The “Golden Hits Of The 60s” 

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ARBORS

“THE LETTER”

(Wayne Carson Thompson)

Date 1638

No. 20   April 5, 1969

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Brothers Ed and Fred Farran from Grand Rapids, Michigan, crossed paths with Scott Herrick of East

Lansing, Michigan, at the University of Michigan, where all three were students.   Ed was studying zoology

and biology, Fred, aeronautical and mathematical engi­neering, and Scott, industrial engineering.   In their

spare time, the guys discovered their mutual interest in singing and their vocal compatibility.   Scott’s twin

brother Thomas dropped out of Michigan State to join the others as the Arbors, so named after Ann Arbor,

the location of the University of Michigan campus.

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In 1965, after the silky-smooth group had estab­lished a local reputation, Mercury Records showed an

interest in signing them.   “Anyone Here for Love” was their only release; it bombed, and the boys were let

go.   Despite their singing tal­ents, by 1966, their sound seemed antiquated and definitely un-British.    Their

appearance was all-too-wholesome and thus unhip.   Yet the success of groups with similar images, such as

the Association and the Vogues, won the act a final shot at stardom.   Date, a Columbia Re­cords subsidiary,

released a small pile of 45s by the Arbors before their moment in the sun.   Only their easy-listening but

psychedelicized rendition of the Box Tops’ chart-busting “The Letter” would receive national Top 40 accep-­

tance.

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After their lukewarm career had cooled, the Arbors moved their base of operations to Chicago, where they

set themselves up in the jingle business.   For years, they were reportedly making in the six figures singing

master-works like “It’s the real thing,” “In the valley of the jolly, ho, ho, ho,” and “You deserve a break

today.”