The Turbans
Encyclopedia
The Turbans were an African American
doo-wop
group, who formed in Philadelphia in 1953. The original members were: Al Banks (lead tenor), Matthew Platt (second tenor), Charlie Williams (baritone), and Andrew "Chet" Jones (bass). They came from Downtown Philadelphia (around Bainbridge and South Street).
Around Christmas of 1954, they won first prize in a talent contest singing their rendition of "White Christmas
". This created interest among the local record companies, and in the late spring of 1955, they cut a demo record. Herman Gillespie, the group's first manager, took the demo record to Al Silver at Herald Records
in New York
. They signed a contract in July 1955, and gained a new manager, Allen Best. Best worked for Shaw Artists Corporation.
Pittsburgh
, Detroit, Boston, and New Orleans, interest began to grow in "When You Dance". At first it started to break in New York City
, Philadelphia
, Washington D.C. and Baltimore
, until finally, in November, it hit the national R&B and Pop
charts. "When You Dance" reached #3 on the R&B chart, and remained there for about two months. It only rose to #33 on the pop chart, but stayed there for about five months, so it was counted as a significant hit.
’s "Super Attractions Tour". Then in March 1956, they joined another tour, which featured Roy Gaines
, Guitar Slim
, Margie Day
, and Lloyd Lambert.
They then became part of the "Rhythm And Blues Show Of 1956," and in April 1956, "I’m Nobody’s"/"B-I-N-G-O" was released, but this failed to make the national charts. By July, they were touring the Midwest with Sonny Boy Williamson
’s orchestra. In August 1956, "It Was A Night Like This"/"All Of My Love" was released, but this record also failed to make the national charts. Finally, on October 21, they played the Circle Theater in Cleveland, with Don Rello, the Quails
and Ralph Wilson’s orchestra.
) and John Christian (baritone
/second tenor), both of whom had sung with the Quadrells. They released a single called "I Promise You"/"Curfew Time." Again, both sides were led by Banks. This record failed to chart, so the Turbans did no further recording for about two years. Jones left the group for a while, and they continued on as a trio.
’s Roulette Records
. Jones returned, and they recorded "Diamonds And Pearls," backed with "Bad Man". Unfortunately, it was a group called the Paradons who had a hit with the song. In January 1961, their second (and final) Roulette release was "Three Friends" (written by Burt Bacharach
and Hal David
), backed with "I’m Not Your Fool Anymore". This again failed to chart.
and Kal Mann
’s Parkway Records. By this time, Jones, one of the mainstays of the group, had departed. The group was now Al Banks, Earl Worsham, John Christian, and newly-added bass, Reggie "Tootie" Price. At Parkway, they recorded an updated version of "When You Dance," released in February 1961 to compete with the re-released original Herald version.
In the spring of 1960, the original Herald version of "When You Dance" had been included on the second volume of Art Laboe
’s "Oldies But Goodies" album series. It created enough demand for Herald to re-release the original single in February 1961. It was not a big hit the second time around, but it still managed to struggle to #114 on the Pop charts.
. Price left, and was replaced by James Oscar "Cisco" Williams, (a bass/baritone/tenor), who had also been with the Quadrells. The group was now a quintet, with the fifth member being tenor Sonny Gordon, who had been the lead of the Angels in 1954.
Their first Imperial release was "Six Questions" (led by Banks), backed with "The Lament Of Silver Gulch". In March 1962, there was a second Imperial release, "This Is My Story"/"Clicky Clicky Clack," both sides featuring Banks. The final Turbans’ record appeared in May 1962: "I Wonder"/"The Damage Is Done," with Sonny Gordon taking the lead on both sides. None of these three releases charted.
group based in Boca Raton. Banks was with Charlie Thomas' Drifters in the early 1970s, but he and John Christian have since died.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
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, who formed in Philadelphia in 1953. The original members were: Al Banks (lead tenor), Matthew Platt (second tenor), Charlie Williams (baritone), and Andrew "Chet" Jones (bass). They came from Downtown Philadelphia (around Bainbridge and South Street).
