The Flairs
Encyclopedia
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
(writer of 'Louie Louie
') and Cornell Gunter
, who would go on to being a member of The Coasters
.
, with members Arthur Lee Maye
, Pete Fox, Obediah Jessie
, Joe Winslow, and A.V. Odom. Winslow dropped out, leaving the qroup a quartet. Bass man Odom was out soon after, and was replaced by Richard Berry
. Maye began putting baseball
ahead of singing (he would later be a professional baseball player for the Milwaukee Braves), and the group brought in Beverly Thompson to replace him. Cornell Gunter
, who had recently left the earliest lineup of The Platters
, came in to make the group a quintet. The Debonaires made a handful of recordings for Recorded In Hollywood Records with no real success.
The group then found Modern Records
, and were transferred to Flair Records
, owned by a brother of the owner of Modern. At this point, they changed their name to The Flairs. Although named after the label, they had little success there. They recorded several singles through 1953, beginning with "I Had a Love
". The next was "Rabbit On A Log", which was credited to The Hunters, to avoid competition with "I Had A Love". More singles followed into 1954. Thompson left in the summer of 1954. The group performed as a quartet, and brought in Charles Jackson as a fifth member on recordings.
Shortly after Thompson's departure, Berry left as well. He had been working with Arthur Lee Maye's new group, The Crowns, as well as his own second group, The Dreamers
. This caused friction in the Flairs. His replacement was Randy Jones
(who also did some bass spots with the Crowns). The group continued recording, with one of their singles, "Love Me, Love Me, Love Me", being credited to The Chimes
. Jackson left to join The Chimes at this time, and Jones left to fill the bass spot in The Penguins
. Gunter, Jessie, and Fox continued as The Jac-O-Lacs, recording for Tampa Records. The group broke up at this point. Jessie recorded one more Jac-O-Lacs single, "Mary Lou
", backed by The Cadets
. He got to know this group and, when a baritone was needed a few years later, recommended fellow Flair Pete Fox for the job. Jessie continued as a soloist.
With Fox joining the Cadets and Jessie recording solo (as Young Jessie
), Cornell Gunter formed a new group, The Ermines, with new members George Hollis
, Thomas Miller
, and his cousin, Kenneth Byley. After a brief stint with Loma Records
, they signed up with manager Buck Ram
, and moved to ABC-Paramount Records, taking the name The Flairs. After recording for ABC a short time, they moved to Modern, then to Aladdin Records
. Old Ermine's tracks continued to be released by Loma. Also, during this time, they frequently backed up Gunter's sister, Shirley.
Gunter was out in late 1957, and was replaced by Vince Weaver. The group recorded into the summer of 1958 for Ram's Antler Records. Later that year, Weaver and Byley both left the group. The Cadets were again associated with The Flairs--they had just split, and ex-Cadets Willie Davis and Aaron Collins
joined The Flairs. Former Flair Pete Fox was also a member of the Cadets when they split, and he did not join The Flairs. The fourth Cadet, Will "Dub" Jones, filled one of two recent vacancies in The Coasters
, the other being filled by recent Flair departee Cornell Gunter.
Miller, Hollis, Davis, and Collins recorded only briefly as The Flairs, before changing their name to The Flares, in 1959. Buck Ram had actually proposed a different name, The Peppers. After a two year break, the Flares began to record again. By this time, however, both of the former Cadets had left, and the group was now Miller, Hollis, Eddie King, Robbie Robinson
, and Beverly Harris. This lineup recorded for Felsted Records. Then the lineup returned to Miller, Hollis, Willie Davis, and Aaron Collins (possibly featuring Harris). They recorded as Bennie Bunn and The Cadets for Sherwood Records in 1960.
At that time, Hollis left and was replaced by a former Flair, Randy Jones. Patience Valentine was added as a fifth member. Once again as The Flares, the group recorded for Jan-Lar Records. The groups lineup shifted rapidly at this point- later, Davis was out and Hollis was in. Then, Jones and Valentine were out, and Davis and Collin's sister Rose Collins
were in. Rose was only in shortly, then she and Aaron's sister Betty Collins. Then, Davis was out again, replaced by the returning Vince Weaver for a short time, before Davis returned.
As The Flares, their biggest hit was the 1961 release "Foot Stompin' Part 1", which hit #20 on the Black Singles chart and #25 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
In 1961, the group took Buck Ram's previous suggestion and recorded as "The Peppers" for Ensign Records
. Then it was back to The Flares for Ram's Press Records. They alternated between The Peppers and The Flares through 1964. At that point, the group split.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
group
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
based in Los Angeles. They went through several lineup changes during their existence. Their notable members included Richard Berry
Richard Berry
Richard Berry was an African American singer, songwriter and musician, who performed with many Los Angeles doo-wop and close harmony groups in the 1950s, including The Flairs and The Robins....
