The Singers Unlimited - I Left My Heart In San Francisco (German TV 1976)

I don't own the rights to the music or the video displayed here.
#thesingersunlimited #genepuerling #mpsrecords
The Singers Unlimited were a studio vocal group that did very, very few live appearances , almost non existing, people in Japan agreed to pay them fortunes to go there and perform live to no avail.
It is us their fans that we craved for years for a live performance or footage of any kind, so for me this is The Holy Grail as far I'm concerned.
Even though this is a lip sync performance and edited for TV, this is a treasure and a treat for me to witness their humanity, interaction and boundless talents, watching my man Len mocking the Drums, beholding my mentors Don Shelton & Gene Puerling in action and fall in love all over again with Bonnie!

[@user-ne7ts3bd2f]

Фантастика!!!

[@davidnewman8479]

fantastic --- (greek "O" level)

[@nilsnilsson8582]

O my o my, Bonnie Herman, I have always loved you, your voice is like an angel. The Singers Unlimited is great!

[@SteveCrozier]

I had the enormous pleasure of meeting and chatting with Don Shelton recently, and seeing him sing and play in an intimate setting (with his daughter, an accomplished singer and voice professor, and his son-in-law, a drummer). He was charming. Lovely evening

[@gregstegeman7102]

What a find! How wonderful to actually see them in action despite the lip syncing. Truly the greatest vocal group ever (principal influence for Take 6----just ask them) and Bonnie looks gorgeous!! They never appeared on American television to our great shame.

[@jorgestramusic]

Yes Greg, a total shame that they were almost unknown in their own country, yes Bonnie looks ravishing!... They did several lip sync appearances in Germany, Sweden and Paris, I'm searching and searching, eventually they will come to the surface. Greetings to you and thank you for your nice comments.

[@petersmith4133]

Coming from you Greg, a true Freshman, that's praise indeed. I saw you at several conventions and have the CD you produced singing all the parts so am aware of your talent as a musician and a group singer. I couldn't agree more with your assessment of the SU - stupendous harmonic content from four brilliant voices, two no longer with us.

[@gregstegeman7102]

@@petersmith4133 Thank you for your kind words. It was an honor to be a part of the Freshmen for awhile. Gene Puerling always credited the Four Freshmen for inspiring the Hi-Lo’s so one could say that we were part of the development toward the Singers Unlimited. Never get tired of listening to all these wonderful groups. Cheers!

[@markokononen8702]

Singers Unlimited changed my life. I remeber when I first heard on A record In tune ”The Shadow of Your Smile” it totally changed my life. It was something So beautiful I had ever heard. Thak you for sending this rare video.

[@thepablorecordsii2577]

Geniales voces, fueron para mí, voces mágicas, haciendo excelente mancuerna con el gran maestro, Clare Fischer. Aquí, en México, el gran locutor de Jazz FM 104.1, Roberto Morales, los presentaba con gran elocuencia y emoción a este genial cuarteto vocal.

[@jorgestramusic]

Mencionas un recuerdo muy bonito para mí también, Roberto Morales un señorón del Jazz en México, el me vendió mi primer acetato de Take 6 en la tienda de Génova en la zona rosa, te acuerdas? Muchas gracias por tu comentario, desde este video he encontrado más videos raros de TSU, chécalos si puedes.

[@thepablorecordsii2577]

@@jorgestramusic Don Roberto presentó por primera vez al sexteto vocal Take 6 como sucesores de The Singers Unlimited en 1989 con su canción " Get away Jordan", también cantan genial y es otro de mis favoritos.

[@jorgestramusic]

Es correcto!

[@deeblue984]

She has such a clean and fresh voice....

[@halcyonacoustic7366]

I've met and sang for Bonnie and it was a highlight of my life.

[@jorgestramusic]

How lucky you are!... Please share more of your story

[@jackstanfill1101]

Superlative singing. I was stunned to see that Harvey Mason was on drums.

[@josiefalbo8132]

This is just absolutely gorgeous! The best vocal group ever!!!

[@jorgestramusic]

Ain't that the truth!

[@josiefalbo8132]

@@jorgestramusic Agreed!

[@itazawamgabar]

Such gifted vocalist

[@VanessaMElder]

Absolutely incredible. Holy grail, indeed.

