Grant Kitchings
Grant Kitchings | |
---|---|
Born | July 17, 1938 |
Died | April 5, 2005 | (aged 66)
Genres | Soul, R&B , pop |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 1955–2001 |
Grant Kitchings was a singer who was a member of the Ravens then, in the 1970s, a member of the Drifters.
History
1950s
Kitchings was a tenor who joined a group that was going to become the King Toppers in 1955 or 1956. The group at the time consisted of Dave Colter, Don Turner, Louis Day and Jesse Hines. They had heard about him and thought he'd fit into the group. They got in touch with Kitchings via his uncle, the local barber shop owner. In 1956, the band was called the Corvettes and they had an audition and recording session with
Later he was drafted into the army. After getting out in 1958 he joined the Ravens. Later he was in various versions or successions of the Ink Spots.[1]
Early to mid-1970s
In the 1970s, he was a member of the Drifters, which were led by
Mid-1970s to 1990s
After leaving the Drifters in 1975 and having moved back to New York, he worked with various New York groups.
1990s to 2005
In the mid-1990s he was in a version of the Ink Spots. He was with Harold Winley's Ink Spots, having replaced Jim Nabbie, who suddenly died in September 1992. Shortly before he died, he named Grant Hitchings to be his successor as lead tenor.[7] Around 1994, the group consisted of Sonny Hatchett, Kitchings, Morris Dow and Harold Winley.[8] Later on, health problems saw him leave the group.[1] He had become ill while the group was doing a show on the Mississippi Queen. He was replaced by Herman Denby.[7]
He died in 2005[9] from complications related to diabetes at 66 years of age.
Recordings
As lead singer
The Corvettes
- Angel Mine – RCA (Unreleased) – 1956
- Unknown track – RCA (Unreleased) – 1956[1]
The King Toppers
- "You Were Waiting for Me" – JOSIE 811 – 1957[10]
References
- ^ a b c "Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - KING TOPPERS". Marv Goldberg Website.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. "Johnny Moore Biography". All Music.
- ^ "The Drifters – Biography". Amoeba Music.
- ^ "The Drifters – Saturday Night At The Club". Discogs.
- ^ "The Drifters, Relationships". Music Brainz.
- ^ "The Drifters, Bill Lewis". Soul Music HQ.
- ^ a b "The Ink Spots". Affiliated Entertainment Industries Inc.
- ^ "INK SPOTS Ca. 1994". Marv Goldberg Website.
- ^ "The Drifters The Last Goodbye". Soul Music HQ.
- ^ "WELTON YOUNG : SINGLES". Wang Dang Dula.