Billy Ward and the Dominoes
Encyclopedia
Billy Ward and His Dominoes were an African-American vocal group, one of the best-selling American
R&B
groups of the 1950s. The team began the careers of both Clyde McPhatter
and Jackie Wilson
.
, Georgia
—died 16 February 2002, Inglewood
, California
) grew up in Philadelphia, the second of three sons of Charles Williams and Cora Bates Williams, and was a child musical prodigy, winning an award for a piano
composition at the age of 14. Following military service
with the U.S. Coast Guard he studied music in Chicago, and at the Juilliard School of Music in New York
. While working as a vocal coach and part-time arranger
on Broadway
, he met talent agent Rose Marks, who became his business and songwriting
partner
.
The pair set out to form a vocal group from the ranks of his students, hoping to cash in on the new trend of vocal quintets in R&B. The group was at first called the Ques, composed of Clyde McPhatter (lead tenor
), whom Ward recruited after McPhatter won "Amateur Night" at the Apollo Theater
, Charlie White (tenor), Joe Lamont (baritone
), and Bill Brown (bass). Ward acted as their pianist
and arranger. After the group made successful appearances on talent shows in the Apollo Theater and on the Arthur Godfrey
show in 1950, Rene Hall
recommended them to Ralph Bass
of Federal Records
, a subsidiary of King
, where they were signed to a recording contract
and renamed themselves The Dominoes. Their first single
release, "Do Something For Me", with McPhatter’s lead vocal, reached the R&B charts in early 1951, climbing to #6.
After a less successful follow-up, the group released "Sixty Minute Man
", on which Brown sang lead, and boasted of being able to satisfy his girls with fifteen minutes each of "kissin'" "teasin'" and "squeezin'", before "blowin'" his "top". It reached #1 on the R&B chart in May 1951 and stayed there for 30 weeks, and crossed over to the pop charts, reaching #17. It was an important record in several respects—it crossed the boundaries between gospel
singing and blues
, its lyrics
pushed the limits of what was deemed acceptable, and it appealed to many white
as well as black
listeners. In later years, it became a contender for the title of "the first rock and roll record".
The group toured widely, building up a reputation as one of the top R&B acts of the era, edging out The Five Keys
and The Clovers
(two of the top R&B groups of the early 1950s) and commanding an audience which crossed racial divides. However, Ward's strict disciplinarian approach, and failure to recompense the singers, caused internal problems. "Billy Ward was not an easy man to work for. He played piano and organ, could arrange, and he was a fine director and coach. He knew what he wanted, and you had to give it to him. And he was a strict disciplinarian. You better believe it! You paid a fine if you stepped out of line," according to Jackie Wilson
. Ward most likely got the idea of levying fines against group members from his tenure in the military. Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice
gives a unit commander authority to mete a certain amount of punishment to troops under his or her command without going through a court-martial, which includes fines (partial forfeiture of pay).
The name "The Dominoes" was owned by Ward and Marks, who had the power to hire and fire, and to pay the singers a salary. Clyde McPhatter was being paid barely enough to live on, even though much of The Dominoes' success was due to McPhatter's soaring vocal abilities. "I'd go home and hear my records on the radio - half the time I couldn't afford a Coca-Cola," according to McPhatter. Allegedly, Ward paid his singers $100 a week, minus deductions for taxes, food and hotel bills. McPhatter often found himself billed as "Clyde Ward" to fool fans
into thinking he was Billy Ward's brother
. Others assumed Ward was doing the lead singing. White and Brown both left in 1951 to form The Checkers
, and were replaced by James Van Loan (1922-1976) and David McNeil (1932-2005) (previously of The Larks
).
