The Esquires
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The Esquires were an American
, United States, principally active from 1957 to 1976.History
The group first formed in 1957 around the Moorer family: Gilbert (born Gilbert Moorer, Jr., August 20, 1941, Birmingham, Alabama, died August 28, 2008),[1] his brother Alvis (born Alvis V. Moorer, January 18, 1940, Birmingham, Alabama, died August 21, 2011), and their sister Betty.[2] They first performed as Betty Moorer and the Esquires. When their sister and lead singer left, the group shortened its name to The Esquires, and Gilbert became lead singer.[3] In 1961, Sam Pace (born Sammie L. Pace, September 22, 1944, Kansas City, Missouri, died January 7, 2013) joined as a tenor.[4] Millard Edwards, a bass, also sang during this period in place of Taylor.[4] They went through many lineup changes over their first decade, which saw them aiming mostly for local recognition. In 1966, they moved to Chicago, Illinois,[2] and auditioned for Curtis Mayfield, who was not interested in signing them.[5] They then attempted to sign with Constellation Records, but the record label went under at the end of 1966; they signed instead with Bunky Records, Constellation's successor.[2] Bunky was distributed by Scepter Records on the national level.
Their debut record for Bunky/Scepter was "
Perry Moorer played alto saxophone with the group. He died in 1996.[3]
Gilbert Moorer died from throat cancer on August 28, 2008, at the age of 67.[3]
Alvis Moorer died on August 21, 2011, at the age of 71.[6][7]
Sam Pace died after a long illness on January 7, 2013, at the age of 68.[4]
Edwards, who lives in Chicago, is now the only surviving member of the band from its recording days.[4]
Members
- Gilbert Moorer
- Alvis Moorer
- Betty Moorer
- Sam Pace (1961–)
- Shawn Taylor (1965–1967)
- Millard Edwards
- Perry Moorer (alto saxophone)
- Goose "Preacher" Hilliard Smith
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Get on Up and Get Away | Bunky Records |
| 1982 | The Esquires | Flying Heart Records |
| 1984 | Whatcha Got? | |
| 1987 | The Esquires |
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions |
Record Label | B-side | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | |||||
| 1967 | " Get on Up "
|
11 | 3 | Bunky Records | "Listen to Me" | Get on Up and Get Away |
| "And Get Away" | 22 | 9 | "Everybody's Laughing" | |||
| 1968 | "You Say" | 126 | 41 | "State Fair" | ||
| "Why Can't I Stop" | — | 48 | "The Feeling's Gone" | |||
| "I Know I Can" | — | — | "How Could It Be" | |||
| "You've Got the Power" | 91 | 29 | Wand Records | "No Doubt About It" | ||
| 1969 | "I Don't Know" | — | 37 | "Part Angel" | ||
| "Reach Out" | — | — | Capitol Records | "Listen to Me" | ||
| 1970 | "Ain't No Reason" | — | — | B and G Records | "Baba-Daba-Dop" | |
| 1971 | "Dancin' a Hole in the World" | — | — | Rocky Ridge Records |
"That Ain't No Reason" | |
| "Girls in the City" | 120 | 18 | Lamarr Records | "Ain't Gonna Give It Up" | ||
| 1974 | "Let Me Build You a New World" | — | — | New World Records |
"Stay" | |
| 1976 | " Get on Up '76 "
|
— | 62 | Ju-Par Records | "The Feeling's Gone" | |
| 1980 | "The Show Ain't Over" | — | — | Cigar Man Music Records |
"What Good Is Music?" | |
References
- ^ "The Esquires Page". Soulwalking.co.uk.
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ a b c Amy Rabideau Silvers (September 1, 2008). "Esquires' Gilbert Moorer, 67, dies after battle with throat cancer". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Lee Bergquist (January 13, 2013). "Pace was member of Esquires, classic Milwaukee R&B band". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ The Esquires at AllMusic
- ^ "Alvis V. Moorer Sr". legacy.com. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- ^ "Esquires' Alvis Moorer passes away". onmilwaukee.com. August 29, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
External links
| Authority control databases: Artists |
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