Hello, The Stereos were an R&B/Doo-Wop group from Steubenville, Ohio. Members of the group included, Bruce Robinson on lead vocals, Nathaniel Hicks, Sam Profit George Otis and Ronnie Collins. They began as The Buckeyes around 1955. They released two records on Deluxe Records in 1957…SINCE I FELL FOR YOU/BE ONLY YOU and DOTTIE BABY/BEGGING YOU, PLEASE…neither record charted on the national music charts. In 1959 they added Leroy Swearingen and released their first record as The Stereos, A LOVE FOR ONLY YOU on Gibraltar Records, but it failed to chart on any of the national record charts.
Leroy Swearingen left the group after the failure of A LOVE FOR ONLY YOU and was replaced by Nathaniel Hicks. Swearingen, wrote the song I REALLY LOVE YOU before leaving the group. On S September 25, 1961 I REALLY LOVE YOU on Cub Records made its Billboard Hot 100 debut. The single climbed the chart to #29 and remained on the Hot 100 for 9 weeks. A couple of weeks later on October 16, 1961 The Stereos single charted on the Billboard R&B chart, becoming a #15 hit record.
The Stereos were never able to follow-up their hit with another national hit record. They continued releasing singles on various labels through 1968. The group is known as a “one-hit wonder” but their hit record remains on many oldies radio station play lists and is a reminder of the good R&B and Doo-Wop sounds that filled the air-waves in the “Golden Era Of Rock And Roll”.
CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW…HEAR THE STEREOS SING THEIR 1961 HIT…”I REALLY LOVE YOU”
Till the next time—Joe
