For six decades, Fred Waring and his group, the Pennsylvanians, spread their smooth sound through-out the world. He sold millions of records and won the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor the U.S. government can bestow on a civilian. Often dubbed "The Man Who Taught America To Sing," Waring was most famous for his love of choral music. His adaptation of chorus with the smart rhythms of the day, gave the vocal refrain a fresh face. Odd sounds, the rasp of Poley McClintock, the sweet hummingbird-like sounds the three Waring girls, and great musicians made up this unique show unit. He made numerous records until the inevitable clash of radio and recorded music caused copyright problems in the smaller market radio stations. Since Waring's livelihood depended heavily on both media, he lobbied hard for broadcasting reforms so the authors of recorded music would received fair compensation for their work. In the '40s, the Waring Glee Club superceded the Pennsylvanians, and became an act unto its own. It's interesting to note Waring's own Alma Mater Penn State turned away his bid for the president of its own Glee Club. Today, Waring is one of Penn State's distinguished alumni. Fred Waring died in 1984. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.