by Greg PratoVocalist Johnny Mann was the leader of the Johnny Mann Singers, a group that has issued countless albums since the 1960s (totaling almost 40) and briefly enjoyed their own television show. Born August 30, 1928, in Baltimore, MD, Mann got his start in Hollywood by penning musical scores for several major motion picture movies before becoming the choral director of the NBC Comedy Hour. He eventually formed the Johnny Mann Singers and signed a recording contract with the Liberty label. The '60s saw the Mann Singers host the TV series Stand Up and Cheer, which ran for a total of three years (the group was a clean-cut bunch, wearing white pants and skirts, red V-neck sweaters, and white turtlenecks, the complete opposite of the burgeoning hippie/psychedelic rock movement that was sweeping the country). During this time, Mann and his Singers began issuing albums, such as Invisible Tears, We Can Fly! Up-Up and Away, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and a few were nominated for five Grammy Awards (and the winner of two) over the years. In addition to the Johnny Mann Singers, the leader/singer served as musical director for the original Alvin & the Chipmunks TV series (supplying the voice of the character Theodore); has composed, arranged, and produced an infinite number of radio and TV commercials/jingles; and has worked with the likes of George Gobel, Johnny Mathis, Nat "King" Cole, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Julie London, and Steve Allen, in addition to serving as Danny Kaye's conductor on an extended tour. Incredibly patriotic, Mann has been the recipient of countless awards from Veterans groups, and performed at the White House two times for then-president Richard Nixon. Mann also hosted celebrity golf tournaments and often serves as a speaker for local charity fundraisers in his hometown of Palm Springs.