Shawnee Press

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.

Mark Cabaniss always wanted to be in the music business. As a music student graduate and composer he was given that chance while teaching college, when Brentwood Music had an opening. The Nashville-based company’s founder, Jim Van Hook, took Mark under his wing and provided him with guidance that would help lead Mark, first to Hal Leonard to re-create their gospel department and then to Shawnee Press as President. Mark’s love for the industry is apparent in everything he does and his passion for history has been a key element in a number of former Shawnee Press leaders being included in the NAMM Oral History program.

Walter Ehret was the music arrangers’ equivalent to Mel Blanc – the man with a thousand voices. Walter was the man with a thousand pseudonyms. Under his various names, he arranged for most of the major publishers over a career that spanned over 50 years. His work was mostly centered around choral music. He had a strong interest in bringing to light lost works and works of composers who had gone largely unnoticed. He was a pioneer in music publishing and a man with great talent.  His NAMM Oral History was completed on June 9, 2007.  Mr.

Ernie Farmer had a long and successful career at Shawnee Press in Pennsylvania before he and his wife, music editor Marjorie, formed Wide World Music together in 1980. Ernie’s involvement in the music publishing industry began right after World War II when he was hired by Shawnee Press to oversee the company’s expansion. The company was the brainchild of famed choral director Fred Waring. Many of the early publications were based on Fred’s music and that made famous by his radio and TV programs.

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.

 Ruth Sibley wrote a song called “So Long Sweetheart” when she was a teenager.  The song was about lovers split by war.  Members of her musically inclined family thought the song was quite promising.  Ruth decided to walk the song over to Fred Waring’s home, whom she had met once through her bandleader father.  Mr. Waring, the king of choral music and leader of the Pennsylvania Vocal Group, liked the song and later had his group perform it several times.  The song led to several jobs for Ruth over the years with Mr. Waring, including one with his music publishing company, Shawnee Press. 

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.