(writer of 'Louie Louie
Louie Louie
"Louie Louie" is an American rock 'n' roll song written by Richard Berry in 1955. It has become a standard in pop and rock, with hundreds of versions recorded by different artists...
') and Cornell Gunter
Cornell Gunter
Cornell Gunter was an American rhythm and blues singer, most active in the 1950s and 1960s. He was born in Coffeyville, Kansas, and died in Las Vegas, Nevada, after being shot in his automobile.-Biography:...
, who would go on to being a member of 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...
.
Career
In 1952, an African-American musical group calling themselves The Debonaires had formed in Los AngelesLos 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...
, with members Arthur Lee Maye
Lee Maye
Arthur Lee Maye was a Major League Baseball player. He played eleven seasons in the majors as an outfielder for the Milwaukee Braves , Houston Astros , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , and Chicago White Sox .Maye was also well known as a Rhythm & Blues singer...
, Pete Fox, Obediah Jessie
Young Jessie
Obediah Donnell "Obie" Jessie , is an African American R&B and jazz singer and songwriter. He recorded as Young Jessie in the 1950s and 1960s, and was known for his solo career, work with The Flairs and a brief stint in The Coasters...
, Joe Winslow, and A.V. Odom. Winslow dropped out, leaving the qroup a quartet. Bass man Odom was out soon after, and was replaced by Richard Berry
Richard Berry
Richard Berry was an African American singer, songwriter and musician, who performed with many Los Angeles doo-wop and close harmony groups in the 1950s, including The Flairs and The Robins....
. Maye began putting baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
ahead of singing (he would later be a professional baseball player for the Milwaukee Braves), and the group brought in Beverly Thompson to replace him. Cornell Gunter
Cornell Gunter
Cornell Gunter was an American rhythm and blues singer, most active in the 1950s and 1960s. He was born in Coffeyville, Kansas, and died in Las Vegas, Nevada, after being shot in his automobile.-Biography:...
, who had recently left the earliest lineup of The Platters
The Platters
The Platters were a vocal group of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound was a bridge between the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the burgeoning new genre...
, came in to make the group a quintet. The Debonaires made a handful of recordings for Recorded In Hollywood Records with no real success.
The group then found 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 transferred to Flair Records
Flair Records
Flair Records was an American record label owned by the Bihari brothers, launched in the early 1950s. It was a subsidiary of Modern Records. Its most famous artist was Elmore James, who released ten singles with this label .-Singles:...
, owned by a brother of the owner of Modern. At this point, they changed their name to The Flairs. Although named after the label, they had little success there. They recorded several singles through 1953, beginning with "I Had a Love
I Had a Love
"I Had a Love" was the second single released by the band Blue Angel from their 1980 album, also titled Blue Angel. Released either with the picture sleeve above or in a generic sleeve, it uniquely featured a different B-side in each country that saw its release...
". The next was "Rabbit On A Log", which was credited to The Hunters, to avoid competition with "I Had A Love". More singles followed into 1954. Thompson left in the summer of 1954. The group performed as a quartet, and brought in Charles Jackson as a fifth member on recordings.
Shortly after Thompson's departure, Berry left as well. He had been working with Arthur Lee Maye's new group, The Crowns, as well as his own second group, The Dreamers
The Dreamers
The Dreamers is a 2003 French/British/Italian drama film directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. The screenplay is by Gilbert Adair, based on his own novel The Holy Innocents...
. This caused friction in the Flairs. His replacement was Randy Jones
Randy Jones
Randy Jones may refer to:* Randy Jones , baseball pitcher* Randy Jones , former member of the Village People* Randy Jones , U.S. bobsledder...
(who also did some bass spots with the Crowns). The group continued recording, with one of their singles, "Love Me, Love Me, Love Me", being credited to The Chimes
The Chimes
The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In, a short novel by Charles Dickens, was written and published in 1844, one year after A Christmas Carol and one year before The Cricket on the Hearth...
. Jackson left to join The Chimes at this time, and Jones left to fill the bass spot in The Penguins
The Penguins
The Penguins were an American doo-wop group of the 1950s and early 1960s, best remembered for their only Top 40 hit, "Earth Angel ", which was one of the first rhythm and blues hits to cross over to the pop charts...
. Gunter, Jessie, and Fox continued as The Jac-O-Lacs, recording for Tampa Records. The group broke up at this point. Jessie recorded one more Jac-O-Lacs single, "Mary Lou
Mary Lou
Mary Lou is an American actress. She is known for playing Mary Ferry on the Nickelodeon television series Unfabulous.-Career:At age 8, she chose to pursue a career in television and film....
", backed by The Cadets
The Cadets (doo wop)
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,...
