DOO WOP MUSIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE INTERVIEWS
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WALLY ROKER
OF THE HEARTBEATS
TERRY JOHNSON
OF THE FLAMINGOS
NORMAN FOX
OF THE ROB ROYS
The Heartbeats were a 1950s American doo-wop group best known for their song "A Thousand Miles Away", which charted at #53 in the US Billboard listings in 1957.
The Heartbeats began as a quartet in early 1953 in Jamaica, Queens as "The Hearts", consisting of baritone Vernon Sievers, bass Wally Roker, first tenor Albert Crump, and second tenor Robbie Tatum. When it was later discovered that there was a female group of the same name (who scored a minor Billboard hit with "Lonely Nights"), the male group extended their name to "Heartbeats". They were signed shortly after James "Shep" Sheppard joined the group as lead vocalist and were shuffled between various production companies and record labels over the next few years. The group split up in 1959 and Sheppard went on to form Shep and the Limelites. Roker remained in the music business as a promoter while the other group members went on to other professions. James Sheppard died under mysterious circumstances in 1970.
On May 13, 2003, the four original surviving Heartbeats, joined by Walter Crump (Albert's brother) on lead vocals, reunited for the PBS special Rock and Roll at 50 at the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Later that same year on December 27, they reunited again for their 50th anniversary at a meeting of the United in Group Harmony Association in New Jersey. Albert Crump and Robbie Tatum retired from performing shortly thereafter.
The Heartbeats currently consist of original members Wally Roker (bass) and Vernon Sievers (baritone), lead vocalist Walter Crump, and two members of the 1980s lineup of Shep & The Limelites, Ron Bassett (second tenor) and Randy Reid (first tenor). Original first tenor Albert Crump died of cancer on October 3, 2012 at age 75.
In 1954, Terry (at age 16) recorded with a Baltimore group called THE WHISPERS, (not The Whispers of the 1960′s), on Gotham Records in Philadelphia. He wrote, arranged and sang lead on “Fool Heart” and wrote, arranged and sang lead on “Are You Sorry”, released in 1955.
He brought that sound and talent to The Flamingos in 1956 with his first arrangement of music and vocals on “The Ladder of Love” and continued with writing and arranging, “Lovers Never Say Goodbye”, “Mio Amore”, “At The Prom”, “Heavenly Angel”, “You, Me and the Sea” and others, and also with his unforgettably beautiful production and arrangement of “I Only Have Eyes For You”. Terry arranged the music, vocals and sang tenor on all of the songs on the albums “Flamingo Serenade”, “Requestfully Yours” and “Flamingo Favorites”. Terry sang on the duets such as “Lovers Never Say Goodbye”, “Love Walked In”, “Time Was” and “But Not For Me”. He also sang the lead on some of their album cuts such as “I’m In The Mood For Love”, “When I Fall In Love” and “Beside You”.
Terry spent many years at Hitsville U.S.A. (otherwise known as Motown) working with the likes of The Supremes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Temptations, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas and The Four Tops. During his visit to Detroit in 2003, he had some nostalgic moments in front of the recording studio.
During his visit to Detroit in 2003, he had some nostalgic moments in front of the Motown recording studio, “Hitsville USA”.
After The Flamingos, Terry formed his own group called Terry Johnson & The Modern Flamingos. When Nate Nelson left The Flamingos, he joined forces with Terry. They recorded under the name THE STARGLOWS. They co-wrote and sang “Let’s Be Lovers” on the Atco Label, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. Terry arranged the background vocals using his group.
Still working with his group, Terry went to Motown Records as an artist and producing partners with Smokey Robinson. As an artist, he recorded several records on the Gordy Label. He wrote, arranged, and produced songs for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Edwin Starr, The Spinners, Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, Jimmy Ruffin, Mickey Denton, Blinky and other Motown artists.
Terry is extremely grateful for the opportunities that he has had in recording with the other members of The Whispers, (Billy Thompson, James Johnson, Bill Mills) and The Flamingos, Jake & Zeke Carey (Founders), Paul Wilson, Tommy Hunt and Nate Nelson) and the above named artists at Motown. Working with such great artists is a major part of his success.
From The Whispers, to The Flamingos, to The Starglows, to Motown Records and up to today, his legacy, sound and the success of his music continues with his own group TERRY JOHNSON’S FLAMINGOS. Many of you have already seen him around the country on the PBS special called “Rock and Roll At 50″, and you will also see him on the latest PBS special called “Doo-Wop Lost And Found”, filmed in Atlantic City, due to air in November of 2005.
