The Flamingos
The Flamingos | |
|---|---|
 The Flamingos in 1957. From left to right: Tommy Hunt, Paul Wilson, Jake Carey, Nate Nelson, Terry Johnson | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1953–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | The Flamingos[3]
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | Official website  |
The Flamingos are an American doo-wop group formed in Chicago in 1953. The band became popular in mid-to-late 1950s and are known for their 1959 cover version of "I Only Have Eyes for You". They have since been hailed as one of the finest and most influential vocal groups in pop and doo wop music history.[1][2] In 2001, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The band's cover version of "I Only Have Eyes for You" was ranked number 158 on
History
Early quintet
Jacob "Jake" Carey (bass) and Ezekiel "Zeke" Carey (second tenor) formed the group in
The Flamingos left Chance Records sometime after their December 1953 session, and signed with DJ Al Benson's
Nate Nelson, Jake Carey and Paul Wilson continued the group with new member
Zeke and Jake Carey were not blood-related, but were considered cousins, because of Zeke being adopted by Jake's aunt and uncle.[8]
End Records
In 1958 the Flamingos began recording for
Splintering
The group began to come apart at the turn of the decade. Tommy Hunt left for a solo career in 1960. Nate Nelson and Terry Johnson split to form the "Modern Flamingos" in 1961, and went on to record as the Starglows on Atco Records in 1963. (The Modern Flamingos name was used later; the group would include members of the defunct Del-Knights in the late 1960s). New members were brought in, making the group Zeke Carey (tenor), Jake Carey (bass), Paul Wilson (baritone), Billy Clarke (tenor), Eddie Williams (tenor), Alan Fontaine (guitar), and Julien Vaught (saxophone).[10] Also Johnny Carter left in 1960 to join the Dells.[5] Clarke and Williams took duties on most new lead vocals.
A sixth vocalist, Doug McClure, was added in 1962. Shortly afterwards, Clarke and Williams left the group. Founding member Paul Wilson left in 1964, new member Sidney Hall joined in 1966, and Jacob Carey's son J.C. Carey joined in 1969. They recorded several uptempo songs through the 1960s, peaking at number 26 in the
The group continued recording into the 1970s. A new album was released in 1972 on Ronze, entitled The Flamingos Today. By this time, the group was the Careys, McClure, Fontaine, the returning Billy Clarke, and former Limelite Clarence Bassett, Jr.[12] New member Frank "Mingo" Ayers joined soon after.[13] More mildly successful recordings came in this decade, including the uptempo "Heavy Hips", and "Buffalo Soldier".[5]
By 1980, the group was Jake Carey, Zeke Carey, Frank Ayers and Jerome Wilson.
By the early 1990s, the group was the Careys, Satterfield, Ron Reace and
The group split up in late 2005 due to money disputes.[19] Spann, Jordan, Gilbert, and Faison grouped together to reform Spann's old group, The Dynamic Superiors.[20] J.C. Carey brought in new members, and toured with Tommy Hunt starting in April 2007.
Terry Johnson is the owner of the "Flamingos" federal trademark[3] and leads the current incarnation of the group. The current lineup is Johnson, Starling Newsome, Stan Prinston and musical director Theresa Trigg. The Flamingos featuring Terry Johnson appeared on two PBS specials: Rock and Roll at Fifty (in which they were the only group to have more than two songs featured)[21] and Doo Wop Cavalcade: The Definitive Anthology. In 2013, the Flamingos released the Diamond Anniversary Tour CD. They continue to perform in concerts across the country.[22]
Doug McClure died on July 6, 2018.[23]
Pepsi lawsuit
J. C. Carey, Jr., Terry Johnson, Tommy Hunt and descendants of Nate Nelson and Paul Wilson sued
Awards
The Flamingos received the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Pioneer Award in 1996 (where Terry Johnson, Jake Carey, Zeke Carey, Tommy Hunt and Johnny Carter performed) and were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001,[25] and the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame in 2004. The group that performed at the Rock Hall ceremony included Terry Johnson on lead, Tommy Hunt and Johnny Carter. In 2003, the Flamingos' recording of "I Only Have Eyes For You" was inducted into the Grammy Award Hall of Fame.
