Biography

Founder of The Modernaires, composer, songwriter, producer and singer with the orchestras of Paul Whiteman, Fred Waring, Charlie Barnet, Glenn Miller and Bob Crosby, and also in films, night clubs, and on television. He was president of Compass Productions. Joining ASCAP in 1956, his chief musical collaborators included Alan Copeland, Jack Lloyd, Sidney Lippman and Jack Elliott. His popular-song compositions include "These Things You Left Me", "Everytime I See You", "Jingle Bell Polka", "Romantique", "Birds and Puppies and Tropical Fish", "Tabby the Cat" and "Too Young to Know".
- IMDb mini biography by: Hup234!

Hal was the founder and leader of the jazz harmony group, The Modernaires. The group was initially a trio formed in 1935 with high school buddies. Eventually, the trio grew into a quartet consisting of Dickinson, Fran Scott, John Drake and Alan Copeland. Their radio/recording peak was hit after orchestra leader Glenn Miller signed them on. In 1941, Hal's wife, singer Paula Kelly, rounded out the now-quintet and they became as popular as ever, making the rounds on TV variety in the 50s with Bob Crosby, George Gobel and Perry Como, among many others. They continued to perform in clubs and concerts after their heyday. Copeland dropped out in 1956 and was replaced by Dick Cathcart. Some of their best-known recordings include "April in Paris", "Goody Goody", "Stompin' at the Savoy" and "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree".

Had three daughters who were singing sisters on TV and stage in the early 1950s ("The Kelly Sisters Trio") and later were The Modernaires replacements: Paula Kelly Jr., Martha Dickinson (Martz) and Julie Dickinson. Martha, who also sang with the Ed Winters jazz trio, died of congestive heart failure in 2006 at the age of 65. Julie does studio work.