Around Christmas of 1954, they won first prize in a talent contest singing their rendition of "White Christmas
White Christmas (song)
"White Christmas" is an Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.Accounts vary as...
". This created interest among the local record companies, and in the late spring of 1955, they cut a demo record. Herman Gillespie, the group's first manager, took the demo record to Al Silver at Herald Records
Herald Records
Herald Records was an American record label of the 1950s and 1960s. Specialising in the vocal group sound, its biggest hit was "Stay" by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs....
in 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 a contract in July 1955, and gained a new manager, Allen Best. Best worked for Shaw Artists Corporation.
"When You Dance"
During July 1955, the Turbans had their first Herald recording session, and later that month their first record, pairing "Let Me Show You (Around My Heart)" as the “A” side with “When You Dance" as the flip side, was released. Although "Let Me Show You" became a regional hit in Atlanta, ClevelandCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Detroit, Boston, and New Orleans, interest began to grow in "When You Dance". At first it started to break in New York City
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...
, Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, Washington D.C. and Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, until finally, in November, it hit the national R&B 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...
charts. "When You Dance" reached #3 on the R&B chart, and remained there for about two months. It only rose to #33 on the pop chart, but stayed there for about five months, so it was counted as a significant hit.
Late 1955–early 1956
In December 1955, Herald Records released “Sister Sooky/I’ll Always Watch Over You” as a follow-up record, but this failed to chart. With one national hit, however, in late January 1956, they went on a tour, joining Irvin FeldIrvin Feld
Irvin Feld was the head of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and founder Feld Entertainment. He was a music promoter who is credited with discovering Paul Anka.-Biography:...
’s "Super Attractions Tour". Then in March 1956, they joined another tour, which featured Roy Gaines
Roy Gaines
Roy Gaines is an American Texas blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. Gaines recorded work includes his self-penned track, "A Hell of a Night", which first appeared on his 1982 album, Gaineling...
, Guitar Slim
Guitar Slim
Eddie Jones , better known as Guitar Slim, was a New Orleans blues guitarist, from the 1940s and 1950s, best known for the million-selling song, produced by Johnny Vincent at Specialty Records, "The Things That I Used to Do"...
, Margie Day
Margie Day
Margie Day , now Margie Day Walker, is an American former R&B singer who had success in the 1950s and 1960s.- Life and career :Margaret Hoffler was born and brought up in Norfolk, Virginia, one of four children...
, and Lloyd Lambert.
They then became part of the "Rhythm And Blues Show Of 1956," and in April 1956, "I’m Nobody’s"/"B-I-N-G-O" was released, but this failed to make the national charts. By July, they were touring the Midwest with Sonny Boy Williamson
Sonny Boy Williamson II
Willie "Sonny Boy" Williamson was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, from Mississippi. He is acknowledged as one of the most charismatic and influential blues musicians, with considerable prowess on the harmonica and highly creative songwriting skills...
’s orchestra. In August 1956, "It Was A Night Like This"/"All Of My Love" was released, but this record also failed to make the national charts. Finally, on October 21, they played the Circle Theater in Cleveland, with Don Rello, the Quails
The Quails
The Quails are an English indie rock band that formed in Teignmouth, Devon in 2006. Comprising vocalist and guitarist Dan Steer, guitarist Max Armstrong, bassist Sam Banks and drummer Chris Prentice, the band has released one studio album – I've Heard It's All Rumours in 2008...
and Ralph Wilson’s orchestra.
1957
As 1957 dawned, with no more hit records, the Turbans were running out of work. They were back in the studio in early 1957, but two more sessions failed to produce any hit records. By July 1957, their contract with Herald Records expired. This lack of success led to personnel changes, some of which were temporary, some of which were permanent.Red Top Records
In late 1958, the now-reconstructed Turbans signed with Red Top Records. Matthew Platt and Charlie Williams had been replaced by Earl Worsham (first and second tenorTenor
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...
