The Harptones
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Biography
[Edit]Despite their failure to achieve the commercial success of rivals like the Drifters, the Flamingos, or the Clovers, the Harptones demand consideration in any serious discussion of the truly immortal acts of the doo wop era. Although none of their singles cracked the Top 40, efforts like "A Sunday Kind of Love," "Life Is But a Dream," and "Memories of You" remain classics of the genre, distinguished by their rich harmonies and sophisticated, jazz-inspired arrangements. The Harptones' origins date to 1951 and the grounds of Harlem's Wadleigh Junior High School, where classmates William Dempsey, Curtis Cherebin, and Freddy Taylor began harmonizing as the Skylarks. Following the additions of Eugene "Sonny" Cooke and a classmate remembered only by the nickname "Skillum," the fledgling group made its professional debut via the Apollo Theatre's famed Amateur Talent Contest, performing a rendition of "My Dear Dearest Darling" that ended in the audience literally booing them off the stage. After a series of lineup shuffles, the Skylarks welcomed William "Dicey" Galloway, who concurrently served as a member of another fledgling Harlem doo wop unit, the Winfield Brothers. In early 1953, alumni of both groups combined as the Harps. Comprising tenor Dempsey, baritone Galloway, lead tenor Willie Winfield, first tenor Claudie "Nicky" Clark, bass Billy Brown, and pianist/arranger Raoul Cita, the Harps returned to the Apollo in November 1953 and earned top honors with their soulful rendition of the Louis Prima composition "A Sunday Kind of Love." Even more significantly, at the end of the evening an MGM Records executive in the audience invited the group to audition at the label's 1650 Broadway studio.
When the Harps arrived at MGM's offices the following week, the exec in question was not available. To pass the time, the group practiced its harmonies while waiting in the hallway, attracting the attention of Bruce Records co-owners Morty Craft and Leo Rogers, who occupied an office just a few doors down. Craft and Rogers immediately extended a contract offer, and after altering the sextet's name to the Harptones (to avoid conflict with the Savoy act Little David Baughn & the Harps), Bruce issued "A Sunday Kind of Love" just days prior to Christmas 1953. Buoyed by Whitfield's crushed-velvet lead and Cita's otherworldly organ intro, the record proved a major hit throughout much of the East Coast, but spotty distribution effectively destroyed its chances of breaking nationally. The Cita-penned "Memories of You" followed in early 1954, and it too proved such a local smash that the Harptones were invited to appear at DJ Alan Freed's historic "Moondog Coronation Ball" alongside the Clovers and Charles Brown. Again Bruce's limited distribution network crippled the single's momentum, however, no doubt prompting the group to question the wisdom of passing up its shot with MGM. Clark assumed lead duties for the Harptones' third release, "I Depended on You." Whitfield reclaimed the reins for the 1954 effort "Why Should I Love You," copied virtually note for note by the Four Lads and placed on the B-side of their hit "Skokiaan," effectively obliterating the Harptones' original.
When Dicey Galloway was drafted into military duty in the autumn of 1954, Cita handled baritone duties on the Harptones' fifth Bruce release, "Since I Fell for You." Another Tri-State region smash, it earned the group a spot on Freed's landmark first New York City showcase, 1955's "Rock and Roll Jubilee," alongside the Drifters, the Clovers, the Moonglows, and Fats Domino. But while Bruce's poor distribution again conspired to halt the single's chances at charting nationally, the Harptones remained under contract to the label, and after recruiting onetime Skylark Freddy Taylor, in March they issued a bluesy cover of Ivory Joe Hunter's "I Almost Lost My Mind." Two months later, however, Bruce finally collapsed, with Leo Rogers acquiring control of the company's assets. He shopped the Harptones to Old Town Records, with owner Hy Weiss agreeing to launch a new subsidiary, Paradise, to accommodate their arrival. After replacing Taylor with Bernard "Jimmy" Beckum, the Harptones cut their Paradise debut, the gorgeous Cita original "Life Is But a Dream." With its gossamer harmonies and jazzlike structure, the single ascended to the Top Five in New York, but Weiss spent little money on promotion outside of the East Coast and the record met the same grim commercial fate as its predecessors. The ballad "My Success (It All Depends on You)" closed out the year, coinciding with the Harptones' weeklong stint at the Apollo. It also marked the end of their Paradise tenure, and in the spring of 1956 the sextet resurfaced on Rogers' new Andrea imprint with the pop-inspired "What Is Your Decision."