In March 1952, the Dominoes were chosen to be the only vocal group at Alan Freed
's "Moondog Coronation Ball
". The hits continued, with "Have Mercy Baby
" topping the R&B charts for 10 weeks in 1952. However, in early 1953, McPhatter also decided to leave, and soon formed his own group, The Drifters
. His replacement in the Dominoes was Jackie Wilson
, who had been coached by McPhatter while also singing with the group on tour. Lamont and McNeil also left and were replaced by Milton Merle and Cliff Givens (Givens had been in The Golden Gate Quartet
, and joined The Ink Spots
in 1944 upon the death of original bass Orville "Hoppy" Jones). With Wilson singing lead, singles such as "You Can't Keep A Good Man Down" continued to be successful, although The Dominoes didn't enjoy quite the same success they did with McPhatter as lead tenor.
In 1954, Ward moved the group to the Jubilee
label and then to Decca
, where they enjoyed a #27 pop hit with "St. Therese of the Roses
", featuring Wilson on tenor, giving the Dominoes a brief moment in the spotlight again. However, the group was unable to follow that success in the charts, and there were a succession of personnel changes. They increasingly moved away from their R&B roots with appearances in Las Vegas
and elsewhere. In late 1957, Wilson left for a solo
career and was replaced by Gene Mumford of The Larks. The group then got a new contract with Liberty Records
, and had a #13 pop hit with "Stardust
". The track also reached #13 in the UK Singles Chart
in October 1957. It was to be their only million seller. This proved to be their last major success, although various line-ups of the group continued recording and performing into the 1960s.
They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame
in 2006.
Dominoes Federal Records Discography
1950
Federal 12001 - "Do Something For Me"/"Chicken Blues"
1951
Federal 12010 - "Harbor Lights"/"No, Says My Heart"
Federal 12016 - "The Deacon Moves In" (with Little Esther)/"Other Lips, Other Arms" (Little Esther)
Federal 12022 - "Sixty Minute Man"/"I Can't Escape From You"
Federal 12036 - "Heart To Heart" (with Little Esther)/"Looking For A Man To Satisfy My Soul" (Little Esther)
Federal 12039 - "I Am With You"/"Weeping Willow Blues"
1952
Federal 12059 - "That's What You're Doing To Me"/"When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano"
Federal 12068 - "Have Mercy Baby"/"Deep Sea Blues"
Federal 12072 - "Love, Love, Love"/"That's What You're Doing To Me"
Federal 12105 - "I'd Be Satisfied"/"No Room"
Federal 12106 - "Yours Forever"/"I'm Lonely"
Federal 12114 - "The Bells"/"Pedal Pushin' Papa"
1953
Federal 12129 - "These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You"/"Don't Leave Me This Way"
Federal 12139 - "You Can't Keep A Good Man Down"/"Where Now Little Heart"
1954
Federal 12162 - "My Baby's 3-D"/"Until The Real Thing Comes Along"
Federal 12178 - "Tootsie Roll"/"Move To The Outskirts Of Town"
Federal 12184 - "Handwritting On The Wall"/"One Moment With You"
Federal 12193 - "Above Jacob's Ladder"/"Little Black Train"
1955
Federal 12209 - "Can't Do Sixty No More"/"If I Never Get To Heaven"
Federal 12218 - "Cave Man"/"Love Me Now Or Let Me Go"
1956
Federal 12263 - "Bobby Sox Baby"/"How Long, How Long Blues"
1957
Federal 12301 - "St. Louis Blues"/"One Moment With You"
Federal 12308 - "Have Mercy Baby"/"Love, Love, Love"
(Taken from original defunct Federal Records log book that I copied decades ago)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
groups of the 1950s. The team began the careers of both Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter was an American R&B singer, perhaps the most widely imitated R&B singer of the 1950s and 1960s, making him a key figure in the shaping of doo-wop and R&B. He is best known for his solo hit "A Lover's Question"...
and Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
.
