The dominoes biography

One of the most popular vocal bands of the early 1950s, Billy Mail and His Dominoes owed their come next to three men: Clyde McPhatter, Jackie Wilson and Billy Ward. It was Ward's group - he organized be patient, masterminded in promotion, wrote the songs and arrangements and dictated every phase move right from the beginning. Baton Ward is a gifted musician, regular former child prodigy trained in illustriousness classics, voice and composition. Born absorb Los Angeles on September 19, 1921, to a preacher father and choir-directing mother, Ward moved with his affinity to Philadelphia in the mid-1920s. Earth played the organ in church accept at the age of 14 won an award from composer Dr. Director Damrosch for an original piano story.

During World War II, Ward was a commissioned officer and led authority Coast Artillery Choir at Ford Eustis in Virginia. After the war misstep resumed his studies at the Metropolis Art Institute and The Juilliard Institute in New York City. While subvene a career as a vocal governor and part-time arranger on Broadway, recognized met talent agent Rose Marks, reprove they decided to form a outspoken group from the ranks of authority students; Clyde McPharrer, first tenor; Airhead White, second tenor: William Joseph Lamont, baritone; and Bill Brown, bass. Mop the floor with October 1950 they took first accolade on the Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts television show. The Dominoes caught honourableness ear of Ralph Bass of Agent Records, a new subsidiary of Contend. After coming up with original R&B material at the request of Singer, The Dominoes signed a contract disconnect him. They laid down four imprints, all written by Ward and Dangle, at the New York studio take the edge off November 14, 1950. Their first nonpareil was on the street in Dec.

"Do Something For Me" broke national in February 1951 and marched do extremely well the R&B charts to a proper #6 position. Carried by the determined bass vocal of Bill Brown, "Sixty Minute Man" entered the R&B index at the end of May 1951, rose quickly to #1. The mind for their personal appearances kept ethics group on the road and owing to of the studio until January 1952. Both Bill Brown and Charlie Snowy bad been replaced, later to side in a new group, The Draughts. They were replaced by bass crooner David McNeil and second tenor Felon Van Loan. Two moderate hits, "I Am With You" and "That's What You're Doing To Me" kept righteousness stores busy, and King/Federal owner Syd Nathan added a second shift cause somebody to his pressing plant.

Ward's group indubitable their title as she top R&B vocal group with another #1 go around in 1952. "Have Mercy Baby" was a storming rocker led by Clyde McPhatter at his frenzied best. Levelheaded was released in April 1952 unthinkable held the #1 R&B spot in favour of ten weeks. Ward was depending other and more on McPhatter's unique truth fervor, both on ballads and spring tunes, but McPhatter himself was scarcely unknown to the public. Clyde McPhatter was born in Durham, North Catolina, on November 15, 1932. Like Candid, McPhatter was the son of nifty preacher father and organist mother. Clod 1945, the McPhatter family moved bear out New York City and Clyde was soon singing with the Mount Lebanon Singers, along with Charlie White. Contiguous The Dominoes as lead tenor was his first big break.

In nobleness first week of September 1952, Blue blood the gentry Dominoes were working at the Cards State Fair when Ward was approached by a young singer from Metropolis named Jack Leroy Wilson. Wilson, innate in Detroit on June 9,1934, difficult to understand boxed under the name of "Sonny" Wilson and had been Golden Handwear Champion at the age of 16. He later sang with the Inevitably Ready Gospel Singers and an R&B group that included Hank Ballard stomach other future members of the Midnighters. Ward invited Wilson to join Righteousness Dominoes on tour. Working their swing back East, the group stopped find guilty Cincinnati on September 17 and plainspoken a double session, which turned go on a go-slow to be the last one form Clyde McPhatter. From this session came the hits "I'd Be Satisfied," "Pedal Pushin' Papa," "The Bells," and "These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You."

McPhatter decided to leave in Apr 1953 and was recording for Ocean with his own group, The Drifters. Jackie Wilson took his place sophisticated the Dominoes and his first cruise as lead singer, "You Can't Keep back A Good Man Down," was great Jukebox hit. None of the bare Dominoes releases for King/Federal were complete successful and Ward took his piece to Jubilee Records in mid-1954. Abaft just two singles, Ward landed keen lucrative contract with Decca in Apr 1956 and the Dominoes' first register for that label, "St. Therese Give a miss The Roses," enjoyed pop-chart action, fulfilling #27 on the Top 100.

As R&B fans were turning to accumulations such as the Midnighters, Drifters, Platters and Penguins, Ward still had watchword a long way found a niche in pop opus. His one-year contract with Decca invalid and he moved his group reassess, this time to Liberty Records call in April 1957. Finally he got probity pop hit for which he difficult been striving since the Dominoes were formed. With the new lead speak of Eugene Momford, formerly with glory Larks, "Star Dust" made #13 park the Top 100 in the summertime of 1957 and sold for 24 weeks.

Billy Ward & His Dominos never again enjoyed that success. Jackie Wilson worked out a deal smash Ward to leave the group formerly their Liberty recordings and embarked broadcast a highly acclaimed solo career, primarily under the management of Billy Develop. He had 16 R&B and cardinal Top 10 pop hits before good taste was felled by a stroke of great consequence 1975. Wilson survived for a abnormal eight years before mercifully passing rot in January 1984. Clyde MePhatter's employment after he left the group reached the heights of pop stardom, nevertheless his decline in popularity in loftiness late 1960s left him a obedient man, he died in June 1972.

By Peter A. Grendysa, 1993
Source: Dignity Master King Series, Rhino Records