After recording three songs for the feature film Rockin' the Blues, the Harptones finally cut ties with Rogers, signing with George Goldner's Rama label to release "Three Wishes." Their first effort to feature new addition Harriet "Toni" Williams, it also heralded the return of Dicey Galloway. "On Sunday Morning" followed by year's end, and in early 1957 the group issued its third and final Rama single, "The Shrine of Saint Cecilia." An additional session was planned, but the night prior to entering the studio, 20-year-old Billy Brown died of a drug overdose. The session was canceled, but because the Harptones were contractually obligated to perform a date at Philadelphia's Uptown Theater, only Williams could attend Brown's funeral. His replacement was Skylarks co-founder Curtis Cherebin, whose arrival coincided with another week at the Apollo. After Rama dissolved, Goldner shifted the Harptones to his Gee imprint to issue the gritty ballad "Cry Like I Cried," their lone release for the label. Galloway exited the lineup soon after, and while the Harptones briefly forged on with erstwhile Solitaires lead Milton Love, the group split a few months later. But in early 1959 former Bruce exec Morty Craft came calling, convincing the group to reunite and sign to his fledgling Warwick label. This incarnation of the Harptones (Willie Winfield, William Dempsey, Nicky Clark, Curtis Cherebin, and Raoul Cita) cut "Laughing on the Outside" to little attention, returning that summer with "Love Me Completely." Their third and final Warwick effort, "No Greater Miracle," did not appear until May of 1960. By the time of its release, Clark had again exited, and was replaced by Hank Jernigan.
In the fall of 1960 songwriter Billy Dawn Smith signed the Harptones to the Coed label for "Rain Down Kisses." When Smith assumed the helm of Coed's subsidiary Companion, he brought the group with him, releasing "All in Your Mind" (a riposte to Maxine Brown's hit "All in My Mind") in early 1961. With their second Companion single, "What Will I Tell My Heart," the Harptones scored their first and only national chart hit, squeaking to the number 96 spot on the Billboard pop countdown. But despite their brush with success, the group exited Companion, finally landing with MGM via its Cub subsidiary: the Otis Blackwell-penned "Devil in Velvet" marked the return of Jimmy Beckum, who replaced the outgoing Jernigan, but the record went nowhere and the Harptones did not resurface on record until early 1964, releasing the lovely ballad "Sunset" on the tiny KT imprint. When the single fell on deaf ears, a frustrated Willie Winfield finally threw in the towel. The remaining Harptones renamed themselves the Soothers long enough to cut a cover of the Johnnie Ray hit "The Little White Cloud That Cried" for the Port label before calling it quits by year's end. In 1970 Raoul Cita accepted an invitation to re-form the Harptones to play Rock Magazine's First Original Rock and Roll Revival show, recruiting Winfield, William Dempsey, Curtis Cherbin, and Jimmy Beckum to complete the lineup. The group continued to play doo wop revival events throughout the decade, and in late 1981 the current lineup (Winfield, Cita, ex-Fi-Tones member Lowe Murray, and Linda Champion) cut a new LP, Love Needs a Heart. Two years later, they backed longtime fan Paul Simon on his Hearts and Bones project. More than a half century following their debut recording, the Harptones remain on tour, with Winfield and Cita still charting the group's career.