) and John Christian (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...
/second tenor), both of whom had sung with the Quadrells. They released a single called "I Promise You"/"Curfew Time." Again, both sides were led by Banks. This record failed to chart, so the Turbans did no further recording for about two years. Jones left the group for a while, and they continued on as a trio.
Early 1960s and Roulette Records
In 1960, they moved to Morris LevyMorris Levy
Morris Levy was an American music industry executive, best known as the founder and owner of Roulette Records...
’s Roulette Records
Roulette Records
Roulette Records is an American record label, which was founded in late 1956, by George Goldner, Joe Kolsky, Morris Levy and Phil Khals, with creative control given to producers and songwriters Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. Levy was appointed as director...
. Jones returned, and they recorded "Diamonds And Pearls," backed with "Bad Man". Unfortunately, it was a group called the Paradons who had a hit with the song. In January 1961, their second (and final) Roulette release was "Three Friends" (written by Burt Bacharach
Burt Bacharach
Burt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
and Hal David
Hal David
Harold Lane "Hal" David is an American lyricist. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. David is best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach.-Career:...
), backed with "I’m Not Your Fool Anymore". This again failed to chart.
Parkway Records
The next stop for the Turbans was Bernie LoweBernie Lowe
Bernie Lowe was an American songwriter / record producer / arranger / pianist and bandleader.Born Bernard Lowenthal in Philadelphia, Lowe started Teen Records and in 1955 was working with Freddie Bell and the Bellboys. He asked Freddie Bell to rewrite the lyrics of "Hound Dog" to appeal to a...
and Kal Mann
Kal Mann
Kal Mann was an American lyricist. He is best known for penning the words to Elvis Presley's "Teddy Bear", plus "Butterfly", a hit for both Charlie Gracie and Andy Williams.-Biography:...
’s Parkway Records. By this time, Jones, one of the mainstays of the group, had departed. The group was now Al Banks, Earl Worsham, John Christian, and newly-added bass, Reggie "Tootie" Price. At Parkway, they recorded an updated version of "When You Dance," released in February 1961 to compete with the re-released original Herald version.
In the spring of 1960, the original Herald version of "When You Dance" had been included on the second volume of Art Laboe
Art Laboe
Art Laboe is an American pioneering disc jockey, songwriter, record producer, and radio station owner who is generally credited with coining the term "Oldies But Goodies."....
’s "Oldies But Goodies" album series. It created enough demand for Herald to re-release the original single in February 1961. It was not a big hit the second time around, but it still managed to struggle to #114 on the Pop charts.
Imperial Records
Later in 1961, with no chart success at Parkway Records, they signed with Imperial RecordsImperial Records
Imperial Records is a United States based label started in 1947 by Lew Chudd and reactivated in 2006 by label owner EMI.- The independent and Liberty Records years :...
. Price left, and was replaced by James Oscar "Cisco" Williams, (a bass/baritone/tenor), who had also been with the Quadrells. The group was now a quintet, with the fifth member being tenor Sonny Gordon, who had been the lead of the Angels in 1954.
Their first Imperial release was "Six Questions" (led by Banks), backed with "The Lament Of Silver Gulch". In March 1962, there was a second Imperial release, "This Is My Story"/"Clicky Clicky Clack," both sides featuring Banks. The final Turbans’ record appeared in May 1962: "I Wonder"/"The Damage Is Done," with Sonny Gordon taking the lead on both sides. None of these three releases charted.
The Turbans break up
After Imperial, the Turbans broke up for good. Worsham went off to Billy Byrd's Ink Spots, but now sings with a CoastersThe 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...
group based in Boca Raton. Banks was with Charlie Thomas' Drifters in the early 1970s, but he and John Christian have since died.