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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCLEFTONES, TheUSA doo wop group formed NYC '55. Lineup: Herbie Cox (b 6 May '39, lead), Charles James (b '40, first tenor), Berman Patterson (b '38, second tenor), William McClain (b '38, baritone), Warren Corbin (b '39, bass). Began at school in Jamaica, Queens as the Silvertones; signed with George Goldner's Rama Records, became first act on Gee Records (see entry for the Crows); then one of many doo wop groups signed to Roulette mid-'50s. Of hits '56-62 "You Baby You' and "Little Girl Of Mine' '56 failed to make top 50; Gene Pearson replaced McClain '59, then "Heart And Soul' '61 beat rival Jan & Dean (white West Coast) version to top 20. "For Sentimental Reasons' '61, "Lover Come Back To Me' '62 again failed to make upper half of Billboard Hot 100. Second and third hits both top 10 R&B chart. Cox, James, Pearson and Patterson were still doing oldies shows mid-'70s. |