The Willows (group)

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The Willows
The Willows in 1953.
Background information
Genres
Years activec. 1952–1965, 1973, 1983-1989, 1998-present

The Willows are an American

R&B hit with "Church Bells May Ring", a song which was covered with greater commercial success by The Diamonds
.

History

Before the Willows, the group was known as the Dovers, which originally built a reputation in Harlem nightclubs and by practicing with other Harlem doo wop acts like

boxer Tony Middleton joined the Dovers on the nightclub circuit where they became revered for their competitive charisma in battle of the bands-type performances.[2]

Record producer Peter Doraine spectated at one of the Dovers gigs, offered the group his services as manager, and change their name to the Five Willows to record the group's debut single, "Please Baby", for his PeeDee label. Soon after Doraine partnered his company with Victor Allen to form Allen Records, and record the Five Willows' follow-up "My Dear Dearest Darling" in late 1953.[1][4] Even though it was a regional hit in Harlem and Los Angeles, the group's subsequent offerings on the label did not fare as well and by early 1954 Allen Records had dissolved.[1] In June 1954, the Five Willows signed with Herald Records; however, after two unsuccessful singles, the group was cut from the roster the next year.[5]

Spending all of 1955 performing, the Willows (according to music journalist Patrick Prince "they had dropped the 'Five' after Joe had overslept and missed a matinee show during an Apollo engagement") closed the year by signing with Morty Craft's newly established Melba Records.

royalties that the group eventually won.[5]

In April 1956, the Willows appeared at the

Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, and the Platters. Although the group never re-entered the national charts, the Willows still performed regularly and recorded with the Melba, Club, El Dorado, Gone, Warwick, and Heidi labels until they disbanded in 1965. The group also had a profound influence on the next wave of doo wop artists like the Drifters, the Harptones, and the Ladders.[2] After a one-off performance in 1973, the Willows reunited for sporadic tours in 1983 until 1989. Surviving group members came together again in 1998 for an East coast tour and appeared on the PBS special Red White and Rock in 2002. The current line-up consists of Tony Middleton, Desi Middleton (baritone), Richard Green (tenor), and Bill Pron (bass).[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Marion, J.C. "The Willows and Tony Middleton". home.earthlink.net. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  2. ^ . the willows doo wop.
  3. ^ Hamilton, Andrew. "The Willows - Biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  4. ^ "The Five Willows aka The Willows". doowop.org. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d Prince, Patrick (6 April 2010). "Obituary: Ralph Martin, original member of the Willows". goldminemag.com. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  6. ^ "Church Bells May Ring by The Willows". dailydoowop.com. Retrieved October 17, 2016.