Ironically, Burroughs was not so excited about the idea of the latter group, at that point having worked up his courage to head to New York City and try for a Broadway debut. Puerling and associate Bill Thompson cooked up some arrangements that changed Burroughs' mind, however. By 1953, the new group was active, having come up with a moniker that described both vocal range as well as the diversity of heights amongst the folks on-stage. The group's big break came three years later when they got hitched up with the #Rosemary Clooney Show, in turn leading to a Columbia recording contract. The Hi-Lo's hit the top of popular culture like one of Burroughs' octave jumps, the group's exposure not just limited to vinyl sides. The vocalists held forth on a Hertz-Rent-A-Car commercial and showed up in several Jack Lemmon movies, adding up to maximum public exposure for the '50s.
The popular culture of the '60s was much less kind than the previous decade had been. Despite the influence of the group on cutting-edge musicians of the era, the popularity of bands such as the Beatles meant a too-de-loo for what became perceived as cheesy vocal groups. Good taste power-mongers such as Mitch Miller and Frank Sinatra tried to keep the group in the recording studio, but '60s projects such as a folk music album were duds. The band would wind up being revived more than once, including a comeback recording done live in Villigin, a German town better known for skinhead riots than harmony vocal groups. In fallow periods, Burroughs formed a folk-rock duo with spouse Marilyn Burroughs, and got steady jobs in both record production and jingle composition. L'Arc is the name of an ensemble he created in 1996 out of a desire to span several generations of musical repertoire. Filling out an artistic circle, L'Arc performed a series of Burroughs' vocal arrangements on a Brian Wilson tribute album. Other artists that have given a nod to Burroughs' inspiration include the Mamas the Papas, the Gatlin Brothers, Manhattan Transfer, and Take 6. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi