The Flairs
The Flairs | |
---|---|
Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Years active | 1952-1960s |
Labels | |
Past members | George Hollis Thomas Miller Kenneth Byley Randy Jones Patience Valentine |
The Flairs (or Flares) were an American doo-wop group known for their 1961 hit "Foot Stompin', Pt. 1." 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 be a member of the Coasters.[1][2]
The group debuted on Flair Records which it was named after in 1953. In 1956, a new Flairs group was formed and they joined ABC Records. After they went to Loma Records and became known as the Ermines.[3] After another lineup change they became known as the Flares.
Career
The Debonaires/Flairs
Formed at
In 1953, the group signed to
The Flairs performed at the famed tenth
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 Ermines/second Flairs
With Fox joining the Cadets and Jessie recording solo (as
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
The Flares/Peppers
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 and Patience Valentine was added as a fifth member. Once again as the Flares, the group recorded for Jan-Lar Records. The group's 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.[7][8]
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.
Discography
Singles
The Hollywood Blue Jays
- 1953: "I Had A Love" / "Tell Me You Love Me" (Recorded In Hollywood 396)
The Flairs
- 1953: "I Had A Love" / "She Wants To Rock" (Flair 1012)
- 1953: "Tell Me You Love Me" / "You Should Care For Me" (Flair 1019)[9]
- 1953: "Baby Wants" / "You Were Untrue" (Flair 1041)
- 1954: "Getting High" / "Love Me Girl" (Flair 1028)
- 1954: "This Is The Night For Love" / "Let's Make With Some Love" (Flair 1044)
- 1954: "I'll Never Let You Go" / "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Chill Me" (Flair 1056)
- 1955: "She Loves To Dance" / "My Darling, My Sweet" (Flair 1067)
- 1955: Shirley Gunter and The Flairs – "How Can I Tell You" / "Ipsy Opsie Ooh" (Flair 1076)
- 1956: Shirley Gunter and The Flairs – "Headin' Home" / "I Want You" (Modern 989)
- 1956: Shirley Gunter and The Flairs – "Fortune In Love" / "I Just Got Rid Of A Heartache" (Modern 1001)[10]
- 1956: Fatso Theus and The Flairs – "Be Cool My Heart" (Aladdin 3324)
- 1956: "Aladdin's Lamp" / "Steppin' Out" (ABC-Paramount 9740)
- 1957: "I'd Climb The Hills And Mountains" / "Swing Pretty Mama" (Antler 4005)
- 1959: "The Sheik Of Araby" / "Adorable" (Barclay 60165)
The Hunters
- 1953: "Rabbit on the Log" / "Down at Hayden" (Flair 1017)
The Chimes
- 1954: "My Heart's Crying For You" / "Love Me, Love Me, Love Me" (Flair 1051)
Cornel Gunter and The Ermines
- 1955: "True Love" / "Peek, Peek-A-Boo" (Loma 701)
- 1956: "Muchacha, Muchacha" / "Keep Me Alive" (Loma 704)
- 1956: "One Thing For Me" / "I'm Sad" (Loma 705)
Bennie Bunn and the Cadets
- 1960: "You Must Be An Angel" / "I'm Looking For A Job" (Sherwood 211)[11]
The Flares
- 1960: "Hotcha Cha-Cha Brown" / "Loving You" (Felsted 8604-V)
- 1960: "Jump And Bump" / "What Do You Want If You Don't Want Love" (Felsted 8607-V)
- 1961: "Foot Stomping Pt. 1" / "Foot Stomping Pt. 2" (The Ramrocks) (Felsted 8624) – peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100/ #20 R&B[7]
- 1961: "Foot Stomping" / "Hotcha Cha-Cha Brown" (London HLU 9441)
- 1962: "Doing The Hully Gully" / "Truck and Trailer" (Press 2802)[12]
- 1962: "Mad House" / "Make It Be Me" (Press 2803)
- 1962: "Rock and Roll Heaven Pt. 1" / "Rock and Roll Heaven Pt. 2" (Press 2800)
- 1963: "Do It With Me" / "Yon He Go" (Press 2807)[13]
- 1963: "Hand Clappin'" / "Shimmy And Stomp" (Press 2808)
- 1963: "The Monkey Walk" / "Do It If You Wanna' (Press 2810)
- 1964: Cookie Jackson and The Flares – "I Didn't Lose A Doggone Thing" / "Write A Song About Me" (Press 2814)
The Peppers
- 1961: "One More Chance" / "A Place In My Heart" (Ensign 1706)[14]
- 1963: "It Wouldn't Be The Same" / "Little Piece Of Paper" (Press 2809)[15]
Album appearances
- 1989: R&B Confidential No.1 - The Flair Label (Ace Records)
- 1991: Juke Box R&B (Ace Records)
- 1999: Buck Ram's Doo Wop (Ace Records)
- 2004: Shirley Gunter – Oop Shoop (The Flair And Modern Recordings 1953-1957) (Ace Records)
- 2010: Ike Turner – That Kat Sure Could Play! The Singles 1951-1957 (Secret Records Limited)
- 2013: Dust My Rhythm & Blues - The Flair Records R&B Story 1953-55 (Ace Records)
- 2016: Richard Berry – Louie, Louie: 1953-1962 (Real Gone)
References
- ^ Lee Cotten The Golden Age of American Rock 'n Roll -1989 Volume 1 - Page 114 The Flairs were another of the Los Angeles groups ...
- ^ Vladimir Bogdanov - All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul 2003 " basically the Flairs were formed by teenagers in LA. in the early '50s and founded by future the ..."
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8108-4592-3.
- ^ Rolontz, Bob (August 15, 1952). "Rhythm and Blues Notes". Billboard: 38.
- ^ "Ike Turner - That Kat Sure Could Play! The Singles 1951 To 1957". Discogs.
- ^ “Tenth Annual Cavalcade Offering Finest Variety At Wrigley Field June 20” Article The California Eagle June 2, 1954.
- ^ a b "The Flares Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF, US & UK hits charts. Retrieved 2020-01-21.
- ^ Billboard Singles, Allmusic.com
- ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records Reviews" (PDF). Billboard: 49. November 14, 1953.
- ^ "Reviews of New R&B Records" (PDF). Billboard: 74. September 22, 1956.
- ^ "Reviews of New Pop Records". Billboard: 36. September 5, 1960.
- ^ "Reviews of New Singles". Billboard: 35. March 17, 1962.
- ^ "Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box: 16. February 2, 1963.
- ^ "Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box: 14. July 22, 1961.
- ^ "Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box: 12. May 11, 1963.