The Sherry Sisters and the Dean Hudson Big Band

The Sherry Sisters were a singing trio of real sisters out of South Dakota. Janie, Paula and Carolyn Manthey were their names, and they sang on the big band circuit for a number of years in the 1940’s. Previous to singing with the big bands and headlining alongside such greats as Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, and many others, the Manthey girls sang with their family orchestra in South Dakota all around Sioux Falls and the surrounding countryside. This long-lived group consisted of father Anthony, mother Mary, eldest sister Genevieve, and brother Bob. They played at many, many dances in the 1930’s. Each family member also played various instruments, with mother Mary on piano, father Anthony on numerous instruments, Paula on clarinet and sax, and Janie on trumpet. Bob, like his father, also played many instruments including drums, and of course they 'all sang!

Sadly, father Anthony passed away in a tractor accident on the family farm, and the remaining family members were forced to move into town, before the three middle girls eventually went ‘on the road’ with the big bands...

But while the Sherry Sisters were on the road, they met their future spouses in the Dean Hudson organization! Janie, who just turned 98 in October of this year, 2021, paired up with Bob Archer from North Carolina who was the transportation guy for Dean Hudson. Paula met her future spouse, sax player Laddie Popek of Illinois, while Carolyn met trombonist Phil Bowers of Wisconsin. Janie had 2 children, Paula had 5, and Carolyn had 8! Paula passed away a few years ago, but Janie at 98 is still with us and living at home, as is Carolyn at age 95.

And Bob, the eldest Manthey brother? He just turned 99, and plays in his band on multiple instruments regularly, just like his dad!