Career
Billy Ward (born Robert L. Williams, 19 September 1921, SavannahSavannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
—died 16 February 2002, Inglewood
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) grew up in Philadelphia, the second of three sons of Charles Williams and Cora Bates Williams, and was a child musical prodigy, winning an award for a piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
composition at the age of 14. Following military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
with the U.S. Coast Guard he studied music in Chicago, and at the Juilliard School of Music in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. While working as a vocal coach and part-time arranger
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, he met talent agent Rose Marks, who became his business and songwriting
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
partner
Partnership
A partnership is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests.Since humans are social beings, partnerships between individuals, businesses, interest-based organizations, schools, governments, and varied combinations thereof, have always been and remain commonplace...
.
The pair set out to form a vocal group from the ranks of his students, hoping to cash in on the new trend of vocal quintets in R&B. The group was at first called the Ques, composed of Clyde McPhatter (lead tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
), whom Ward recruited after McPhatter won "Amateur Night" at the Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
, Charlie White (tenor), Joe Lamont (baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
), and Bill Brown (bass). Ward acted as their pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and arranger. After the group made successful appearances on talent shows in the Apollo Theater and on the Arthur Godfrey
Arthur Godfrey
Arthur Morton Godfrey was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer who was sometimes introduced by his nickname, The Old Redhead...
show in 1950, Rene Hall
René Hall
René Hall , was an American guitarist and music arranger.He was born in Morgan City, Louisiana, and first recorded as a banjo player with Joseph Robichaux in New Orleans in 1933. He then worked around the country as a member of the Ernie Fields Orchestra, before joining Earl Hines as musical arranger...
recommended them to Ralph Bass
Ralph Bass
Ralph Bass , born in The Bronx, New York of an Italian-American-Catholic father, and a German-American-Jewish mother, was an influential rhythm and blues record producer and talent scout for several independent labels and was responsible for many hit records. He was a pioneer in bringing black...
of Federal Records
Federal Records
Federal Records was an American record label founded in 1950 as a subsidiary of Syd Nathan's King Records and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was run by famed record producer Ralph Bass and was mainly devoted to Rhythm & Blues releases. But also hillbilly and rockabilly recordings were released,...
, a subsidiary of King
King Records (USA)
King Records is an American record label, started in 1943 by Syd Nathan and originally headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.-History:At first it specialized in country music, at the time still known as "hillbilly music." King advertised, "If it's a King, It's a Hillbilly -- If it's a Hillbilly, it's a...
, where they were signed to a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
and renamed themselves The Dominoes. Their first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
release, "Do Something For Me", with McPhatter’s lead vocal, reached the R&B charts in early 1951, climbing to #6.
After a less successful follow-up, the group released "Sixty Minute Man
Sixty Minute Man
"Sixty Minute Man" is a rhythm and blues record released in 1951 by The Dominoes. It was written by Billy Ward and Rose Marks and was one of the first R&B hit records to cross over to become a pop hit on the pop charts...
", on which Brown sang lead, and boasted of being able to satisfy his girls with fifteen minutes each of "kissin'" "teasin'" and "squeezin'", before "blowin'" his "top". It reached #1 on the R&B chart in May 1951 and stayed there for 30 weeks, and crossed over to the pop charts, reaching #17. It was an important record in several respects—it crossed the boundaries between gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singing and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, its lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
pushed the limits of what was deemed acceptable, and it appealed to many white
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
as well as black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
listeners. In later years, it became a contender for the title of "the first rock and roll record".
The group toured widely, building up a reputation as one of the top R&B acts of the era, edging out The Five Keys
The Five Keys
The Five Keys is an American rhythm and blues vocal group that was instrumental in shaping this genre in the 1950s.It was formed with the original name of Sentimental Four in Newport News, Virginia, U.S., in the late 1940s, and initially consisted of two sets of brothers - Rudy West and Bernie...
and The Clovers
The Clovers
-History:The group formed in 1946 at Armstrong High School in Washington, D.C., with members Harold Lucas, Billy Shelton, and Thomas Woods. John "Buddy" Bailey was added soon after, and they began calling themselves the "Four Clovers", with Bailey on lead...
