The group was formed in 1918 as a band at Pennsylvania State University by the brothers Fred and Tom Waring, and their friends Freddy Buck and Poley McClintock. They began playing at colleges, fraternity parties, proms, etc. and later went on to play in theaters. They had a big hit in 1925 with the song "Collegiate", probably their best known song. Other popular novelty songs were "I've Never Seen a Straight Banana" and "I Wonder How I Look When I'm Asleep".