The Charioteers
Encyclopedia
The Charioteers was an American
gospel
and pop
vocal group from 1930 to 1957.
in Wilberforce, Ohio
. They originally called themselves the Harmony Four. Later they changed it to The Charioteers, from the song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
," a favorite from the group's repertoire, and eventually recorded it in 1939. Starting out with gospels, the group expanded its collection to include a greater number of popular tunes. Their first beak came from after winning the Ohio State Quartet contest in 1931, and soon after, they were brought in to perform on a Cincinnati radio show at station WLW
. They ended up staying with the station for over two years, until another radio series brought them to New York
.
They signed their first recording contract with Decca Records
in 1935. Between 1935 and 1939 they recorded for V-Disc
, Vocalion
, Brunswick
, and Decca
without having a hit, yet their popularity grew through radio and live performances. The Charioteers recorded with major singers between 1935-1945: Pearl Bailey
on recordings "Who?" and "Don't Ever Leave Me" (1945), and four recordings with Frank Sinatra
, "Lilly Belle," "Don't Forget Tonight, Tomorrow", "I've Got A Home In That Rock," and "Jesus Is a Rock (In a Weary Land)" (1945). In 1938, they signed with Columbia Records
, where they would stay for over 10 years.
In 1941 they performed 1404 performances with the musical revue Hellzapoppin', a Broadway
hit. They were the studio chorus from (1942–1946) on the Bing Crosby
's Kraft Music Hall
radio show.
The leader Wilfred "Billy" Williams
(1910–1972), a recording member for 14 years, left The Charioteers. He then formed a new group The Billy Williams Quartet in early 1950s. The rest of The Charioteers also left Columbia in 1950 and drifted through five labels over the next seven years. The Charioteers released 75 single recording over 22 of those years. The last recording was "The Candles" on MGM Records
in 1957.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
vocal group from 1930 to 1957.
History
The Charioteers were put together in 1930 by Professor Howard Daniel, and their school was Wilberforce UniversityWilberforce University
Wilberforce University is a private, coed, liberal arts historically black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, it was the first college to be owned and operated by African Americans...
in Wilberforce, Ohio
Wilberforce, Ohio
Wilberforce is a census-designated place in Greene County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,579 at the 2000 census. The community was named for the English statesman William Wilberforce, who worked for abolition of slavery and achieved the end of the slave trade in the United Kingdom and...
. They originally called themselves the Harmony Four. Later they changed it to The Charioteers, from the song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is a historic African-American spiritual. The first recording was in 1909, by the Fisk Jubilee Singers of Fisk University....
," a favorite from the group's repertoire, and eventually recorded it in 1939. Starting out with gospels, the group expanded its collection to include a greater number of popular tunes. Their first beak came from after winning the Ohio State Quartet contest in 1931, and soon after, they were brought in to perform on a Cincinnati radio show at station WLW
WLW
WLW is a clear channel talk radio station located in Cincinnati, Ohio, run by Clear Channel Communications. The station broadcasts locally on 700 kHz AM...
. They ended up staying with the station for over two years, until another radio series brought them to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
They signed their first recording contract with Decca Records
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....
in 1935. Between 1935 and 1939 they recorded for V-Disc
V-Disc
V-Disc was a morale-boosting initiative involving the production of several series of recordings during the World War II era by special arrangement between the United States government and various private U.S. record companies. The records were produced for the use of United States military...
, Vocalion
Vocalion Records
Vocalion Records is a record label active for many years in the United States and in the United Kingdom.-History:Vocalion was founded in 1916 by the Aeolian Piano Company of New York City, which introduced a retail line of phonographs at the same time. The name was derived from one of their...
, Brunswick
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
, and 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....
without having a hit, yet their popularity grew through radio and live performances. The Charioteers recorded with major singers between 1935-1945: Pearl Bailey
Pearl Bailey
Pearl Mae Bailey was an American actress and singer. After appearing in vaudeville, she made her Broadway debut in St. Louis Woman in 1946. She won a Tony Award for the title role in the all-black production of Hello, Dolly! in 1968...
on recordings "Who?" and "Don't Ever Leave Me" (1945), and four recordings with Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, "Lilly Belle," "Don't Forget Tonight, Tomorrow", "I've Got A Home In That Rock," and "Jesus Is a Rock (In a Weary Land)" (1945). In 1938, they signed with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, where they would stay for over 10 years.
In 1941 they performed 1404 performances with the musical revue Hellzapoppin', a 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...
hit. They were the studio chorus from (1942–1946) on the Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
's Kraft Music Hall
Kraft Music Hall
The Kraft Music Hall was a popular variety program, featuring top show business entertainers, which aired on NBC radio and television from 1933 to 1971....
radio show.
The leader Wilfred "Billy" Williams
Billy Williams (singer)
Billy Williams was an African-American singer, who had a successful cover recording of Fats Waller's "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter" in 1957. The record sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc...
(1910–1972), a recording member for 14 years, left The Charioteers. He then formed a new group The Billy Williams Quartet in early 1950s. The rest of The Charioteers also left Columbia in 1950 and drifted through five labels over the next seven years. The Charioteers released 75 single recording over 22 of those years. The last recording was "The Candles" on MGM Records
MGM Records
MGM Records was a record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946, for the purpose of releasing soundtrack albums of their musical films. Later it became a pop label, lasting into the 1970s...
in 1957.
Hits Recordings
Their solo hits include "So Long" (1940) number 23 pop, "On the Boardwalk in Atlantic City" (1946) number 12 pop , "Open the Door Richard" (1947) number 6 pop, "What Did He Say?" (1948) number 21 pop, "Ooh! Look-a-There Ain't She Pretty" (1948) number 20 pop, and "A Kiss and a Rose" (1949) number 8 R&B, number 19 pop.Selective discography
| Year | Title | Genre | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | The Charioteers | Gospel | Harmony |
| 1959 | Sweet & Low | Gospel | CBS |