The Pied Pipers was originally a vocal octet out of Los Angeles who came to the attention of Axel Stordahl and Paul Weston, who were arranging for Tommy Dorsey. The Pipers were soon hired by Dorsey and appeared on his radio show. They were fired after six weeks when one of the sponsor representatives heard the group and objected to their hip, modern vocal style. They returned to Los Angeles and became a quartet - Jo Stafford, John Huddleston, Clark Yocum, and Chuck Lowry. The newly re-formed Pipers soon rejoined Dorsey and teamed up with Frank Sinatra and appeared on some of the most famous recordings of the 1940s. They became one of the top vocal groups of the big band era, staying with Dorsey until late 1942.

Stafford began a solo career at this point and she was replaced by June Hutton, the lead singer with The Stardusters (who sang with Charlie Spivak’s band). Huddleston was drafted and replaced by songwriter Hal Hopper. By this point, Johnny Mercer had started Capitol Records with Glenn Wallichs and Buddy DeSylva, and named Paul Weston as the musical director. Not only did the Pipers become the key house vocal group, they also appeared on Mercer’s radio program which was heard stateside as well as by service personnel all over the world. The Pipers became one of the most admired vocal groups of the 1940s making hundreds of classic recordings. Their recording of Dream is said to be the national anthem of all vocal group singers.

The Pied Pipers continued over the years with various personnel changes. In the 1980s, trombonist Warren Covington obtained the rights to the name, and the Pipers performed all over the world with new vocal arrangements under the direction by Jerry Graff, former director of The Beachcombers. A second group touring as the Pied Pipers (with Nancy Knorr) is still active today.