(Photo submitted) "The Petites" included, front row from left: Pati, Mary and Alice Pettit. Middle row: Claudia (Pettit) Prince. Back row: Bob Pettit.

The children of Claude and Marie Pettit of Emmetsburg have been referred to as "The Pettit Family," "The Kids Next Door," "The Singing Pettits," and "The Petites" over the past 50 years. While all seven sang at one time or another, the five primary singing siblings will be recognized for their state and national successes next weekend in Arnolds Park as they're inducted into the 2008 class of the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame.

Bob, Alice and Pati, the three eldest Pettit children, began singing together at the prompting of their mother, who accompanied them on the piano. Rather than teaching her children to read sheet music, Marie Pettit instructed them on how to perform like she did -- by ear.

"We started singing when I was 7," Bob Pettit recalled. "And it was just the three of us at that time: Pati, Alice and me."

(Photo by Kris Todd) Claudia (Pettit) Prince and Bob Pettit, both of Ruthven, as they appear today. The brother and sister are part of the northwest Iowa-based singing group "The Petites," which will be inducted into the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame next weekend. [Order this photo]

Their sister Mary joined in 1948, forming a quartet, and began singing solos for the group. While Alice and Bob sang harmony, Pati and Mary were taught to sing melody.

The children's first public show was at a fireman's ball in their hometown.

When younger sister Claudia was coaxed onto the singing stage as a 3-year-old, she sang melodies with Pati and Mary.

"I don't remember not singing," the now-61-year-old Ruthven resident and mother of eight said with a smile.

As word of their singing abilities spread, the Pettit children were soon asked to perform around Iowa at various fairs and functions.

Claude and Marie Pettit's family -- which consisted of Bob, 14, Pati, 13, Alice, 12, Mary, 9, Claudia, 6, Don, 3, and Claude Jr. -- moved to Spencer in the winter of 1952. By the fall of 1956, "The Pettit Family" singers were actively knocking on the door to becoming professional singers. Deemed the "Midwest's newest singing sensation," the family moved to Des Moines to advance its singing career.

A July 1956 letter addressed to the Pettits' parents by Gordon Gammack, a longtime newspaper reporter and columnist for The Des Moines Register and Tribune, opened the door further. Gammack's letter stated: "You may recall that several years ago, when I spoke at Pocahontas, your youngsters provided the entertainment -- and it was so good. ... Now I have a weekly TV show on KRNT, from 10:20 to 10:45 Sunday nights, and I would so like to have the Pettits as my guest."

The children responded affirmatively. On the advice of their agent, the family then moved to Chicago in 1957 and changed its name to "The Petites."

With Gammack, who had become a mentor to the children, serving as their talent scout, the five songbirds performed on "The Arthur Godfrey Show" in New York. Even though they placed second to a harmonica player from Pennsylvania, their May 1958 television appearance turned into an audition for George Gobel and his television show, "The George Gobel Show." After signing a $30,000 contract, "The Petites" moved to Los Angeles in August 1958, and became "regulars" on the variety show from Sept. 23 until April 1959.

"It was one of the first color shows. That was a big deal in those days," Bob Pettit recalled.

"And, it was live," Claudia (Pettit) Prince added. "It was a live performance taped on the East Coast. We could go home, and three hours later, watch it on our set at home."

Their performances on "The George Gobel Show" also put the Pettit children in direct contact with entertainers such as Norman Lear, Nat King Cole, Paul Lynde, Johnny Cash, Bea Arthur, Anita Bryant and Peggy Lee, among others. In turn, "Blessed Are They," their first recording, was minted. Listed as a "new record to watch" on July 7, 1956, the song, which carried Spinning Records and Columbia Records labels, made the top 40 chart among Chicago radio stations.

By 1958, former WCFL disc jockey Jack Karey explained the Pettit family, which included seven children, had the two youngest, Donald and Claude Jr., "kept in readiness 'on the bench' for the coach's call to the spotlight." The family had also rung up their first solid hit record, "Sweetie Pie."

"The Petites" became Columbia Records recording artists in October 1959, meanwhile making a rapid rise to fame as the "Kids Next Door" on "The George Gobel Show."

By 1961, with the marriages of Alice and Pati, the trio of Bob, Mary and Claudia continued to sing professionally in cities such as San Francisco, Reno, Lake Tahoe, New York and Las Vegas.

"We then went from dresses up to here to dresses down to here," Claudia recalled. "I was about 14 at the time, and still not old enough to be working in the clubs. ... My name got changed to Pati and I just kept working. ... I had no other choice. Because if they knew how old I was, I couldn't work."

In all, the siblings cut eight records, receiving air play for "Blessed Are They," which was written by Lois Steele and Jack Fulton, "Sun Showers" and "Get Your Daddy's Car Tonight."

When Bob was drafted for six months in the Army National Guard, singer Judy Gardner joined Mary and Claudia, who had by then taken on her older sister Pati's name, as one of the three "Petites." The trio signed a one-year contract with Jerry Colonna and toured the country.

"He was very much a part of the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby USO stuff," Claudia recalled. "We didn't do USO shows, but when we traveled with Jerry, we always went to the VA hospitals. Whatever city we were in, we always went and performed. That had quite an impact on me."

While sister Mary continued to sing with other musical groups until her death in 2002, the Pettits' sister Alice also passed away in 1999. Bob, meanwhile, returned to Iowa after serving his country and found that he couldn't stay away from singing. He joined "Spectrum 70" in 1970, which served as the house band for the former Vern & Coila's eatery for 10 years. He also served as Ruthven's city clerk.

Mother Marie Pettit, 89, resides at a nursing home in Emmetsburg today. While their sister Pati lives in Arizona, Bob and Claudia continue to sing at various venues around the area.

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2008 Hall of Fame inductees to perform at Spencer Community Theatre

Aug. 30 through Sept. 1, which has been designated as "Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Weekend" by Gov. Chet Culver, will also mark the 12th year of inductions into the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame. 2008 Hall of Fame inductees being recognized on Aug. 30 include Nick Lane, Wayne Johnson, Enoch Smoky, The Daybreakers, Terra Firma, IBTC, Sky Dancer, Music Circuit Presentations, Marvin Ross, KMA Radio, The Establishment, Silver Strings, Billy Rat and the Finks, The Petites, Woodcliff Ballroom, The Coachmen, Smokey Smith, Kip Shannon, Vicki Lutes and Bob York.

Bob Pettit and Claudia (Pettit) Prince, two members of The Petites, an Emmetsburg-based family of singers, will be among this year's inductees. A concert featuring all of the 2008 IRRMA's Hall of Fame inductees will be held Aug. 31 at the Roof Garden in Arnolds Park.

* Tickets, which will be available at the door, may also be obtained by calling the IRRMA office at (712) 332-6540.

Leading up to their induction into the IRRMA's Hall of Fame, Bob Pettit and Claudia Prince, both residents of Ruthven, will take center stage at Spencer Community Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 23 in "A Night of Music and Magic." The two vocalists, who will be featured in concert singing some of the songs from their careers as "The Petites," will be backed up by Clark Marshall on guitar, Ray Meyer on piano, Phil Christy on drums, John "Jack" Ryan on bass and Dave Napier on saxophone.

The magical portion of Saturday evening will be provided by "Magical Michael and Terrific Terri," also known as Mr. and Mrs. Magic.

A reception featuring hors d'oeuvres and beverages will follow both performances, which are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

* Reservations may be made in advance by calling SCT at 262-7336. Tickets will also be sold at the door of SCT Playhouse, which is located at 518 First Ave. E., Spencer.