Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

The Crows

 
Artist: The Crows
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists

Group Members:

William Davis, Mark Jackson, Daniel "Sonny" Norton, Harold Major, Gerald Hamilton

Similar Artists:

The Videos, The Students, The Wrens, Lee Andrews & the Hearts, The Shields, The Jewels, The Genies, The Eternals, The Willows, Shep & the Limelites, The Orioles, The Gladiolas, Norman Fox & The Rob Roys, The Flamingos, The Five Satins, The Silhouettes, The Rainbows, The Fiestas, The Fascinators, The Ravens, The Valentines, The Solitaires, The Monotones, The Teenagers, The Danleers, The Moonglows, The Tokens, The Spaniels, The El Dorados, The Skyliners, The Schoolboys, The Passions, Louie Lymon, The Impalas, The Chords, The Regents, The Pastels, The Harptones, The Dubs, The Elegants, The Velvets, The Turbans, The Shells, The Platters, The Penguins, The Paragons, The Nutmegs, The Mystics, The Mello-Kings, The Marcels, Frankie Lymon, The Jesters, The Jacks, Hollywood Flames, The Heartbeats, The Five Keys, The Edsels, Dion, The Dells, The Del Vikings, The Crests, The Clovers, The Cleftones, The Charts, The Chantels, The Channels, The Capris, The Cadillacs, Jerry Butler, The Imperials, The Downbeats, The Flares
See The Crows Lyrics
  • Formed: 1951, New York, NY
  • Disbanded: 1954
  • Genres: Rhythm & Blues
  • Representative Albums: "Strictly for the Birds: The Rama and Gee Recordings 1953-1956," "Gee, It's the Crows," "Gee"
  • Representative Songs: "Gee," "Baby Doll," "Mambo Shevitz (Man, Oh Man)"

Biography

One of the first doo wop groups, one of the first so-called bird groups, and one of the first acts of any kind to score a bona fide rock & roll hit record, the Crows were among the more important one-shot artists in rock & roll history. Discovered at New York's Apollo Theater in 1952, the Crows were one of the many groups pioneering doo wop with their infectious, cheerful vocals and harmonies, use of nonsense syllables, and modified jump blues instrumental backing. Cut in 1953, "Gee," with its irresistible melody, naively enthusiastic street-corner singing, and Charlie Christian-like guitar solo, was far and away their best single. It was also their only successful one, although it needed almost a year to take off, reaching number 14 on the pop charts (and number two on the R&B charts) in early 1954. Recording about a half-dozen other 45s between 1952 and 1954, the group broke up with little fanfare only months after "Gee" fell off the hit parade. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

Wikipedia: The Crows
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
This article is about the 1950s singing group. For the Australian rules football club, see Adelaide Crows.
The Crows

Background information
Origin Harlem
Genres Rhythm and blues, doo wop
Years active 1951–55
Labels Rama Records
Former members
Daniel "Sonny" Norton
William "Bill" Davis
Harold Major
Jerry Wittick
Gerald Hamilton
Mark Jackson

The Crows were an American R & B singing group who achieved commercial success in the 1950s. The group's first single and only major hit, "Gee", released in June 1953, has been credited with being the first Rock n’ Roll hit by a rock and roll group.[1] It peaked at position #14 and #2, respectively, on the Billboard magazine pop and rhythm-and-blues charts in 1954.

History

When The Crows started out in 1951, practicing sidewalk harmonies, the original members were: Daniel "Sonny" Norton (lead); William "Bill" Davis (baritone); Harold Major (tenor); Jerry Wittick (tenor); and Gerald Hamilton (bass). In 1952, Wittick left the group and was replaced by Mark Jackson (tenor and guitarist).[1]

They were discovered at Apollo Theater's Wednesday night talent show by talent agent Cliff Martinez, and brought to independent producer George Goldner who had just set up tiny new indepent Rama Records label.[2] The Crows were the first group signed and the first to record. The first songs they recorded were as back-up to singer and tenor Watkins. The song "Gee" was the third song recorded during their first recording session, on February 10, 1953. It was put together in a few minutes by group member, William Davis, with Viola Watkins also being credited as co-writer. [3]

The song was first released as the B-side of a ballad, "I Love You So". However, radio stations began turning it over and playing "Gee", first in Philadelphia and later in New York and Los Angeles. By January 1954 it had sold 100,000 copies, and by April entered the national R&B and pop charts, rising to # 2 R&B and # 14 pop.[3] The song was a huge hit a year after it was recorded.

The Crows were a one-hit wonder. While "Gee" was on the charts, the record company released a number of other singles by the group, including "Heartbreaker", "Baby", and "Miss You", but none were successful. Their failures and the inability to perform regularly to support their recordings led to the breakup of the group a few months after "Gee" dropped off the Hit Parade.[4][5] They maintained the original line up for the entire career of the group, with no hope for a reunion following the deaths of Gerald Hamilton in the 1960s, and Daniel Norton in 1972.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Warner, Jay, American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today (2006), published by Hal Leonard Corporation, at page 137
  2. ^ Fox, Ted (1993). Showtime at the Apollo (2nd Ed. ed.). New York, N.Y.: Da Capo Press. pp. p. 116. ISBN 0-306-80503-0. 
  3. ^ a b Jim Dawson, & Steve Propes (1992). What Was the First Rock'n'Roll Record. Boston & London: Faber & Faber. pp. p. 124-127. ISBN 0-571-12939-0. 
  4. ^ "The Crows". history-of-rock. http://www.history-of-rock.com/dootwo.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-17. 
  5. ^ J. C. Marion, DooWop Nation issue #7
  6. ^ Warner, Jay, American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today (2006), published by Hal Leonard Corporation, at page 139

External links

Stub icon This article on a United States R&B/soul music band, group, or collective is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "The Crows".  Read more