(two of the top R&B groups of the early 1950s) and commanding an audience which crossed racial divides. However, Ward's strict disciplinarian approach, and failure to recompense the singers, caused internal problems. "Billy Ward was not an easy man to work for. He played piano and organ, could arrange, and he was a fine director and coach. He knew what he wanted, and you had to give it to him. And he was a strict disciplinarian. You better believe it! You paid a fine if you stepped out of line," according to Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
. Ward most likely got the idea of levying fines against group members from his tenure in the military. Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice
Uniform Code of Military Justice
The Uniform Code of Military Justice , is the foundation of military law in the United States. It is was established by the United States Congress in accordance with the authority given by the United States Constitution in Article I, Section 8, which provides that "The Congress shall have Power . ....
gives a unit commander authority to mete a certain amount of punishment to troops under his or her command without going through a court-martial, which includes fines (partial forfeiture of pay).
The name "The Dominoes" was owned by Ward and Marks, who had the power to hire and fire, and to pay the singers a salary. Clyde McPhatter was being paid barely enough to live on, even though much of The Dominoes' success was due to McPhatter's soaring vocal abilities. "I'd go home and hear my records on the radio - half the time I couldn't afford a Coca-Cola," according to McPhatter. Allegedly, Ward paid his singers $100 a week, minus deductions for taxes, food and hotel bills. McPhatter often found himself billed as "Clyde Ward" to fool fans
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
into thinking he was Billy Ward's brother
Sibling
Siblings are people who share at least one parent. A male sibling is called a brother; and a female sibling is called a sister. In most societies throughout the world, siblings usually grow up together and spend a good deal of their childhood socializing with one another...
. Others assumed Ward was doing the lead singing. White and Brown both left in 1951 to form The Checkers
The Checkers
The Checkers was a Japanese pop/rock band famous in the 1980s. The band was formed by Toru Takeuchi, the leader and the guitarist, who asked Fumiya Fujii to start a band with him. They made a debut on 21 September 1983 and split up on 31 December 1992. All of their single releases entered top 10...
, and were replaced by James Van Loan (1922-1976) and David McNeil (1932-2005) (previously of The Larks
The Larks
The Larks were an African American vocal group, active in the early 1950s. They were not the same group as the Los Angeles-based Larks featuring Don Julian.-Original members:...
).
In March 1952, the Dominoes were chosen to be the only vocal group at Alan Freed
Alan Freed
Albert James "Alan" Freed , also known as Moondog, was an American disc-jockey. He became internationally known for promoting the mix of blues, country and rhythm and blues music on the radio in the United States and Europe under the name of rock and roll...
's "Moondog Coronation Ball
Moondog Coronation Ball
The Moondog Coronation Ball was a concert held at the Cleveland Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on March 21, 1952. It is generally accepted as the first major rock and roll concert....
". The hits continued, with "Have Mercy Baby
Have Mercy Baby
"Have Mercy Baby" is a popular rhythm and blues song, written by Billy Ward and Rose Marks, recorded by The Dominoes in Cincinnati, produced by Ralph Bass, and released by Federal Records in 1952...
" topping the R&B charts for 10 weeks in 1952. However, in early 1953, McPhatter also decided to leave, and soon formed his own group, The Drifters
The Drifters
The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953...
. His replacement in the Dominoes was Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
, who had been coached by McPhatter while also singing with the group on tour. Lamont and McNeil also left and were replaced by Milton Merle and Cliff Givens (Givens had been in The Golden Gate Quartet
The Golden Gate Quartet
The Golden Gate Quartet is an American vocal group. It was formed in 1934 and, with changes in membership, remains active. It is the most successful of all of the African-American gospel music groups who sang in the jubilee quartet style...
, and joined The Ink Spots
The Ink Spots
The Ink Spots were a popular vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop...
in 1944 upon the death of original bass Orville "Hoppy" Jones). With Wilson singing lead, singles such as "You Can't Keep A Good Man Down" continued to be successful, although The Dominoes didn't enjoy quite the same success they did with McPhatter as lead tenor.