Singles
| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated |
Chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [26] |
US R&B [26] |
CAN |
UK
[11] | |||||
| 1953 | "Someday, Someway" b/w "If I Can't Have You" |
— | — | — | — | The Flamingos Meet the Moonglows (On the Dusty Road of Hits) | ||
| "That's My Desire" b/w "Hurry Home Baby" (Non-album track) |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| "Golden Teardrops" b/w "Carried Away" |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| "Plan for Love" b/w "You Ain't Ready" |
— | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |||
| 1954 | "Cross Over the Bridge" b/w "Listen to My Plea" (Non-album track) |
— | — | — | — | The Flamingos Meet the Moonglows (On the Dusty Road of Hits) | ||
| "Dream of a Lifetime" b/w "On My Merry Way" |
— | — | — | — | Flamingos | |||
| "Jump Children" b/w "Blues in a Letter" |
— | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |||
| "I Really Don't Want to Know" b/w "Get with It" (Non-album track) |
— | — | — | — | Flamingos (1976 reissue only) | |||
| 1955 | "I'm Yours" b/w "Ko Ko Mo" (from Flamingos) |
— | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | ||
| "When" b/w "That's My Baby" (from Flamingos) |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| "I Want to Love You" b/w "Please Come Back Home" |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| 1956 | "A Kiss from Your Lips" b/w "Get with It" (Non-album track) |
— | 12 | — | — | Rock Rock Rock (soundtrack) | ||
| "I'll Be Home" b/w "Need Your Love" (Non-album track) |
— | 5 | — | — | ||||
| "The Vow" b/w "Shilly Dilly" (from Flamingos) |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| "Would I Be Crying" b/w "Just for a Kick" (Non-album track) |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| 1957 | "The Ladder of Love" b/w "Let's Make Up" |
— | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | ||
| "Helpless" b/w "My Faith in You" |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| 1958 | "Where Mary Go" b/w "The Rock and Roll March" |
— | — | — | — | |||
| 1959 | "Dream of a Lifetime" b/w "Whispering Stars" |
— | — | — | — | Flamingos | ||
| "(They're Writing Songs of Love) But Not for Me" b/w "I Shed a Tear at Your Wedding" (Non-album track) |
— | — | — | — | Flamingo Serenade | |||
| "Ever Since I Met Lucy" b/w "Kiss-A-Me" |
— | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |||
| "I Only Have Eyes for You" Original B-side: "Goodnight Sweetheart" Later B-side: "Love Walked In" |
11 | 3 | — | — | Flamingo Serenade | |||
| "Love Walked In" Original B-side: "At the Prom" (Non-album track) Later B-side: "Yours" |
88 | — | — | — | ||||
| "Lovers Never Say Goodbye" b/w "That Love Is You" |
52 | 25 | — | — | Non-album tracks | |||
| 1960 | "I Was Such a Fool (To Fall in Love with You)" b/w "Heavenly Angel" (from Flamingo Favorites) |
71 | — | — | — | Requestfully Yours | ||
| "Mio Amore" Original B-side: "You, Me and the Sea" (from Requestfully Yours) Later B-side: "At Night" (from Requestfully Yours) |
74 | 27 | — | — | Flamingo Favorites | |||
| "Nobody Loves Me Like You" Original B-side: "You, Me and the Sea" Later B-side: " Besame Mucho " (from Flamingo Favorites)
|
30 | 23 | — | — | Requestfully Yours | |||
| "Besame Mucho" b/w "You, Me and The Sea" (from Requestfully Yours) |
— | — | — | — | Flamingo Favorites | |||
| "Beside You" b/w "When I Fall In Love" |
— | — | — | — | Requestfully Yours | |||
| "Your Other Love" b/w "Lovers Gotta Cry" |
54 | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |||
| 1961 | "Kokomo" b/w "That's Why I Love You" (from Flamingo Favorites) |
92 | — | — | — | |||
| "Time Was" b/w "Dream Girl" (from Flamingo Favorites) |
45 | — | — | — | Flamingo Serenade | |||
| "Golden Teardrops" b/w "Carried Away" Vee-Jay reissue |
108 | — | — | — | The Flamingos Meet the Moonglows (On the Dusty Road of Hits) | |||
| "My Memories Of You" b/w "I Want to Love You" |
— | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |||
| 1962 | "It Must Be Love" b/w "I'm No Fool Anymore" |
— | — | — | — | |||
| "Near You" b/w "For All We Know" |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| 1963 | "I Know Better" b/w "Flame of Love" |
107 | — | — | — | The Sound of the Flamingos | ||
| "(Talk About) True Love" b/w "Come On to My Party" |
— | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |||
| "Ol' Man River"—Part I b/w Part II |
