the 1970's and 1980's, another trio of female singers were sought after as background vocalists in Nashville - Diane Tidwell, Lisa Silver and Sheri Kramer. But this article is about the third group known as "The Cherry Sisters" who were from Oklahoma.

Their parents were Haskille Scott and Margaret Gertrude (Summers) Cherry. Scott as he was known, was born in Wichita Falls, TX. By the 1910 census, he and his family were living in El Reno, OK. The 1930 census shows the family was then in Dallas, TX. However, Margaret's obituary indicates she was born in Dallas in 1921, indicating the family may have moved shortly after the 1920 census. Their uncle, Claude W. Cherry, was a candidate for state senator in Oklahoma at one time.

On April 4, 1941, the trio recorded six sides for the Bluebird label at the Jefferson Hotel in Dallas, TX. The girls provided their own musical backing. Margaret played guitar, Clara Belle played mandolin and Patsy played steel guitar. Per the Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR), Frank Walker was the session supervisor.

Floy Case wrote in her feature article on the group in 1941 that the girls were known as The Stover Trio on the transcriptions they made for the Crazy Crystals. The transcriptions aired over XEAW in Monterrey, Mexico and 26 affiliated stations such as WLW.

Entertainment Program - Nathalie Trow - Hurley WI - April 23 1896
Entertainment Program - Miss Trow - Nathalie Trow - Ironwood MI - Feb 14 1896

At the time of the article, Margaret was 20, Clara Belle 16 and Patsy just 13. Each of the girls had taken four years of piano lessons before taking up stringed instruments. Floy said their voices blended in "perfect three part harmony." Clara Belle sang lead, Pat sang first tenor and Margaret second tenor. Floy implies they had started playing professionally in 1938 or 1939. Margaret played guitar, Clara Belle played mandolin and Patsy was their steel guitar player.

Floy told readers the girls were part of Cousin Hal's Rural Rhythm that was heard twice a day over KWFT - at 8:30am and 4:30pm.

Indications were they were working up a new set of transcriptions under the name of "The Friendly Melody Hour" that was to be aired over two 50,000 watt border stations that were under construction.

The Cherry Sisters toured with KRLD's Uncle Gus Foster's Texas Roundup, appeared with Bill Boyd on WRR while touring with him as well.

Ms. Case reported the trio had recorded several sides for RCA Victor in April and two had been released. Indications were that the Cherry Sisters would again record again in October when Victor had set up in Dallas. But research finds that they only recorded on April 4, 1941 as noted previously.

The Sisters:

  • Margaret Gertrude (Cherry) Murphy (B: March 1, 1921 — D: June 24, 1983)

  • Clara Belle (Cherry) Freeman (B: March 15, 1925 — D: June 2, 2010)

  • Patsy Ruth (Cherry) Winslett (B: August 9, 1928 — D: December 31, 2016)

Credits & Sources

  • The Cherry Sisters; Floy Case; December 1941; The Mountain Broadcast and Prairie Recorder; Rialto Music Publishing Corp.; 1674 Broadway; New York, NY

Read More About The Group

Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)
 
Bluebird
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  8745 B When They Ring Those Golden Bells
  8746 A Sweet Bunch of Daisies
  8770 A When You Come To The Rainbow's End
  8770 B Colorado Memories
  8836 A At The end Of Memory Lane
  8836 B You Tell Me Your Dream (I'll Tell You Mine)


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