Title: Sunday Kind of Love / My Memories of You [Digital 45]
Artist: The Harptones
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Anthology: The Definitive Collection (Remastered) (CD2)
Artist: The Harptones
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Collector's Gold Series: The Harptones (Remastered)
Artist: The Harptones
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Pop
Title: Anthology: The Definitive Collection (Remastered) (CD1)
Artist: The Harptones
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Life Is But a Dream (The Old Town Recordings)
Artist: The Harptones
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz
Title: A Sunday kind of Love (Digitally Remastered) - Single
Artist: The Harptones
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Pop
Title: Life Is But A Dream - The Ultimate Harptones, 1953 - 1961 (CD1)
Artist: The Harptones
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Pop
Title: The Harptones and a Variety of Friends
Artist: The Harptones, A Variety Of Friends
Genre: Blues, Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack, Vocal & Symphonic
Title: Anthology: The Definitive Collection (Remastered) (CD2)
Artist: The Harptones
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Life Is But A Dream - The Ultimate Harptones, 1953 - 1961 (CD2)
Artist: The Harptones
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Pop
Collections
Title: Goodfellas (Music from the Motion Picture)
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Low & Slow (Classic Low Rider Jams)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Pop
Title: Great Sounds of Rock & Roll
Genre: Rock
Title: Original Solid Gold Hits, Volume 2
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Discover 50s One Hit Wonders
Genre: Rock
Title: The Incredible Sound of 50s Doo-Wop
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Discover 50s Doo Wop
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Doo-Wop Archives
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Doo-Wop Forever
Genre: Pop
Title: Teach Me Tiger and More Unforgettables
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: RMG's Top Doo-Wop Cloud Hits (Volume 1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Poppin' the Jukebox
Genre: Alternative
Title: Doowop Doowop
Genre: Pop
Title: The Greatest St. Valentines Day Love Songs, Vol. 6
Genre: Pop
Title: Doo Wop For Lovers
Genre: Electronica, Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: Divine Doo Wop
Genre: Electronica, Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: In Love With Doo Wop
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Forever Doo Wop, Vol. 1
Genre:
Title: A Doo Wop Valentine - Original Romantic Harmonies
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Doo Wop Intimate Dance Jukebox Hits, Vol. 2
Genre: Pop
Title: Essential Oldies - The Real Boy Bands
Genre: Alternative
Title: Rhythm & Blues Lost Gems
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Definitive Love
Genre: Pop
Title: Doo Wop Juke Box, Vol. 12
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Greatest R&B Hits of 1953, Vol. 3
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Pop
Title: Collector's Doo Wop Classics Vol 3
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Doo Wop Days
Genre: Jazz
Title: Doo-Wop Hits From the RMG Vaults (Volume 2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Totally Pure: Doo Wop
Genre: Rock
Title: American One Hit Wonders of 1961, Vol. 1
Genre: Pop
Title: Rare Gold Doo Wops, Vol. 6
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: More Doo Wop Days
Genre: Jazz
Title: Doo Wop Essentials
Genre: Electronica, Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: Doo Wop is Hot - Volume 1
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock
Title: The Best of COED Records - Volume 1
Genre: Pop
Title: American Roots of Doo Wop
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Soda Shop: Hits Of The 50s
Genre: Pop
Title: Pop, Bop, & Doo-Wop, Vol. 5
Title: Dazzling Group Sounds Vol. 1
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Pop
Title: Adorable Doowop
Genre:
Title: Dancing Around the World, Vol. 2
Genre: Pop
Title: Old School Doo Wop, Vol. 3
Title: Doo Wop Shop, Vol. 1
Title: Above & Beyond - Rock, Pop And Reggae Heaven Vol. 4
Genre: Pop
Title: Above & Beyond - Rock, Pop And Reggae Heaven Vol. 5
Genre: Pop
Title: Doo Wop Dance Classics Vol 6
Genre: Pop
Title: Doo Wop Drive Time V 2
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: The History of Rhythm and Blues, Vol. 2
Genre: World Music
Title: Old School Doo Wop, Vol. 5
Title: Doo Wop Shop, Vol. 2
Genre:
Title: Doo-Wop Classics Vol. 18 [Relic Records]
Genre: Pop
Title: Totally Pure Doo Woop
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Doo-Wop Classics Vol. 8 (Bruce Records)
Genre:
Title: Old School Doo Wop, Vol. 4
Title: Doo-Wop Moments (The Ballads)
Genre: Pop
Title: Forever Doo Wop, Vol. 2
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul
Title: Doo Wop Shop, Vol. 4
Genre:
Title: Old School Doo Wop, Vol. 2
Genre: Rock
Title: Dancing Around the World, Vol. 3
Genre: Pop
Featuring albums
Title: The Best Doo Wop Collection Ever - 100 Unforgettable Tracks
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Negotiations And Love Songs 1971 - 1986 (Vinyl)
Artist: Paul Simon