He is currently celebrating the Diamond Anniversary of The Flamingos as well as his own with a new CD entitled “The Flamingos’ Diamond Anniversary Tour 2013.” During May through December of 2015 he will be in the process of recording and releasing new originals. True to his reputation of being ahead of his time, he is enjoying producing and co-producing with some of today’s hottest young producers and musicians throughout the country, creating a combination of styles from the past and present. His most recent project was producing a song for Boyz II Men for their upcoming album, possibly releasing at the end of 2015. The Diamond Anniversary CD is available on this website, ITunes and Amazon. Thanks to all the Fans, the DJ’s, the Promoters, the Agents and fellow Artists. We’ll see you soon in your city. Terry was inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
Norman Fox and The Rob Roys
"Tell Me Why" "Dance Girl Dance" "Lover Doll"
The group formed in New York in 1956, and were one of the few interracial groups recording at this time. The group takes its name from the Rob Roy cocktail. The members of the group were Norman Fox (lead), Bob Trotman (first tenor), Andre Lilly (second tenor), Robert Thierer (baritone), and Marshall "Buzzy" Helfand (bass). The group signed to the Backbeat label, a subsidiary of Duke/Peacock in 1957, and recorded three singles, generally upbeat doo-wop tracks: "Tell Me Why", "Lover Doll", and "Dance Girl Dance".[1]
The group then signed to Capitol Records in 1958. Helfand left the group at this time, and was replaced by new bass Paul Schneller. One single was recorded, "Pizza Pie", but it was not released as the group was still under contract to Backbeat. After they released enough singles to fulfill their contract, Capitol declined to release it. After recording two unissued singles for Time Records, the group split in 1963.[1]
The group reunited for a show in 1971, with Fox, Trotman, Lilly, and Thierer. After another gap, the group returned in 1986 with Fox, Thierer, Stuart Morgan (first tenor; he'd toured with a Drifters group and performed with The Channels in the late 1990s-early 2000s), Alex Augustine[2] (second tenor; former member of The Charts), and Leon McClain (bass, of The Quinns). In the early 90s, the group recorded several a cappella tracks for multiple Starlight Records compilation albums. Some featured Norman's daughter Kim on lead vocals.[1] By this time, Morgan and McClain had been replaced by Nelson "Tino" Alvarez and Les Levine.[3] Later, the group was Fox, Thierer, Augustine, Alvarez, and Jay McKnight, a previous member of The Dubs.[4] Levine is a current member of The Del Vikings.
As of 2004, the group was Fox, Thierer, Alvarez, the returning Leon McClain, and Warren Tesoro (second tenor; joined 2003). When Norman appears in the South East he is backed up by Mike Miller, Joe Neary, Joel Starr, Lenny Citrin and Carmine DeSena.
JUST CLICK ON THE PLAYER UNDER EACH NAME AND LISTEN
EUGENE PITT
OF THE JIVE FIVE
Best known for the number one R&B hit "My True Story," the Jive Five were one of the few vocal groups to survive the transistion from the '50s to the '60s. In the process, they helped move the music itself forward, providing a key link between doo wop and '60s soul.
Formed in Brooklyn, NY, the group originally consisted of Eugene Pitt (lead), Jerome Hanna (tenor), Richard Harris (tenor), Billy Prophet (baritone), and Norman Johnson (bass). The Jive Five's first hit, "My True Story," was their biggest, peaking at number one on the R&B charts and number three on the pop charts in the summer of 1961. "Im A Happy Man", Never Never Never", "A Bench In The Park" , "What Time Is It" and so many other great Jive Five recordings became Doo Wop and R n B classics over the year including the R&B hit, 1962's "These Golden Rings" as the group managed to keep performing and recording. Under the direction of Eugene Pitt and Norman Johnson, the Jive Five refashioned themselves as a soul band in 1964, forming a new lineup with Casey Spencer (tenor), Webster Harris (tenor), and Beatrice Best (baritone). This new incarnation of the band signed to United Artists Records. The group only had one hit on UA, 1965's "I'm a Happy Man."
In 1966, the Jive Five left United Artists and signed with Musicor, where they had the 1968 R&B hit "Sugar (Don't Take Away My Candy)." They changed labels again in 1970, signing with Decca. That same year, they changed their name to the Jyve Fyve, in order to appear more contemporary. The Jyve Fyve had an R&B hit, 1970's "I Want You to Be My Baby."
The group continued to perform and record for a variety of labels during the '70s Throughout the '70s and '80s, the only constant member was Eugene Pitt. In 1975, Eugene changed the name of the group to Ebony, Ivory, and the Jades. In 1982, Pitt changed the name of the group back to the Jive Five and the band recorded two albums for the indie label, Ambient Sound. For the rest of the '80s and the '90s, the Jive Five were regulars on the oldies circuit.Gene continues to wow his fans all over America with The Jive Five.................For All of Genes New Projects Just Click on The Interview Above
INTERVIEWS
WALLY ROKER
TERRY JOHNSON
NORMAN FOX
EUGENE PITT