— | — | — | — | The Sound Of The Flamingos | |||
| 1964 | "Lover, Come Back to Me" b/w "Your Little Guy" |
— | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | ||
| "Goodnight Sweetheart" b/w "Does It Really Matter" (Non-album track) |
— | — | — | — | Flamingo Serenade | |||
| 1965 | "Call Her on the Phone" b/w "Temptation" |
— | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | ||
| 1966 | "The Boogaloo Party" b/w "The Nearness of You" |
93 | 22 | 94 | 26 | Their Hits Then and Now | ||
| "Brooklyn Boogaloo" b/w "Since My Baby Put Me Down" |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| "She Shook My World" b/w "Itty Bitty Baby" |
— | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |||
| 1967 | "Koo Koo" b/w "It Keeps the Doctor Away" |
— | — | — | — | |||
| "Oh Mary Don't Your Worry" b/w "Do It, to It" |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| 1969 | "Dealin' (Groovin' with a Feelin')" b/w "Dealin' All the Way" |
— | 48 | — | — | Color Them Beautiful | ||
| 1970 | "Buffalo Soldier" (Short version) b/w "Buffalo Soldier" (Long version) |
86 | 28 | 54 | — | Non-album tracks | ||
| 1971 | "Welcome Home" b/w "Gotta Have All Your Lovin'" |
— | — | — | — | Color Them Beautiful | ||
| 1974 | "Think About Me" Part 1 b/w Part 2 |
— | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | ||
| 1975 | "Someone to Watch Over Me" b/w "Heavy Hips" |
— | — | — | — | |||
| 1976 | "Love Keeps the Doctor Away" (Long version) b/w Short version of A-side |
— | — | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||||||
References
- ^ a b c "The Flamingos - Biography". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ a b c Ankeny, Jason. "The Flamingos – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
- ^ a b "The United States Patent and Trademark Office, US". Retrieved May 16, 2021.
- ^ "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
- ^ "The Chess Story". Bsnpubs.com. January 22, 1998. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ "Dot Records Story, Part 1". Bsnpubs.com. November 10, 1999. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ "Terry Johnson of Flamingos". Archived from the original on December 31, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
- ISBN 978-0199389193.
- ^ "Julien Vaught". Julienvaught.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Bassett Family Association Newsletter May 2006". Bassettbranches.org. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ a b "Flamingos". Rockabilly.nl. Archived from the original on July 18, 2004. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ "Edward N. Bomsey Autographs, Inc". Bomsey-autographs.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2004. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ "About Touch of Silk". Touchofsilkvocalgroup.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ "The Dead Rock Stars Club - The 1980s". thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
- ^ Doo Wop 50 Live! (CD jacket).
- ^ Fontenot, Robert. "Profile: The Flamingos". About.com. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
- ^ "Message". Mccracken.itgo.com. December 11, 2005. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ "JSounds Productions - Home". October 6, 2007. Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ASIN B00023BJGY.
- ^ "The Flamingos Full Tour Schedule 2021 & 2022, Tour Dates & Concerts". Songkick.com. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ "Douglas McClure Obituary (2018) - New Haven, CT - Darien Times". Legacy.com. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ "The Flamingos wins settlement from Pepsi for unauthorized use of song". Targetmarketnews.com. January 30, 2006. Archived from the original on February 16, 2006. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ "Inductees by Year: 2001". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
- ^ a b "The Flamingos - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
External links
- Official website
- 'The Flamingos' Vocal Group Hall of Fame Page
- 'The Flamingos' Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Page
- Doo-Wopp Hall of Fame
- The Flamingos at IMDb
- Discography
- Marv Goldberg article of the Del-Knights
- The Flamingos at Spotify
| International | |
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| National | |
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| Other | |