Fred Waring

Hawley Ades was hired by Irving Berlin in 1932 to assist the legendary American songwriter with musical arrangements.  Hawley stayed with Berlin for five years before being hired by choir master and bandleader Fred Waring.  He joined Mr. Waring at the time the bandleader hoped to launch his own music publishing company, which became Shawnee Press.  Hawley wrote a noted method book on choral conducting and thousands of published arrangements for Shawnee.  In Fact, he worked for Shawnee Press until Mr.

Bob Kranendonk sang for the choral group, the Pennsylvanians led by Fred Waring. Bob’s father also sang for the group and in fact together both men had a hit and appeared on the cover of the sheet music for the song “The Happy Wanderer.” When not touring or recording with the group, Bob worked in Fred’s music publishing company, Shawnee Press (named after the town in PA it was formed). Bob contributed some 40 years to the company, which included working with Ernie Farmer and Hawley Ades, both of whom were also interviewed for the NAMM Oral History program. Bob added great insight to the Shawnee Press story for our archives.

Virginia Waring began her musical career as a concert pianist. In fact, it was while performing a duet piano performance on the Fred Waring Radio Program that she first met her future husband. Fred Waring had a remarkable music career that covered radio, television, recordings, and music publishing. Virginia played a key role in the print company, Shawnee Press as president before selling the business after her husband’s death. Her NAMM Oral History interview was completed on February 1, 2006.