[@esanders]

Incredible to see this!!

[@pogonomyrmexrugosus6240]

Bonnie Herman's voice takes me away to another place.

[@lalexanimrzayeva4244]

👍✌️

[@emilionetopereira47]

I remember The Singers Unlimited, with Oscar Peterson, a whole LP: that was a great stuff... 😉😉

[@Music5616]

Never gets old

[@BlueSky-eb2sv]

That is that perfomance I've been looking for so long. As far as I know, the only "live" performance. Just to see them - and Bonnie Herman - is great! Many thanks.

[@jorgestramusic]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, I've searched this for many years, TSU did more TV appearances in Germany, France, Sweden and there's a TV special with Johnny Mathis that aired in the 70's that I yet have to find... Cheers!

[@alexjaymz]

holy chords

[@nxumalo]

Just to see them!!!!!! I don't care whether they lip syncing or not!!!!

[@jorgestramusic]

Right?

[@sunandsnowmusic]

Unglaublich 🧡

[@anamagdalenaharpertinajero3876]

Voces preciosas y entonadísimas con una oreja que hacían lo q les pidieran. Hicieron época, recuerdo. Y C Fisher un genio, verdaderamente. Totalmente Armengoliano🥰

[@jorgestramusic]

Muchas gracias Ana por tu comentario, me llama la atención que mencionas al gran maestro Armengol.

[@anamagdalenaharpertinajero3876]

@@jorgestramusic pues hay "cosas" armengolianas ... como no. Saludos

[@jorgestramusic]

@@anamagdalenaharpertinajero3876 saludos!

[@sandrexca1]

wow, simply amazing, worshipped this group since the early 80-ies, have never seen them in video...The best vocal group period. Bonnie's voice is one of an angel, unique, in its own league. Thanks for this rare treasure.

[@jorgestramusic]

They are the best! Check the other TSU videos in my channel.

[@sandrexca1]

@@jorgestramusic Thank you, just checking them. It's amazing how they agreed to do these video appearances, what a rare footage...

[@ThePianoMan1953]

@@jorgestramusic So happy to find your posting and look forward to seeing your others! I have a wide range of musical interests but Singers Unlimited is the cream that rises to the top for me. I could never tire of them. Not only would I love to see some of Gene's written parts but would love to see a video of them laying down tracks in the studio. I'm sure you know if either is available to see. Thanks for all you do!

[@tenorislife]

doooooope!

[@jorgestramusic]

Right?

[@randalllewis2434]

An amazing piece of TSU history!! Never seen this…. Thank you so much for sharing this one….

[@jorgestramusic]

I'm glad you enjoyed this Randy!

[@thomassalyers1391]

Fantastic!!!

[@sebaugustop16L]

Qué bueno Jorge!! Jamás pude disfrutar de una actuación en vivo de estos GENIOS!! Ojalá encuentres más material! Muchas gracias👍👍

[@kallekontio2322]

IM LAUGHING THIS IS SO GOOD

[@javierpelosi4067]

The last two chords, are Impossible!!!! How can they reach each single note!!!????

[@ThePianoMan1953]

I've described their amazing chord to my sister (a fine piano player) that they sing chords that have yet to be identified! :-D I believe I read that their record is laying down something like 27 tracks??

[@chriswagner5902]

So, what are those last chords? Starting at San Francisco....

[@jorgestramusic]

It's not the characteristic of the chords in itself, which by the way it's pure Puerling wizardry but the timing of the chords, there's no time in them (fermata) and yet the very last chord falls exactly with the band, easy to do these days but not in 1976.

[@ThePianoMan1953]

Good question. Gene was sure a master at writing altered and extended chords. I often wonder how they were so good at reading their very intricate vocal line. Is there an official SU fan club where such things is discussed?

[@jorgestramusic]

There is not sadly.

[@Negropizzi]

GENIOS TOTALES!! El grupo vocal más extraordinario de todos los tiempos!! Al fin pudimos verlos en vivo!!👍👍👌👌👌

[@jorgestramusic]

Casi me dió un infarto cuando encontré este eslabón perdido, los 2 Singers Unlimited que sobreviven me dijeron que hay mas, así que seguiré buscando esos rastros de historia, saludos!