Valley Weekend : TONIGHT : STRIKE UP THE BAND!

Glendale’s Alex Theatre continues its Big Band series tonight with singers Ed Ames and Margaret Whiting with the Billy Vaughn Orchestra. Ames and Whiting are both million-selling artists who enjoyed their first success in the post-World War II, but pre-rock era. Margaret Whiting has recorded more than 500 songs and earned 12 gold records during her career. The daughter of successful songwriter Richard Whiting, Margaret began singing as a child and was working with lyricist and Capitol Records founder Johnny Mercer by age 7. Her hits include “That Old Black Magic,” “It Might as Well Be Spring,” “Come Rain or Come Shine” and “Moonlight in Vermont.”

Ames, along with his real siblings in the Ames Brothers, had his first No. 1 hit in 1950 with the novelty tune “Rag Mop.” Other hits, such as “Sentimental Me,” “Undecided” and “You, You, You,” followed. After the Ames Brothers disbanded in 1959, Ed Ames continued as a solo act and branched out into acting.

He portrayed Mingo, a Native American, in the television series “Daniel Boone” in the 1960s. Ames was forever immortalized in possibly the most famous clip in Tonight Show history for a tomahawk demonstration he gave to Johnny Carson during that time. Meanwhile, Ames’ solo singing career scored hits with “My Cup Runneth Over” and “Who Will Answer?” in the late 1960s.

* Singers Ed Ames and Margaret Whiting with the Billy Vaughn Orchestra at 8 tonight at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Tickets are $22.50 and $27.50. Call (800) 233-3123.