The Cadets (doo wop)
Encyclopedia
The Cadets are an American
doo wop group. The group began as a gospel
group, the Santa Monica Soul Seekers, in the late 1940s. The members were Lloyd McCraw, Willie Davis, Austin "Ted" Taylor, Aaron Collins
, Glendon Kingsby, and Will "Dub" Jones. In 1955, the group auditioned for Modern Records
, and were accepted. The group decided to switch to the popular R&B
style, with the exception of Kingsby, who left to continue in gospel music.
, and the group released their first single
, "Don't Be Angry
"/"I Cry". Collins led the A side
while Taylor led the flip side
. The group followed with several more singles. One of them was slated to be a cover
of The Feathers' "Why Don't You Write Me?" Modern worried that this single may compete with "Don't Be Angry", so it was recorded
on their subsidiary label
, RPM Records, and was credited to "The Jacks". Davis led "Why Don't You Write Me?", and the flip side, "Smack Dab in the Middle", was led by Jones.
Many more singles followed, with the five recording as The Cadets
on Modern, and "The Jacks" on RPM. McCraw left at the end of the year, and was replaced by Pete Fox (spelled Foxx). The group signed up to the Buck Ram
management
agency in March 1956, and continued churning out singles. A few months later, Taylor left to pursue a solo
career.
He was replaced for one session by Prentice Moreland
. This particular session was instrumental
, however. It was the recording of "Stranded in the Jungle
", a cover of an already popular tune by The Jay Hawks. The song was spoken by Dub, with a duet refrain by Davis and Collins. The flip side, "I Want You", was led by Jones. It was Moreland who delivered the line, "Great googly moogly, get me outta here!" in "Stranded in the Jungle". Following that session, Davis, Collins, Jones, and Foxx continued as a quartet
.
They continued recording under both names, but toured only as The Cadets
. They would, however, perform Jacks songs onstage. Collins was drafted that summer, with his place taken for a short time by the returning Ted Taylor. After only a matter of weeks, Collins was able to return to the group, and Taylor was back out.
1957 saw album
s released under both the Jacks and Cadets names, under Modern and RPM, respectively. Confusing to many was the use of Cadets tracks on the Jacks album, and vice-versa. That year the group stopped touring, without any big hits since "Stranded". In May, there was a single release by "Aaron Collins and the Cadets", which was Collins backed by studio singers. In November, the four were back together for one more release.
At the end of the year, the group split. Collins and Davis joined The Flairs
. Foxx became a guitar instructor and continues (as of date of post; 30 December 2009) to give lessons out of his studio in Los Angeles
, California]]; Jones joined The Coasters
. A few recordings were made with the Cadets name in 1960; this was Davis and Collins with the Flairs.
The group reformed in the late 1990s, with Davis, Foxx, Randy Jones, and Tommy Turner. This lineup appeared on the PBS special, Doo Wop 51. In 2001, while rehearsing for a show with the Doo Wop Society of Southern California, Jones had to be rushed to the hospital, requiring the other three to perform as a trio at the performance. Jones had suffered a stroke
, and died thirteen months later. The group brought in new bass Ed Carter.
Willie Davis died in 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
doo wop group. The group began as a 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....
group, the Santa Monica Soul Seekers, in the late 1940s. The members were Lloyd McCraw, Willie Davis, Austin "Ted" Taylor, Aaron Collins
Aaron Collins
Aaron Collins was an American rhythm and blues singer and songwriter, most active in the 1950s and 1960s.-Biography:...
, Glendon Kingsby, and Will "Dub" Jones. In 1955, the group auditioned for Modern Records
Modern Records
Modern Records was an American record label formed in 1945 in Los Angeles by the Bihari brothers. In the 1960s, Modern Records went bankrupt and ceased operations, but the catalogue went with the management into what became Kent Records. This back catalogue was eventually licensed to the UK label...
, and were accepted. The group decided to switch to the popular 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...
style, with the exception of Kingsby, who left to continue in gospel music.
Career
Modern came up with the name The CadetsThe Cadets
The Cadets can refer to one of the following:* The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps* The Cadets * The Cadets - 10-part Russian TV series dealing with the Battle of Stalingrad...
