Friday, February 5, 2010

Robert & Johnny, The Falcons, The Clovers, and The Five Satins

While I'm sure there was a lot of good information in my last blog, I'm equally sure that it was kind of boring. In my defense, I set you up. There are three names you need to take from the blog, and they are, Carole King, George Goldner, and Morris Levy. Their names will come up again and again as I talk about the artist of the doo-wop era.
Next up Robert & Johnny, The Falcons, The Clovers , and The Five Satins.


ROBERT AND JOHNNY
Robert Carr and Johnny Mitchell grew up in the same neighborhood and attended the same high school in the Bronx, a center of doo-wop activity.
The duo's style was to pause on a note when changing lead or when the two came together in the choruses. The duo made a number of recordings, but were really one hit wonders.
Robert & Johnny started recording for Old Town Records in 1956. "I Believe In You" was one of their first recordings. This estabished the duo in New York. "We Belong Together" put the duo on the list of all time great songs. The song went to #12 on the R&B charts and #32 on the pop charts in 1958. The duo however ended their recording career in late 1962 or early 1963.
Marv Goldberg's R&B notebooks list a number of recordings and shows that featured Robert & Johnny.
According to Goldberg the duo started in a group called The Royal Tones, which included Leo Macedon, Henry Wilkerson, and Eugene Tomkins. The group tried to get signed with Atlantic Records with a song called "Where will We Spend Eternity", which was written by Robert. Jerry Wexler liked the group and told them to get their parents consent so they could record for the label. The group broke up when Macedon's mother refused to sign. Robert then teamed up with guitar playing Johnny Mitchell. The two showed up at Hy Weiss' midnight auditions at the Tri-Boro Theater. Weiss was the owner of Old Town Records and was impressed with the two and hired them in early 1956. "I Believe In You" and "Train To Paradise" were released in April 1956, both sides got good reviews. Because of Old Town's bad distribution system the record never got out New York. Later in 1956 the duo recorded three more songs, "You're Mine", Million Dollars Bills", and "Your Kisses". At the same time Morris Levy (remember that name?) and his partners, purchased 50% of Old Town's Maureen Music publishing company and "You're Mine" and "Million Dollar Bills" were the first releases of the new set-up. Somehow Levy convinced Weiss to turn over local distribution of Old Town and Paradise labels to Tico Distributing. Tico was owned by George Goldner, who would become one of Levy's many many partners and victims. Levy also managed Alan Freed which made it easy for Levy to get songs from his labels played more often.
In November of 1956 the duo made their first of many trips to the famed Appollo as part of something called the Dr. Jive Show. They were at The Apollo again in February of 1957. In 1957 Robert and Johnny recorded "Don't Do It", "Broken Hearted Man", "Indian Marriage", "In The Rain" and "We Belong Together". January of 1958 found the duo at The Apollo again as part of another Dr. Jive Show. By February 1958 "We Belong Together" was a hit, and on March 25 of that same year they sang it on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, as well on his Saturday night show on the 29th. The song then became a hit in Los Angeles and made the national R&B charts at #12.
1958 and 1959 found the duo at The Apollo quite often.
In March 1959, the duo recorded "Dream Girl", "Oh My Love", "Bad Dan", and "Wear This Ring".
In April 1960 the duo were part of another Dr Jive show at The Apollo. In 1961 the duo joined an Oldies Show at The Apollo. They had become one New York's favorite acts.
Robert and Johnny finally left Old Town Records and like many of the artist that came in contact with Goerge Goldner and Morris Levy they wound up with little to show for their efforts.
The duo recorded many songs over the years, but are still considered ONE HIT WONDERS.


THE FALCONS
The Falcons formed in Detroit, in 1955, and were signed to Mercury Records. The first group Of Falcons included, Eddie Floyd, Bob Manardo, Arnett Robinson, Tom Shetler, and Willie Schofield. Their first hit was "You're So Fine" in 1959, on Lupine Records. Like most of the groups of the time there were many personnel changes over the years. Some of the people to pass through the group were, Joe Stubbs,(brother Of Levi Stubbs of The Four Tops), Wilson Pickett, Mack Rice, Lance Finnie and Robert Ward. Joe Stubbs would later become a member of The Contours and a member of The Originals, after that. Mack Rice was the first to sing "Mustang Sally" which would later become a hit for Wilson Pickett, after he left the group. Wilson Pickett was on lead when the group had a hit with "I Found A Love" on the Lupine label in 1962.
After Pickett left, the group broke up, but the name was carried on by a group called The Fabulous Playboys, who became The Falcons. That group included Carlis "Sonny" Monroe, James Gibson, Johnny Alvin, and Alton Hollowell. This group made the R&B charts in 1966 with "Standing On Guard".
From time to time various groups toured as The Falcons on the Doo-wop circuit.

THE FIVE SATINS
The Five Satins formed in 1954 in New Haven, Connecticut. The group included Fred Parris, Lou Peebles, Stanly Dortch, Ed Martin, and Jim Freeman. The group had little success, so Peebles and Dortch soon left the group, and Al Denby then joined the group.
The group recorded "In The Still Of The Night" as a b-side of a record called "The Jones Girls". "In The Still Of The Night" scored big, and charted at #3 on the R&B charts and #25 on the pop charts.
Parris went into the Army, and the group reorganized with Martin Freeman, Tommy Killebrew, Jessie Murphy, and new lead Bill Baker. This lineup had a hit with "To The Aisle" by Billy Dawn Smith.
When Parris returned from the Army the group reorganized again, this group consisted of Parris, Peebles, Sylvester Hopkins, Richie Freeman and Wes Forbes. This group was called Fred Parris and The Scarlets, until the Bill Baker lead group split-up. At this point Parris went back to being The Satins.
With more personell changes the group continued to record into the 80's, with no major hits. The Five Satins were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall Of Fame in 2003. The group still performs in the Northeast and record new material.