In 1954, Ward moved the group to the Jubilee
Jubilee Records
Jubilee Records was a record label specializing in rhythm and blues along with novelty records. It was founded in New York City in 1946 by Herb Abramson. Jerry Blaine became Abramson's partner. Blaine bought out Abramson's half of the company in 1947. The company name was Jay-Gee Recording...
label and then to Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, where they enjoyed a #27 pop hit with "St. Therese of the Roses
St. Therese of the Roses
"St. Therese Of The Roses" is a 1956 popular song written by Remus Harris and Arthur Strauss. The song takes the form of a prayer to St. Therese of the Roses by a man who is about to marry asking the saint for her to send her blessings to himself and his sweetheart so they will have a happy and...
", featuring Wilson on tenor, giving the Dominoes a brief moment in the spotlight again. However, the group was unable to follow that success in the charts, and there were a succession of personnel changes. They increasingly moved away from their R&B roots with appearances in Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
and elsewhere. In late 1957, Wilson left for a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
career and was replaced by Gene Mumford of The Larks. The group then got a new contract with Liberty Records
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
, and had a #13 pop hit with "Stardust
Stardust (song)
"Stardust" is an American popular song composed in 1927 by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics added in 1929 by Mitchell Parish. Originally titled "Star Dust", Carmichael first recorded the song at the Gennett Records studio in Richmond, Indiana...
". The track also reached #13 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in October 1957. It was to be their only million seller. This proved to be their last major success, although various line-ups of the group continued recording and performing into the 1960s.
They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame
Vocal Group Hall of Fame
The Vocal Group Hall of Fame was organized to honor outstanding vocal groups throughout the world. It is headquartered in Sharon, Pennsylvania, United States. It includes a theater and a museum....
in 2006.
Dominoes Federal Records Discography
1950
Federal 12001 - "Do Something For Me"/"Chicken Blues"
1951
Federal 12010 - "Harbor Lights"/"No, Says My Heart"
Federal 12016 - "The Deacon Moves In" (with Little Esther)/"Other Lips, Other Arms" (Little Esther)
Federal 12022 - "Sixty Minute Man"/"I Can't Escape From You"
Federal 12036 - "Heart To Heart" (with Little Esther)/"Looking For A Man To Satisfy My Soul" (Little Esther)
Federal 12039 - "I Am With You"/"Weeping Willow Blues"
1952
Federal 12059 - "That's What You're Doing To Me"/"When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano"
Federal 12068 - "Have Mercy Baby"/"Deep Sea Blues"
Federal 12072 - "Love, Love, Love"/"That's What You're Doing To Me"
Federal 12105 - "I'd Be Satisfied"/"No Room"
Federal 12106 - "Yours Forever"/"I'm Lonely"
Federal 12114 - "The Bells"/"Pedal Pushin' Papa"
1953
Federal 12129 - "These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You"/"Don't Leave Me This Way"
Federal 12139 - "You Can't Keep A Good Man Down"/"Where Now Little Heart"
1954
Federal 12162 - "My Baby's 3-D"/"Until The Real Thing Comes Along"
Federal 12178 - "Tootsie Roll"/"Move To The Outskirts Of Town"
Federal 12184 - "Handwritting On The Wall"/"One Moment With You"
Federal 12193 - "Above Jacob's Ladder"/"Little Black Train"
1955
Federal 12209 - "Can't Do Sixty No More"/"If I Never Get To Heaven"
Federal 12218 - "Cave Man"/"Love Me Now Or Let Me Go"
1956
Federal 12263 - "Bobby Sox Baby"/"How Long, How Long Blues"
1957
Federal 12301 - "St. Louis Blues"/"One Moment With You"
Federal 12308 - "Have Mercy Baby"/"Love, Love, Love"
(Taken from original defunct Federal Records log book that I copied decades ago)