, and the group released 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...
, "Don't Be Angry
Don't Be Angry
"Don't Be Angry" is a popular song written by Nappy Brown, Rose Marie McCoy, and Fred Mendelsohn and published in 1955. Brown released it in 1955, reaching #2 in the Billboard charts....
"/"I Cry". Collins led the A side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
while Taylor led the flip side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
. The group followed with several more singles. One of them was slated to be a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of The Feathers' "Why Don't You Write Me?" Modern worried that this single may compete with "Don't Be Angry", so it was recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
on their subsidiary label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, RPM Records, and was credited to "The Jacks". Davis led "Why Don't You Write Me?", and the flip side, "Smack Dab in the Middle", was led by Jones.
Many more singles followed, with the five recording as The Cadets
The Cadets
The Cadets can refer to one of the following:* The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps* The Cadets * The Cadets - 10-part Russian TV series dealing with the Battle of Stalingrad...
on Modern, and "The Jacks" on RPM. McCraw left at the end of the year, and was replaced by Pete Fox (spelled Foxx). The group signed up to the Buck Ram
Buck Ram
Buck Ram was an American songwriter, and popular music producer and arranger.-Biography:...
management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
agency in March 1956, and continued churning out singles. A few months later, Taylor left to pursue 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.
He was replaced for one session by Prentice Moreland
Prentice Moreland
Prentice Moreland was an R&B and doo wop singer of the 1950s and early 1960s.-Biography:He was born on March 4, 1925 in East St...
. This particular session was instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
, however. It was the recording of "Stranded in the Jungle
Stranded In The Jungle
"Stranded in the Jungle" is a song originally recorded by American doo wop group The Jay Hawks. It peaked at #18 on the U.S. pop chart. A cover version of the song recorded by American doo wop group The Cadets in 1956 peaked at #15 on the U.S. pop chart and at #3 on the U.S...
", a cover of an already popular tune by The Jay Hawks. The song was spoken by Dub, with a duet refrain by Davis and Collins. The flip side, "I Want You", was led by Jones. It was Moreland who delivered the line, "Great googly moogly, get me outta here!" in "Stranded in the Jungle". Following that session, Davis, Collins, Jones, and Foxx continued as a quartet
Quartet
In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...
.
They continued recording under both names, but toured only as The Cadets
The Cadets
The Cadets can refer to one of the following:* The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps* The Cadets * The Cadets - 10-part Russian TV series dealing with the Battle of Stalingrad...
. They would, however, perform Jacks songs onstage. Collins was drafted that summer, with his place taken for a short time by the returning Ted Taylor. After only a matter of weeks, Collins was able to return to the group, and Taylor was back out.
1957 saw album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s released under both the Jacks and Cadets names, under Modern and RPM, respectively. Confusing to many was the use of Cadets tracks on the Jacks album, and vice-versa. That year the group stopped touring, without any big hits since "Stranded". In May, there was a single release by "Aaron Collins and the Cadets", which was Collins backed by studio singers. In November, the four were back together for one more release.
At the end of the year, the group split. Collins and Davis joined The Flairs
The Flairs
The Flairs were an American doo-wop group based in Los Angeles. They went through several lineup changes during their existence. Their notable members included Richard Berry and Cornell Gunter, who would go on to being a member of The Coasters.-Career:In 1952, an African-American musical group...
. Foxx became a guitar instructor and continues (as of date of post; 30 December 2009) to give lessons out of his studio in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California]]; Jones joined The Coasters
The Coasters
The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group that had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'" and "Young Blood", their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing team of Leiber and Stoller...
. A few recordings were made with the Cadets name in 1960; this was Davis and Collins with the Flairs.
The group reformed in the late 1990s, with Davis, Foxx, Randy Jones, and Tommy Turner. This lineup appeared on the PBS special, Doo Wop 51. In 2001, while rehearsing for a show with the Doo Wop Society of Southern California, Jones had to be rushed to the hospital, requiring the other three to perform as a trio at the performance. Jones had suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
, and died thirteen months later. The group brought in new bass Ed Carter.
Willie Davis died in 2011.
External links
- Marv Goldberg http://www.uncamarvy.com/JacksCadets/jackscadets.html