American jazz/pop vocal group formed in December 1953. One of the most innovative of all time influenced countless pop, R&B, and doo wop groups from '50s right up to the present. Gene Puerling, Bob Strasen, Clark Burroughs, Bob Morse (the latter two were the vocalists with The Encores, vocal group for Billy May & His Big Band). Reportedly named because of their extreme vocal and physical ranges (Strasen and Morse were tall, Gene and Clark short), themselves influenced by such artists as Four Freshmen, The Modernaires and Mel Torme's The Mel-Tones.