The Esquire Trio (2)

Musical / comedy trio, originally founded as the Four Esquires in Illinois in the late 1930s. During World War II, the line-up was reduced to a trio, only Stan Stone (vocals, bass) remaining of the original line-up. The line-up varied throughout the years, and in addition to Stone, members included Bob Hanna (piano), Joe Martini (vocals, accordion), Dick Merriss (bass), Lester Franey (guitar), and Eddie Bee (bass, vocals). In 1963, the line-up was Eddie Bee, Bob Hanna (who had been with the group for 20 years), and Joe Martini, who was the oldest member of the group, having been in the line-up since 1941. By the 1970s, the group had been expanded back to a quartet, called just The Esquires, consisting of Bee, Martini, Hanna, and drummer Dick Maser. The group continued to perform in Reno, Nevada, at least until 1980.