THE CLOVERS
The Clovers formed in 1946 at Armstrong High School in Washington, D.C. The group included Harold Lucas, Billy Shelton, and Thomas Woods. John "Buddy" Bailey was added later. They were called The Four Clovers, with Bailey on lead. In an effort to perfect their sound, Shelton and Woods were pushed out of the group in 1948, and Matthew McQuarter and Harold Winley replaced them.
The group's break came in 1950 when Lou Krefetz became their manager. They signed with Rainbow Records in New York and released "Yes Sir, That's My Baby"/"when You Come Back To Me". Krefetz took the group to Atlantic Records and introduced them to Ahmet Ertegun, and the group signed with Atlantic in 1951. Guitarist Bill Harris was added to group about this time. The group made their first appearance at The Apollo in February of that year.
The Clovers first recording session with Atlantic produced three hits, "Don't You Know I Love You" went to #1 on the national charts, in 1951, "One Mint Julep" and "Fool, Fool, Fool, went to #1 in September of the same year.
Bailey went into the Army in 1952 and was replaced by John Phillip. Phillip was there for just a few months and was replaced by Charlie White, who had been with The Dominoes and The Checkers. White was fired in 1953 and was replaced by Billy Mitchell. The group was having little success with Atlantic at this time. Bailey came back from the Army in 1954, and rejoined the group making them a quintet. The group had a moderate success with "Devil or Angel" in 1955.
Mitchell left the group for a short time to chase a solo career, returning after deciding that he could do solo work and work with The Clovers.
Their contract with Atlantic expired, so Krefetz moved the group to his own label, Popular Records. Popular was sold to United Artist Records which put the group in touch with Leiber and Stoller. After a few recordings, the group had their biggest hit with "Love Potion #9" in July 1959, with Mitchell on lead. There are two versions of "Love Potion #9", the second version refered to love potion #10 and was played more often than the original.
After their United Artist contract expired in 1961 the group moved to Winley Records. The group had little success at Winley, and soon split. Lucas and Mitchell found two new members, James Walton and Robert Russell and recorded for Atlantic again. Bailey formed his own Clovers and recorded for Winley Records in 1962. Also in 1962 Mitchell left the group and was replaced by Roosevelt 'Tippie" Hubbard. The group recorded as Tippie and the Clovermen and Tippie and the Clovers for Tiger Records, a subsidiary of Rust Records. By the end of 1963 the group was a trio, consisting of Lucas, Bailey and Winley.
After The Searchers coverd "Love Potion #9, in 1965, some of the groups old tracks were leased to Pickwick International Records, who released an album called "The Original Love Potion #9 By The Clovers"
Lucas and Russell asked Hubbard and Walton to return, then added a 5th member Al Fox. They recorded as Tippie and The Wisemen for D.C's Shrine Records. When Fox left, the group went back to being The Clovers. Bailey fromed his owned version of The Clovers and re-recorded "Devil or Angel" and "Love Potion #9", for Lana Records in 1965. Harold Winley started a third Clovers group in 1968, which caused serious confusion, they recorded for Josie Records.
Russell passed in 1969 and was replaced by John Bowie. The group released a disco song called "Bump Jive" on D.C.'s Alladin Records in 1975. Soon after the release Walton passed and was replaced by Johnnie Mason. Tippie passed in 1980 and was replaced by Steve Charles.
At a reunion in 1988 in Austin, Texas. Lucas brought his Clovers and reunited with Bailey, McQuarter, and Winley. Lucas' group recorded for Ripete Records in Elliott, South Carolina.
Chuck Battle replaced Charles in 1990. Harold Lucas became ill and stop touring in 1993. The personell continues to change, but the group still tours and is popular on the doo-wop circuit.
The Clovers recieved the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, Pioneer Award in 1988, were inducted into The Doo-Wop Hall of Fame in 2001, inducted into The Vocal Group Hall Of Fame in 2002, and inducted into The United in Group Harmony Hall Of Fame in 2002


As stated before we will see the names Leiber and Stoller, George Goldner, Morris Levy and Carole King over and over again. They where major players in the doo-wop era, along with many others, we'll try to get to them all.
Please send your comments and request so I can keep the blog going.

3 comments:

  1. Some more interesting factoids: The backup band behind The Falcons was a group called The Ohio Untouchables. They went on to become The Ohio Players.

    The Five Satins hit, "In The Still Of The Night" was recorded in the basement of a church in New Haven, Ct. Talk about saving money on studio fees.

    The Clovers were so prolific, from June of '51 til July of '54, just a little over 3 years, they placed 15 consecutive songs in the Top 10!

    ReplyDelete
  2. As usual Dr. Nick is correct with his added facts. This is just what I'm looking for, if you have information that can be added to the blog please leave comments and please make request for other groups that you would like to hear about.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you so much for featuring Robert and Johnny as I requested. Although I realize that they were "One Hit Wonders" with "We Belong Together", that song has always been such a favorite of mine that I always include it in my top 10 Doo Wop songs and I NEVER tire of hearing it, even after all of these years!!!

    Although I have asked for a number of requests, which you have so graciously granted, I always have more. So if it's not an imposition, I would love to learn more about my beloved Flamingos (Mio Amore is an all time fav of mine) and the Cardinals...I could listen to "The Door is Still Open" FOREVER!!! ;-)

    Thanks,
    Victoria

    ReplyDelete