. He got to know this group and, when a baritone was needed a few years later, recommended fellow Flair Pete Fox for the job. Jessie continued as a soloist.
With Fox joining the Cadets and Jessie recording solo (as Young Jessie
Young Jessie
Obediah Donnell "Obie" Jessie , is an African American R&B and jazz singer and songwriter. He recorded as Young Jessie in the 1950s and 1960s, and was known for his solo career, work with The Flairs and a brief stint in The Coasters...
), Cornell Gunter formed a new group, The Ermines, with new members George Hollis
George Hollis
George Hollis VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
, Thomas Miller
Thomas Miller
Thomas Miller is the name of:* Thomas Miller , Governor in 1677* Thomas Miller, Lord Glenlee , Scottish politician and judge, Member of Parliament 1761–1766* Thomas Miller , English bookseller...
, and his cousin, Kenneth Byley. After a brief stint with Loma Records
Loma Records
Loma Records was a sublabel of Warner Bros. Records ran by Bob Krasnow. Its name was derived from Loma Avenue, where its offices were held. It was started as an entry into the R&B market....
, they signed up with manager Buck Ram
Buck Ram
Buck Ram was an American songwriter, and popular music producer and arranger.-Biography:...
, and moved to ABC-Paramount Records, taking the name The Flairs. After recording for ABC a short time, they moved to Modern, then to Aladdin Records
Aladdin Records
Aladdin Records was a post-World War II United States record label, with headquarters in Hollywood, California. The label was founded in 1945 by brothers Eddie, Leo, and Ira Mesner and was originally called Philo Records, before changing to its better-known name in April 1946.Aladdin Records...
. Old Ermine's tracks continued to be released by Loma. Also, during this time, they frequently backed up Gunter's sister, Shirley.
Gunter was out in late 1957, and was replaced by Vince Weaver. The group recorded into the summer of 1958 for Ram's Antler Records. Later that year, Weaver and Byley both left the group. The Cadets were again associated with The Flairs--they had just split, and ex-Cadets Willie Davis and Aaron Collins
Aaron Collins
Aaron Collins was an American rhythm and blues singer and songwriter, most active in the 1950s and 1960s.-Biography:...
joined The Flairs. Former Flair Pete Fox was also a member of the Cadets when they split, and he did not join The Flairs. The fourth Cadet, Will "Dub" Jones, filled one of two recent vacancies in 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...
, the other being filled by recent Flair departee Cornell Gunter.
Miller, Hollis, Davis, and Collins recorded only briefly as The Flairs, before changing their name to The Flares, in 1959. Buck Ram had actually proposed a different name, The Peppers. After a two year break, the Flares began to record again. By this time, however, both of the former Cadets had left, and the group was now Miller, Hollis, Eddie King, Robbie Robinson
Robbie Robinson
Robbie Robinson may refer to:*Robbie Robinson , DJ on Radio Caroline and Radio Veronica during the 1960s and 1970s*Robbie Robinson Robbie Robinson may refer to:*Robbie Robinson (DJ), DJ on Radio Caroline and Radio Veronica during the 1960s and 1970s*Robbie Robinson (footballer) Robbie Robinson may...
, and Beverly Harris. This lineup recorded for Felsted Records. Then the lineup returned to Miller, Hollis, Willie Davis, and Aaron Collins (possibly featuring Harris). They recorded as Bennie Bunn and The Cadets for Sherwood Records in 1960.
At that time, Hollis left and was replaced by a former Flair, Randy Jones. Patience Valentine was added as a fifth member. Once again as The Flares, the group recorded for Jan-Lar Records. The groups lineup shifted rapidly at this point- later, Davis was out and Hollis was in. Then, Jones and Valentine were out, and Davis and Collin's sister Rose Collins
Rose Collins
Rose Collins is a camogie player, winner of an All-Star award in 2007 and a Lynchpin award, predecessor of the All Stars, in 2003. In addition to her All Star awards in 2007 and a 2003, she was nominated for the All-Star shortlist in 2004.-References:...
were in. Rose was only in shortly, then she and Aaron's sister Betty Collins. Then, Davis was out again, replaced by the returning Vince Weaver for a short time, before Davis returned.
As The Flares, their biggest hit was the 1961 release "Foot Stompin' Part 1", which hit #20 on the Black Singles chart and #25 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
In 1961, the group took Buck Ram's previous suggestion and recorded as "The Peppers" for Ensign Records
Ensign Records
Ensign Records was started in 1976 by Nigel Grainge, as an independent Phonogram subsidiary.-History:Grainge had been the head of A&R at Phonogram in London for the previous two years and directly signed Thin Lizzy, 10cc, The Steve Miller Band, and a worldwide license for the successful All...
. Then it was back to The Flares for Ram's Press Records. They alternated between The Peppers and The Flares through 1964. At that point, the group split.