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| The Robins to Perform on a West Coast Doo Wop Cruise Grant Williams CEO of Memory Lane Concert Cruises today announced. The prestigious Robins will be among the twelve groups appearing on the legendary West Coast Doo Wop Cruise. "The Robins history is an essential part of West Coast Rhythm and Blues that goes back to 1945. Of all the Los Angeles harmony groups the Robins are by far the most recorded of any West Coast group." said Williams In early 1945, Terrell Leonard got together friends Billy and Roy Richard where they met at San Francisco's Alameda High School. After a young woman told Leonard she loved his voice, he decided to start a group. Calling themselves the A-Sharp Trio. Their influences included the King Cole Trio, Golden Gate Quartet, the Delta Rhythm Boys, and Johnny Moore's Three Blazers. By 1947, they would found their way down to the Watts area of Los Angeles playing the raucous nightly sounds of early Los Angeles R&B. The Robins entered the Thursday night talent show at Johnny Otis' Barrelhouse Club in Watts. The trio placed second with their rendition of "Satchelmouth Baby." Another singer who appeared at the Barrelhouse was Bobby Nunn, who was a baritone with a bluesy bass style. Like many aspiring bass singers, Nunn influenced was a group called the Ravens. Otis had the idea of merging the two acts together to form a quartet to compete with the Ravens. The group's recording debut came in April 1949 releasing "My Baby Done Told Me" on Johnny Otis' Excelsior label. The flip side was Otis' own "Courtroom Blues." with Bobby Nunn on lead. Although Nunn mostly did the unison singing in the background, a technique used in many of their songs. In December of 1949, the Robins were part of a Johnny Otis Savoy session held at Radio Recorders in Los Angeles. In early 1950, the whole group was back in the studio again to record some more tunes. The group became the third of the trend setting bird groups after the Ravens and the Orioles. Grady Chapman joined the group as lead singer and fifth member in 1953. However, in 1954 Carl Gardner substituted for Grady featured as sixth singer in the group. Chapman made some solo records in 1954 through 1958. Grady later team up with Imperial Records as a studio backup. He often joined Nunn's Coasters during several years during the ´60s, and worked with Billy Richards with Nunn's-offspring "Coasters" group. Grady also toured with his own lineup of "Coasters". Grady also substituted for Carl Gardner in his Coasters group a few of times in the late 90s after Richards and Gardner had settled their differences. Ty Terrell, as he prefers to call himself, did some solo recordings after 1960 several of the Robins´ members also recorded with Marvin Phillips in different versions of "Marvin & Johnny". Bobby Nunn died at 61 of a heart attack on November 5, 1986. Roy Richard died in California in 1978 at only 53. Bobby Sheen passed away in 2000 and Billy Richard died in Los Angeles in late 2007. Terrell "Ty" went to work at a local Sears's department store and now retired. Grady Chapman and H.B. Barnum are living in California. Terrell hopes someday to join forces with Leiber and Stoller and again to tell the exclusive story of the Robins and Coasters groups. Carl Gardner, despite a bout with throat cancer, continues to tour with his own Coasters group; he now lives in Florida. On rare occasions, Grady Chapman and H.B. Barnum have teamed up to recreate the Robins for live performances. On April 19 2009, the Robins will perform on Carnival cruise lines newest and most innovative ship in the world the Splendor. Sailing from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera on a 7-day cruise. There has never been a Doo Wop event this spectacular on the West Coast in over fifty years. Featuring recording artists who were popular from 1952 to 1963. Memory Lane Concert Cruises is musical theme cruise operator. Offering world-class concerts of performing artists in an array of music styles aboard luxury liners. http://www.mlccruises.com write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |