Rhythm and Blues Vocal Groups of New York City

The main information and outline is from "They All Sang On The Corner: A Second Look at New York City's Rhythm and Blues Vocal Groups," by Philip Groia; Published by Phillie Dee Enterprises, Inc., Port Jefferson, New York, 1983, Tenth Printing, October 2005.

The bulk of these groups existed from the early 1950s until around 1970. Wikipedia

Halloween 1954

How It All Began

Roots of the Rhythm and Blues innovative groups:

• Ravens
• Orioles
• Five Keys
• Moonglows.

Gospel On The Stoops of New York

Gospel roots of R&B:

• Clyde McPhatter
• Dominoes
• Checkers
• Drifters
• Diablos
• Majors
• Four Fellows: They were anchored by lead singer, Jimmy McGowan, who walked with a noticeable limp. In 1951, Jim McGowan had been stabbed in a Bed-Stuy rumble.
• Hear today! here to stay!: A personal history of rhythm and blues
• Jim McGowan and the Four Fellows

"Life Is But A Dream" - The 115th Street Tin Can Band Makes It To The Apollo

The Harptones.

The Lady In The Window

• Cadillacs
• Opals
• Heartbeats
• Vocaleers
• Dovers
• Vocaltones
• Solitaires.

The Kingdom of Rhythm And Blues

115th Street groups of New York:

• Willows
• Five Crowns
• Channels
• Bop-Chords
• Keynotes
• Charts
• Ladins
• Wanderers
• Desires
• Jesters
• Whirlers
• Schoolboys.

Sugar Hill

• Velvets
• Savoys
• Pretenders
• Collegians
• Juniors
• Chantels
• Valentines
• Frank Lymon and the Teenagers.

It Would Never Last

"Since the publication of They All Sang On The Corner in 1973, Sonny Til has been joined by others who are no longer serenading on the corner:

• Sonny Gordon (Angels)
• J.R. Bailey (Cadillacs)
• Laverne Drake (Cadillacs)
• Leon Hardy (Cardinals)
• Ross Buford (Charts)
• Carl Feaster (Chords)
• Warren Corbin (Cleftones)
• Joe Diaz (Crickets)
• Eddie Barnes (Del Vikings)
• Abel De Costa (Del Vikings)
• Clarence Quick (Del Vikings)
• Nolan Strong (Diablos)
• Jackie Wilson (Dominoes)
• David Baughn (Drifters)
• Tommy Evans (Drifters)
• Rudy Lewis (Drifters)
• Lloyd Davis (Fi-Tones)
• Gene Redd (Fi-Tones)
• Lowman Pauling (Five Royales)
• Nate Nelson (Flamingos)
• Gordon Payne (Four Fellows)
• Nick Clark (Harptones)
• Fred Taylor (Harptones)

To be continued!

Others Outside NYC (future project)

• Etta James
• The Delicates, Belleville, New Jersey.
• Barbara Mason
• Connie Francis
• Barbara Lewis
• Everly Brothers
• The Toys
• Tommy Edwards
• Johnny Mathis
• Jerry Butler
• Betty Everett
• Little Peggy Marsh
• Neil Sedaka
• Paul Anka
• The Tymes

Producers

Record Labels

Links

• Uncle Carl
• The Roots of R&B
• Nellie Lutcher with autograph

Resources

• "They All Sang On The Corner: A Second Look at New York City's Rhythm and Blues Vocal Groups," by Philip Groia; Published by Phillie Dee Enterprises, Inc., Port Jefferson, New York, 1983, Tenth Printing, October 2005.