HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME FOR SOME NEW POSTS AND TRIVIA TEASER QUESTIONS THIS WEEK….THANKS FOR READING MY BLOG EACH DAY.
I WILL BE BROADCASTING MY INTERNET RADIO SHOW THIS WEEK ON…TUESDAY & THURSDAY FROM 10AM-2PM AND FRIDAY FROM 9AM-12NOON…EASTERN TIME ZONE ON www.oldiesplus.net HOPE YOU CAN JOIN ME…
I WILL ALSO BE BROADCASTING ON SATURDAY FROM 11AM-1PM ON www.doowopcafe.net HOPE YOU CAN JOIN ME ALSO.
TILL THE NEXT TIME—JOE
You can write on book on the hits of The Platters. The group from Los Angeles, California 
included: Tony Williams-lead, David Lynch, Paul Robi, Herb Reed and Zola Taylor. Their first big hit record is the classic…ONLY YOU (AND YOU ALONE) on Mercury Records (70633). The single record became a #1 R&B hit and a #5 Pop hit.
Any artist or group would be thrilled to have one cross-over hit that became a Top 10 hit…but The Platters were not just any group…they charted 3 hit single records that became not just Top 10 hits, but #1 hits…yes 3 hit singles that became #1 Pop and R&B hits…here they are.
1—THE GREAT PRETENDER…(Mercury 70753) Charting in December of 1955…and selling over 1 million records.
2—MY PRAYER…(Mercury 70819) Charting in July of 1956…it also sold over 1 million copies.
3—TWILIGHT TIME…(Mercury 71289) Charting in April of 1958 and it also became a million-seller.
The Platters were and still remain one of the very best vocal groups from the rock era.
..R&B or Pop…The Platters could do it all…On Mercury Records the original group charted 17 R&B single records and 38 Billboard Pop Hits. The Platters are the #1 vocal group of the 1950′s.
CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO LISTEN TO “THE PLATTERS”…SING THEIR #1 CROSS-VER HITS…
Till the next time—Joe
One great song two very different versions, both big hits. Nat King Cole charted his classic version of…MONA LISA in 1950. His version became a #1 hit on both the Billboard R&B and Pop charts. The single record on Capitol Records (F1010) became a #1 R&B hit for 4 weeks and a #1 Pop hit for 8 weeks. Nat’s version sold over 1 million copies and was awarded a “Gold Record”. He also won a “Grammy: Hall of Fame” award. The song was featured in the movie…”Captain Carey, U.S.A. starring Alan Ladd.
Carl Mann charted a rock-a-billy version in 1959. His recording on Phillips Records (3539) became a #24 Billboard R&B hit and a #25 Billboard Hot 100 hit. Carl’s version of MONA LISA remained on the Hot 100 for 16 weeks.
Conway Twitty charted his version of MONA LISA also in 1959. Conway’s version on MGM Records (12804) charted at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on th
e chart for 12 weeks.
Three versions of one classic song…pick your favorite…all three are here for you enjoyment.
Nat King Cole – Mona Lisa-1950 #1 R&B and Pop (Capitol Records)
Conway Twitty – Mona Lisa – 1959
Till the next time—Joe
The Moonglows are one of the most famous R&B and Doo-Wop groups of all-time. They formed in Cleveland, Ohio. Lead singers were Bobby Lester, who died in 1980 (age 50) and Harvey Fuqua, died in 2010 (age 80), with Alexander “Pete” Graves, died in 2006 (age 76), Prentiss Barnes, also died in 2006 (age 81) and Billy Johnson, who played guitar…he died in 1987 (age 58).
The Moonglows recorded classic hits such as…SINCERELY a #1 R&B hit in 1955…MOST OF ALL…#5 in 1955…WE GO TOGETHER…#9 in1956 and…SEE SAW…a #6 hit also in 1956. In 1957 The Moonglows recorded the #5 R&B hit record…PLEASE SEND ME SOMEONE TO LOVE.
One of the groups biggest hits charted in October of 1958…TEN COMMANDMENTS OF LOVE on Chess Records, where all of the above mentioned hits were recorded. The single record was credited as “Harvey and The Moonglows” (Harvey Fuqua on lead) as was…SEE SAW and PLEASE SEND ME SOMEONE TO LOVE. The single charted at #9 on the Billboard R&B chart and at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100.
TEN COMMANDMENTS OF LOVE is a classic from the GOLDEN ERA OF ROCK AND ROLL and is still played today on oldies radio…great music takes on a life of its own…and lives on…CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW AND LISTEN TO…HARVEY AND THE MOONGLOWS…AS THEY SING…”TEN COMMANDMENTS OF LOVE”.
Prentis Barnes is the brother of James “Pookie” Hudson of The Spaniels. The Moonglows were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
Harvey & The Moonglows – Ten Commandments Of Love
Till the next time—Joe
